Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

QB93Z · 05-02-2010

At today's WAZOO WMD we upgraded Glenn's 1990 ZR-1 front brakes to C5/C6 brakes.

Glenn has been aggressively racing his ZR-1 for 20 years and wanted to upgrade his stopping power for this year's racing season.

The goals of the upgrade were:

Increase the front brake swept area to reduce disk peak temperatures,

Use readily available components so consumable cost during the racing season was reasonable,

Replace the tie rod ends that had been heat damaged and fabricate a heat shield.

Here is the before picture of the driver's side brakes. In the background you can see parts of the brake rotor cooling system that Glenn added to try to cool the brakes.

You can see the heat damage the hot rotor has caused to the nearby tie rod and lower spindle boots:

Here are the parts that were used. All of the parts are stock, C5/C6 parts except the new adapter brackets and bolts.

After removal of the original brakes, the adapter was fit to the spindle. The machined recesses in the adapter face the caliper frame:

The adapter came with washers that are used as spacers to align the caliper to the rotor. Some trial and error was required to get the proper spacing:

Here the rotor and caliper frame have been installed:

More to follow.

QB93Z · 05-02-2010

The rest of the installation follows standard brake rebuild procedures.

The existing braided brake lines were uesd. In order to avoid contact with the wheel sensor cable, the cable brackrt had to be offset a little:

Install complete:

Jim

secondchance · 05-03-2010

Terrific! When will he have the car back on the track to report on the improvement?
Seems to be relatively straight forward and a worthwhile modification.

DaveK · 05-03-2010

Thanks, nice write up

Going to be taking on that job soon.

Scrrem · 05-03-2010

Look at this job myself, I'll be curious to hear from Glenn if he notices a vast improvement in braking performance.
Rich

QB93Z · 05-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynomite

What is C6? The rotors are C5?
Did you use Loctite 262 RED on the adapter bolts?

I am having a tough time keeping up with the INDEX http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11619 adding these super picture posts

Aa far as the difference between C5 and C6 components, I don't know. I believe that the parts Glenn used were compatible with both.

We used blue locktite.

Jim

XfireZ51 · 05-03-2010

With the Z06 wheels I put on my 92, now I can think of upgrading to the C6 Z51 (13.5" rotor) or possibly the 6 puck C6 Z brakes. Currently, I have the C5 upgrade with the DRM bias spring.

-=Jeff=- · 05-03-2010

just curious, but whose adapter brackets are those?

GOLDCYLON · 05-03-2010

Looks like Jeffvette's but unsure

QB93Z · 05-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-

just curious, but whose adapter brackets are those?

I do not know the manufacturer of the brackets. Glenn got them from someone else who was going to do the conversion and then changed his mind.

Jim

05-02-2010	#1
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,689	Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes At today's WAZOO WMD we upgraded Glenn's 1990 ZR-1 front brakes to C5/C6 brakes. Glenn has been aggressively racing his ZR-1 for 20 years and wanted to upgrade his stopping power for this year's racing season. The goals of the upgrade were: Increase the front brake swept area to reduce disk peak temperatures, Use readily available components so consumable cost during the racing season was reasonable, Replace the tie rod ends that had been heat damaged and fabricate a heat shield. Here is the before picture of the driver's side brakes. In the background you can see parts of the brake rotor cooling system that Glenn added to try to cool the brakes. You can see the heat damage the hot rotor has caused to the nearby tie rod and lower spindle boots: Here are the parts that were used. All of the parts are stock, C5/C6 parts except the new adapter brackets and bolts. After removal of the original brakes, the adapter was fit to the spindle. The machined recesses in the adapter face the caliper frame: The adapter came with washers that are used as spacers to align the caliper to the rotor. Some trial and error was required to get the proper spacing: Here the rotor and caliper frame have been installed: More to follow. __________________ If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right! 1990 Black ZR-1 - sold 1993 Quasar Blue ZR-1 1994 Competition Yellow ZR-1 1995 Dark Purple ZR-1 Maryland State Coordinator WAZOO Member

05-02-2010	#2
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,689	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes The rest of the installation follows standard brake rebuild procedures. The existing braided brake lines were uesd. In order to avoid contact with the wheel sensor cable, the cable brackrt had to be offset a little: Install complete: Jim

05-03-2010	#3
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,721	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes Terrific! When will he have the car back on the track to report on the improvement? Seems to be relatively straight forward and a worthwhile modification.

05-03-2010	#4
DaveK Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sudbury, Ontario. Canada Posts: 1,538	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes Thanks, nice write up Going to be taking on that job soon. __________________ 1991 #1516 Black/Black davidmkelly.com "Speed is often confused with insight." - Johan Cruijff

05-03-2010	#5
Scrrem Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,467	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes Look at this job myself, I'll be curious to hear from Glenn if he notices a vast improvement in braking performance. Rich __________________ 1990 Bright Red Coupe #608 380 Stroker, Ported Heads/Intake/Housings/TB Haibeck Secondary Delete Chip / Pete's Cams George Braml Intake / FIC Injectors Coated SW Headers / Corsa Bill Boudreau B/B ZF6 / Viper 4.10 gears Ron Davis Radiator Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH NAV Fikse FM5's 285 / 335 / C6 Brakes WAZOO Member

05-03-2010	#7
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,700	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes With the Z06 wheels I put on my 92, now I can think of upgrading to the C6 Z51 (13.5" rotor) or possibly the 6 puck C6 Z brakes. Currently, I have the C5 upgrade with the DRM bias spring.

05-03-2010	#8
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,161	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes just curious, but whose adapter brackets are those? __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

05-03-2010	#9
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: Upgrading ZR-1 Front Brakes to C5/C6 brakes Looks like Jeffvette's but unsure __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V Last edited by GOLDCYLON; 05-03-2010 at 12:13 PM.