Unarguably they perform better than the stock lt1s ... do they perform better than the ls1s???

I brake from 140 to 60 or so and they do get heated up and they do fade a bit... I thought they wouldn't do that... I thought they used them in Auto X?? and here in solo 1 they do not do brake upgrade to corvettes so.. I assume they work... why do they heat up that much???

 

yes.

The C5 caliper is pressure-cast aluminum, while the LS1 is gravity cast. The C5 caliper has braces/heat-fins that go all the way accross the caliper's bridge, the LS1 fins are inboard only. For both these reasons, the C5/Z06 caliper will resist caliper flex (aka caliper spreading) more than the LS1.

The C5 uses 13" rotors (actually 12.9"), the LS1 system uses 12" rotors (actually 11.9"), while the LT1 system uses 11" rotors (10.8" actually). Larger rotors means greater leverage/torque arm.

The C5 caliper has a larger pad area and a larger sweep area (on the rotor) which both help dissipate the heat more evently. The C5 pads (and the pad-abudment bracket) are also ~1/4" thicker which means more pad material as a heat sink/barrier between the rotor surface and the pistons (which transfers heat to the brake fluid).

The C5 pistons are 40mm aluminum, but there are 40mm Stainless Steel piston which are available (for ~$140 for all 4). The SS pistons are MUCH more heat-resisitant, stronger, and heavier (again, more heat-sink). They help keep the brake fluid from boiling over due to high temps.

LS1 pistons are 44mm aluminum and I've been unable to locate a SS upgrade so far.


There are some catches to the C5 upgrade though:
- C5 length brake lines will be required, LS1 lines are too short... ANY force on a brake line, especially a teflon/Stainless-steel line, will damage it. Make sure the wheels at full droop can turn side to side without binding or rubbing the brake line.
- The LS1 spare tire will not fit. Time for some Fix-a-flat and a AAA membership.
- While Fbody parts such as the LS1 system may be legal in most autocross/road racing classes, Corvette parts will usually mean a step up in classes (and hense your competition's budget).

 

Are you sure about that one? Last time I had mine apart I could have sworn there was some surface rust on the bottom, inside part of the pistons. Last I checked aluminum didnt rust I think they're steel, probably not SS though...

 

Last time I checked the pads where the same part number, so I think they are the same area, the difference is the leverage...

But why did they heat up so much when braking from 140??? I thought it shouldn't happen like that anyways...

 

Highlander... They are naturally going to still get heated. If you are experiencing brake fade with only one 140-60 stop, then I would think you are not running a high enough quality pad.

Several us run these brakes on the road courses with very good success and that is many 120+ to 30mph stops.

I would suggest you look for a better set of pads.

 

It is not precisely one and not precisely fade... it is a lot of smell... and it gets a bit mushy.. anyways... I have the z06 pads...