Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

No the Baer bracket is as far as I know not going to work as the PBR's you have probably use the old C4 pad setup and 12" rotors (maybe there are so many kits it's hard to tell) and that's all different.

SRZ

iTrader: (14)

I've got the old C4 ZR1 setup w/ 13" rotor Baer Track kit.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Okay but the old C4 type calipers are just kind of different. You could try and we could get brackets later if you need them, but I'm 100% sure you will from the start.

Phoenix64

iTrader: (3)

Sam tons of respect, I've bought many parts from you over the years, but I recently ran my C5 z06 with 12.8in rotors at Rd Atl and my firebird with the brembo CTS-V upgrade. I just wanted to make a consumable comparison.

Both cars on the same hawk pads, both cars running the same centric high carbon blanks, and on the same set of tires.

The Z06 weighs 3106lbs with a full tank at 51/49 front to rear split, and the firebird weighs 3168lbs with a full tank and 58/42 front rear split. Both have cooling ducts that blow air in the general direction of the rotor, the Z06 are 3.5in, the firebird has 2.5in ducts.

So the Z06 has less weight, lower CG, and more rear weight bias. It should be easier on the front brakes. Especially since the firebird is actually slightly faster at the end of the straights due to shorter gearing, at the the same time it has a lower corner entry speed.

At the end of the weekend the Z06 needed new front rotors, pads were more than 2/3rds gone, and when overlaying laps, the Z06 was decelerating at a slower rate than the firebird, just the opposite of what I expected, and what physics would dictate. My best guess is confidence from the extra brake torque of the 14in brakes, and the pedal was anvil solid every single time in the firebird vs slight pad fade I was getting in the Z06 requiring more pedal effort.

The firebird rotors still looked brand new, even though they already had many track miles on them before the weekend. The pads were less than half worn. There was never even a hint of fade.

The pads I buy are 40$ cheaper for the Z06(stock calipers), but in the end the brembo's are actually a lot cheaper because I'm buying far less of them.

Rotors, it's no contest. I've got 60+ laps of the nurburgring, 6 track weekends, and 15+ autocross weekends on the same set of 14in blank rotors vs 2-3 hours of track time on the 12.8in rotors before they are going in the trash. A set of centric high carbon blanks for the 14in brakes are 60$ more + 70$ for the machining required. But after your very first track day you are 10$ ahead just on the rotors.

Cool brakes are happy brakes, and a 14in rotor is always going to run cooler than a 12.8in with the same pad compound.

Pedal feel is totally subjective, I will concede to your experience on the matter. I think the brembo's are a little bit grabby, which makes it hard to be smooth, but they also reduced my rear brake hop significantly. I kinda like grabby brakes, they inspire confidence, but that is just me.

Again, nothing but respect Sam, I just wanted to share my experience with consumables on smaller brakes.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

No new news there.

But 14" rotors weigh more, cost more, and create other issues with wheels. Is bigger better? Depends on the use. In this case the C5 rotor is already 1" larger than the LS1 and you get MUCH better calipers. For those looking for better brakes without breaking the bank, this is a great way to go.

You can say more is better. That's true, so why stop at 14"? Why not a C7's 15" rotors? Notice the price of this kit. Not $2k plus like Stoptech and Brembo, not even $1600 like a normal Wilwood setup (which come in 13 and 14" rotors too, but also with 2 piece rotors which are better than 1's, if you are dotting i's and crossing t's, right?).

vatechguy3

iTrader: (4)

Yes, youre right Sam, the LG brackets are for using the stock ls1 fbody calipers.

Tony

BALBI

Sam, supercharged 6 speed Z28 with an S60 Dana. I drive the car on the street and take it to the strip, no road courses.

I have C5 wheels all around for street and a set of 15" Race Stars for the track.

Is this kit right for me?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Well it depends on which C5 wheels you have in front. But no way they will clear the 15" fronts unless those no offset what-so-ever. Again, guys I refer you to the fitment template I posted originally. I just cannot know at all what will fit your cars because there are so many different wheels that people run. I wish I could know all the options for sure, but it's not possible.

BALBI

Sorry, the 15" are the rims on the drag radials only that I use at the track. The fronts are the same 18 x 9.5 I use all the way around for every day.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Should fit then as these are front brakes not rears. And you are running a 9.5 C5 rear. The 9.5" C5Z front clears with room to spare. But again, I'd strongly suggest you use the template and look at the wheels you have (pull them off and measure using the template as a guide) to make 100% sure first.

Because once you try and put these on they are yours.

BALBI

Understood.

Thanks!

SchaefZ28

iTrader: (2)

Has any one installed these yet? Would love to see some installed pics.

Sam, how appropriate are these calipers for 100% street duty?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Lots of interest not many folks biting. Bad time of year probably. Installed pics? Nothing really to see. I think folks are more worried about their wheels fitting and are kind of lazy sometimes in measuring the wheels on their car to make sure they work.

I didn't think to take pics of the car I put them on, which was my bad. I mean the caliper is what the caliper is. Looks like a normal Wilwood kit but the caliper is slightly less big top to bottom.

SchaefZ28

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, bad time of year for me tbh. I'm looking to get something done with my brakes by spring time though. I'd like to go with either these or a C5 conversion. My car might get 5-6k miles a year on it these days, no autox or HPDE as of yet, maybe someday though.

After looking at my wheels (aftermarket C5 Z06), I'm not 100% certain these will fit. It'll be pretty close if they do. I think I need something more precise than a tape measure to be sure. I also sent OEWheels a message to see if they have a section drawing of the wheel with dimensions. That'd take any guesswork out of it..

So I have read various thing about caliper piston dust boots. Some say they'd never run a bootless caliper (such as wilwoods) on the street; and others say the stainless pistons & bore tolerances are tight enough that you don't need dust boots. It seems to me that there are plenty of street cars using Wilwood calipers.. What are your thoughts on this?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Good call on getting a measurement on the wheels you want first.

As for the boots. Anyone who tracks a car knows that the boots just disintegrate with high heat anyway. And nothing is more brutal than being on the track with the huge amount of brake dust and iron particles from rotor wear flying around.

I haven't seen it be any issue. I mean I guess if you lived at beach and had a ton of sand around then I'd be more worried about it. But like you said, there is no shortage of cars on Wilwoods that have no issue.

dailydriver

^^^What Sam said, and I also wonder IF all of the OEM/street Brembo set ups from the factory on MANY cars nowadays even bother with boots on the pistons??

89ThirdGenCamaro3310

This set up would be perfect for me, but its just really bad timing. Trans needs a rebuild, and i need a new clutch. Cell phone took a dump on me and now i am out 600 for a new one. There goes my clutch money. So i either have to sell stuff or put in some over time(likely both). So brakes will have to take a back seat. My stock setup works great, but like any other car guy you always want a little more. You will be my first call for brakes once i am ready Sam.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

It'll be around down the road. I also have clutches of all kinds if I can help you there when the cell phone thing resolves.

Carlos01SS

iTrader: (4)

Sam's the man.