C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

I've been picking up parts and pieces this winter so that when spring arrives I'll have everything needed to install C5 brakes on the front of my Camaro.

parts required:

1) C5 front rotors
2) C5 front calipers
3) C5 front brake pad abutment brackets
4) C5 front brake hoses
5) C5 to Fbody adapter brakets
6) C5 front brake pads

Everything listed above was purchased used, except for the adapter brackets which were purchased new and the rotors which I happenned to have leftover from another project.

I disassembled everything completely, stripped the calipers down to bare castings and cleaned everything. I used a flat file on all the flat unpainted aluminum surfaces to make them look new. Then the calipers and abutment brackets got repainted with duplicolor caliper paint and then baked in the oven at 350F for 30 minutes.

After the refinishing was complete, they got reassembled with new parts.

1) piston seal rings
2) piston dust boots
3) brake pad clips
4) slide pin boots
5) copper washers for banjo bolts
6) Permatex brake lube

Everything is assembled and ready to bolt onto the car. All I need is spring to arrive so I can bring the car home from storage.

As promised, here are the pictures so far.

Here is a piston ready to be installed. There is already a new ringseal in the bore, and it is wetted with brake fluid.
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/1.jpg


Install the seal on the the bottom of the piston
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/2.jpg


Place the rubber lip onto the groove around the edge of the piston bore
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/3.jpg

Push the piston home, when the seal reaches the top it will snap into the groove and seal.
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/4.jpg

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/5.jpg

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/6.jpg

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/7.jpg

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Any updates on your installation?

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Well, as far as updates... I've cleaned up the rotors and have them ready for installation. I started with a wire wheel in a drill and cleaned all 4 rotors to bare metal. Then I washed them with warm soapy water to remove leftover dirt and grime. Once dry, I painted them with Duplicolor high temp caliper paint.

After the paint was dry, I took them and had them turned. Turning them left them looking like new.

I've also got a set of SLP Bilstein shocks to be installed. All I need now is a couple good rains to wash the rest of the salt off the roads so I can bring the car home from storage.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/9.jpg
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes/8.jpg

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Thanks for the update. I'm considering the same brake conversion and wondered if you'd gotten the chance to get them installed.

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Those brakes look almost better then new! I'd love to do this swap to mine but i really dont want to get rid of my TT2s to do it either :mad:

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

A single sawblade made all the cuts. In fact, the blade is still in great shape. While cutting, use lots of light oil to lubricate the blade and move the saw in and out and up and down to prevent the blade from getting too hot in one place.

I paid as much for this pack of blades at Home Depot as I did for my sawzall at Harbor Freight.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/sawblade.jpg

The first thing to cut off is the little protrusion off the back of the spindle. It's right above the top rear bolt hole and interferes with the installation of the C5 adapter plate. Make sure you get the whole thing. First cut upwards, starting at the bottom of the protrusion so you can make sure it is even with the surrounding area. Then cut down from the top to meet your cutline from the bottom. If you miss any, it will interfere with the bracket and things will not line up properly. If you need to, a file can be used to remove anything left behind after cutting.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/smallcut.jpg

The next cut is the top ear. You'll want to raid the crayon or chalk drawer for something to make a mark for this cut.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark1.jpg

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark2.jpg

Here is what it looks like after the cut is made. File the edges to eliminate any burrs you may cut yourself with in the future and hit it with some black paint.
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark3.jpg

now... on to the bottom ear. slice slice.
First, get out the crayon and make a mark.
Here is a picture of the cut almost completed.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark4.jpg

Now, use your file to make it clean and hit it with the black paint.

Here is what it looks like with the cutting done and the adapter plate bolted in place. Don't forget to use red locktite on the 4 hub bolts.

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark5.jpg

Now button it up like you would any other regular brake job and you get this:

http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/cutmark6.jpg

I have not driven the car yet with these installed. I'm still working on the new front shocks.

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Tracy - If you don't mind me asking, about how much do you have in the swap parts? I'd like to do a similar upgrade to my SS sometime in the next year or two. Feel free to PM me if need be.

Thanks,

Eric

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Subscribing out of interest, thanks.

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

The project is complete. I've driven the car a couple times and the difference in the feel of the brakes is really nice.


Here is what it looks like with the new SLP Bilstein shocks installed with the new C5 brakes
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes1.JPG


http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes2.JPG


And here is the final product with wheel installed.
http://bahrnet.dyndns.org:2980/webshare/brakes3.JPG

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Adapter brackets: $160 from ebay
C5 calipers, brake pads, abatement brackets, stainless steel hoses - $200 from a member on corvetteforum
C5 rotors - free (I had them laying around) from a prior project.
Misc parts - seals, dust boots, clips, lube, banjo washers, paint, brake cleaner, sawblade, etc... $50

I'm guessing I've got around $410 in the brakes.

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Awesome job man! I'm definitely going the C5 brake route. Undecided on whether or not I'm doing rears (I have a mysterious high speed vibration that might be one of my axles out back so it might be worthwhile to do the LS1 axle swap anyway).

I have a brake-noob question, what are "abutment brackets" (the part painted black)? I've found deals on "complete" used brake assemblies ....they would be included if they're truly "complete", correct? I found calipers, rotors, brake lines, pads .....all from a 12K mile 2004 Vette and someone bought them for $207 (all four!) ....now this was a great deal! ...correct?:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/C5-Ch...item27ba676a0d

I need to find this deal again ....

So if I bought the same deal..... At that point all I would need is a conversion kit for the rear (plus LS1 axles) and a conversion kit for the front, is that right or is there more? I notice some kits claim you don't have to cut the spindle ...but that must be only if you're already an LS1 car, correct?

So no matter what I have to do some cutting up front, correct?

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Yes, the abutment bracket is the part painted black. It holds the pads in place while the caliper squeezes them.

I really don't know much about what it takes to upgrade the rear. I do know that the parking brake on an LT1 car is significantly different than the parking brake on a LS1 car or a C5 Vette.

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

man that looks great!! dont delete the pics.. cause i wanna do that to my z in the future sometime :P

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

Thanks... Car looks great btw. How's the difference in stopping power? Any plans for the rear?

Re: C5 brakes on my LT1 car - PICS
 

I have a 97ss MM6. I did a Kore3 C5/ 4th_gen conversion kit. I had seen a mod @ a local car show. Kit was complete with everything, except saw and brake fluid. Lowest cost I could find.
I believe you need @ least 17" wheels for the C5 brake mod. I had the stock 17x9 SS ZR1 wheels, and they worked & had good caliper clearance.

I also have the Bilstein Level 2 shock/ suspension option with the original car purchase. I also did the Energy suspension bushing package. This mod really helped with cornering since the stock GM bushings are very soft.

I had alot of rust on the top A-arm/ body bracket. Alot of clean-up there, and, rust-o-leum paint.

I also had difficulty with the torx bolt(s) near the brake master cylinder. No wrench clearance (or_very little). I ended up modding this fastener to a heavy washer and nut (3/8-16unc)/ stud to secure the top of the A-arm/ shock tower. Driver side was clear.

Very good job, and clean car.
B.