RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Labor? You couldn't install them yourself? It's pretty easy.

Barry Hall

[QUOTE=SS RRR;17366901]You can do the same with C5 hardware. I received all front Z06 hardware for $275 including pads. C5 is definitely the way to go. Here's a link to an entire set F/S
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1583790579-post1.html
One could possibly ask if he'd be willing to break up the set for the front only...
Another set:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1583770484-post1.html

Only catch is you have to have 17" wheels and IIRC there are certain aftermarket wheels that will not work with C5 calipers.

It's called target fixation.[/QUOTE
oops, dont want to toss my new ZR tires and 16" original wheels. Real target fixation is when I am on the tail moving faster than most and the freaks come up from behind contemplating "can I cross the doubble line and pass before the next curve"? thats when I put on my left turn signal, thats target fixation ,

Barry Hall

not any more, I am 74 , dont have a lift and cannot work upside down due to inner ear problem.

pillarpod

drilled rotors tend to crack, if anything just do slotted

Barry Hall

Since you can go to a parts store and purchase a C5 caliper and use it on a LS1 abutment bracket (mounting bracket, some times called a caliper carrier). The C5 and LS1 calipers abutment brackets are different though so only the calipers are interchangeable. This way I will have an LS1 brake upgrade with stronger C5 calipers
which should get me to “near” C5 performance (both have same piston surface area) . This way don’t have to toss my new ZR tires and stock 16 in wheels (car has most collector value as all stock and all original). Let me know if I missed something here!

ThoR294

iTrader: (6)

Ah, didn't know you couldn't work on it! Depending on your garage, the labor shouldn't make it $1500!

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

What I did and my brother did was a set of ls1 front brakes. Some new cheap blanks for the auto store with some hawks hps for the street. If we are going to the track some carbotechs will be in order.

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

There is no reason to get upside down doing brakes... It's 5 lug nuts and 2 bolts to slip off the caliper, pop out the old pads, compress the piston with a c clamp, slide in new pads, and reinstall. All with just a jack and a cinderblock to get the tire off the ground, and sit Indian style the whole time. To do the ls1 swap you just do the above, then disconnect the brake line from the caliper with 1 bolt, then 2 nuts for the ball joints, pop the whole spindle out, and reinstall new parts. All done Indian style with a jack and cinderblock. Can't take more than 1 hour per side.

For what your doing I would just swap in a good set of blanks and some hawk pads. $140 for front and back pads, and $60-80 a rotor for a good blank. Do it yourself quickly and easily.

devildog214

my vote goes to c5 conversion. There's not that much of a difference in price and you can get many new parts from rockauto fairly cheap (calipers and rotors mainly.) I looked into it a while back and that's what im going with next brake job.

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

The c5 calipers are nice but they won't bolt up to the lt1 spindles. However they do to the ls1 spindles. Not worth spending money on brackets for lt1 spindles.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

LOL.. why? It's a lot less effort for a C5 conversion.

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

True but I did my ls1 brake conversion with cheap pads for sub $100. Two complete spindles at a pick and pull for me was $72. V6 and V8 98-02 cars are the same. Add in cheap pads and I have a great $100 brake upgrade. Last time I looked the brackets were around $125. Afternoons work and its nice to have the easy upgrade later when I want it.

Side note Ill add that the C5 brakes will require 17 inch wheels over the stock 16s. Ls1 brakes will clear the stock 16s.

Barry Hall

Thanks all for reply, have narrowed down options (c5 out cant use my 16 in weels/tires)
1. just upgrade lt1 with rotors and pads
2. upgrade to ls1 with pads, and rotors (assume new rotors for used ls1 set)
3. # 2 with either used, or rebuilt C5 calipers for near c5 performance on 16 in wheels.
Seems to me # 3 best bang for the buck if I can find cheap (solid) ls1 system and good used C5 calipers . Even though 65-70 % of braking is front I always assumed 4 wheel upgrade without question despite 50% less cost, because of even greater inbalance between an original rear and new front LS1 setup would result in significant loss in total braking characteristics.l

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

I would just get a nice set of LS1 brakes. If you hunt the pick and pull you can get everything you need. Just remember the abs wires for the sensors. Just find any 98-02 car. Also the rear brake difference between lt1 and ls1 is so small that is does not matter. Then just throw on some good pads and fresh rotors. Also side note when I weighed everything from the lt1 to ls1 stuff the Ls1 spindle and caliper is 8lbs lighter per corner.

Barry Hall

sounds good, so you dont think adding c5 calipers to the ls1 front is worth the additional cost?

ThoR294

iTrader: (6)

My abs sensors on my car won't match up with the 98-02 sensors????

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

They will work no problem. My cars abs works with zero problems. The connector on the body side is the same however the connector on the spindle is different between lt1 and ls1. Just grab the harness and plug it in.

1961ba427

iTrader: (26)

Did you mean to say that each side of the front is 8# lighter? I can't see the rear LS1 brakes being lighter than the LT1's. The calipers are similar except for the LT1's parking brake, LS1's rotors are larger, and the LS1's backing plates are heavier.

Anyway...8# off each side in the front is a nice improvement. Tubular upper and lower control arms don't save much more than that.

Barry Hall

brake upgrade on 95 z28 just for the record:
Hawk pads street HPS semi metalic ls1 front LT1 rear $ 142.41
Centric plain blank rotors LS1 front, LT1 rear "$130.92
$273.33
Salavage LS1 front spindles 100.00 est
total parts $ 373.33 minimum
installation 3 hrs 150.00 est

Ouch (someone said cheap?) total $ 523.00
Sound about right or am I missing something here?

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

For the front the biggest weight saving is the aluminum caliper on the ls1 vs the heavy cast iron lt1 caliper.