Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

brake help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 11:41 AM
  #1  
Texass683's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 255
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, Tx
Default brake help

As with most things about my car im a complete newb, I know enough around engines and stuff but not too much about brakes and suspension. I need some help on determining my next set of brakes and brake components. Mine are starting to show signs of rust and look bad behind an open wheel. Im also thinking about doing a C5 conversion to clean up the overall look too. My questions is this: Whats the difference between slotted and drilled rotors? Will one do better then the other? Who makes the best quality for an overall price, for front and rear, of around $500? I saw brembo, but dont know a thing about this and wanted to get some info on the situation. Also is a C5 conversion the best thing to clean up the look, or is there something better/not as expensive? I have been told yes, on the C5, but that was by a friend of mine who has about the same car IQ I have so.....

I know this is long sorry but want to get as much info as possible heading in. I tried a search but after about eight pages I gave up. Thanks for the help guys.

Here is a picture so you can see what im talking about:


Monroe
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 12:51 PM
  #2  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/353903-brake-faq.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/366446-brake-reviews.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/604066-what-s-best-flat-washer.html
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 02:05 PM
  #3  
JD_AMG's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Default

^ after reading that, if you want to just improve the look of the brake rotor/caliper you can paint it.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/733036-koni-sa-strano-springs-ss-brake-lines-brembo-rotors-hawk-pads-install-my-review.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710401-what-color-should-i-paint-my-caliper.html
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 04:03 PM
  #4  
1 FMF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: CT
Default

i just did a caliper polish job on mine. i don't think i'm cut out for metal polishing but they came out ok. I went with a set of drilled/slotted & zinc plated rotors on ebay for < $200 shipped. My goal was polished calipers, and i wanted drilled rotors to complement the look but wasn't about to spend $500-1000 on a name brand rotor and I didn't want to spend extra money on a conversion that I really don't need.
What you want is zinc plating, or cadmium plating, on the rotors. That's what will prevent the rust look, which is probably your biggest concern.
As for the calipers, you have the oem's like me. When I cleaned mine up, you won't believe what just a wire brush on a drill will do. They're aluminum and shine up real nice. How long they'll last like that is another story, the alternative is a caliper paint kit which you can pick up in most auto part stores fairly cheap.
I'll try to post a pic of my wheels if I get a chance.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 04:32 PM
  #5  
bradl1982's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Belleville, IL
Default

Buy some rotors off of ebay and paint your calipers. I've had a set of ebay slotted and drilled rotors on my car for a few years and they still look and work great.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 04:45 PM
  #6  
Texass683's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 255
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, Tx
Default

after reading a lot more into it and doing a ton of research basically all day today, I think Im just going to buy a set of slotted/drilled rotors off of ebay and then try and paint mine calipers black. I think black would like best with the SOM. Red in my mind would clash too much. What do yall think? Or is there another color out there to go with.

Last edited by Texass683; Jun 20, 2007 at 04:51 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 05:04 PM
  #7  
chavez885's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 1
From: Concord, CA
Default

black would look good,red would be BLEH IMO
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 08:36 PM
  #8  
1 FMF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: CT
Default

with SOM and your wheels are the gray/silver painted clearcoat, either black or a matching silver/gray color paint for the calipers. r1concepts on ebay has some nice looking rotors where they powercoat the center black, they look real nice but were more than i wanted to spend (but still cheap for all 4). you could probably caliper paint the center hub black, and with the caliper black would look nice with a drilled/slotted rotor





Last edited by 1 FMF; Jun 20, 2007 at 08:47 PM.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-6

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:31 PM.

story-0
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-1
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-3
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-6
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-7
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-8
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE