I have put on custom 17" rims on my 94 lt1 and there is a lot of space between the disk brakes and the rim. The rims look great but i sure do not like the obvious space. I was told that the SS model has bigger stock brakes and to get my brakes off of an SS. Also i've read about using the C5 corvette brakes. Does anyone know about the SS disk brakes or any suggestions on what brakes to put in to fill my gap? I'm not looking at getting brembo or anything new, i'm looking for something cheaper or reasonably priced compared to a completely new brake swap. Thanks for any input.

I wasn't sure which forum to pose this question, if someone knows of a better palce to put this post please let me know. Thank you

 

I would consider the 98+ brakes, probably one of the cheapest upgrades you can do. They are about an inch bigger than the 93-97 brakes.

 

nope. SS's have the same brakes a V6 does.

LS1 brakes (12" rotors) are a nice step up. If you're buying the calipers separate, get the C5 calipers instead as there're cheaper rebuild kits for them and the casting is stronger.

If you want to go further, get a complete C5 upgrade which is basicly the same as the LS1 upgrade, but uses C5 calipers and larger 13" rotors.

 

you can always look into a Baer brake system...but for the money go with the LS1 setup...

 

Will the C5 Caliper fit on the LS1 steering knuckle?? If so, I think I may pick up a set of C5 calipers. Why would someone by the C5 brake upgrade bracket if the caliper fits fine? Or is the bracket made to accommodate the larger rotors too? Ihave the LS1 upgrade on my LT1 car, and I've been thinking about getting new claipers. Thanks for any help.

 

Yes they do fit the LS1 steering knuckle but not properly. Bob Bishop's brackets accomodate the C5 rotor which is 12.8" in diameter. To do the conversion properly, you should obtain the adaptor brackets (although near impossible) or have something custom made, which I have seen personally and works just the same. I bought the entire C5 brake kit less the brackets for $522 to my door including Hawk HPS pads. I got the brackets from Bob last fall. It was a very worthwhile mod and convenient one too as it uses OEM GM parts.

 

I think i'm going to go with the C5 brake conversion. Where did you get them from. Only 522 bucks with pads, that is great. Is Bob Bishop the only person that makes the brackets or where would you go to get them custom made?

 

No, they fit fine (and you don't bolt floating calipers to steering knuckles ).

The issue is that the pad abutement bracket from a C5 is matched to the 12.8" rotors. If you want to use a C5 caliper (which is exactly the same as a LS1 except it is pressure-cast, not gravity cast aluminum, and there is much more fin-webbing for heat dissipation and strength accross the bridge) on smaller LS1 rotors, you need to use LS1 pad abutement bracket along with the LS1 steering knuckle.

The calipers and slide-pins (which connect the caliper to the pad abutement brackets) are completely interchangable. I know, I have both sets at home and had to work this out the long way to use the LS1 rotors. And yes, with C5 rotors you need to use the C5 pad abutement bracket as well.

 

1) used
2) LG Motorsports USED to make them (might wanta give them a call)
3) sign up for the Bob Bishop Group Purchase currently going on... you might get in on one of the last 33 sets to be made... ever.

Beyond that I think you need to call Baer as they sell brackets with their brake system that uses the same caliper and rotor size... for 4 digits. ouch.

To get real crazy you can also try calling prospeed or Brembo and see if you can work some magic... they used to make 13" and 14" rotor upgrades using Porsche Big Red (4-piston) and Big Yellow (6-piston) brakes... but I think they dropped the Fbody kits a while ago... again, there may be used ones for sale if you look around.... expect to pay around 2500 to 3000 for those kits.

The LS1 upgrade is a great option (even better with brake air ducting and C5 calipers)... and the C5's about as insane as you need to be with anything but the most stripped-down uber-pro-racer.

For those with C5 brakes and air ducting in place and REALLY want to get more out of it... try these: http://www.stopforce.com/ (not cheap, but it's definitely an option if you don't have 18" wheels or the urge to dump 3 G's on ever larger brakes)

 

I don't quite understand what you're talking about when you say Pad Abutement. What is that exactly? I have the LS1 brake upgrade on my car, and I thought about getting C5 calipers. So what would I need to buy to be able to put the C5 calipers on my LS1 steering knuckle, and also to work with my LS1 Fbody rotors? What are the caliper slide-pins? Thanks again.

 

OK i want the complete C5 brake conversion. 13" rotors and so on.. to fit my 17" rims. How much money am I looking at spending and where should I look for the best deals? Thanks

 

I ordered my stuff from Team Chevrolet. I forget the number to call them but I'm sure someone on the board has it or it can be found in a post.

Steve-Thats what I meant about the improper setup of just bolting the C5 abutment bracket and caliper assembly to an otherwise stock LS1 spindle/brake assembly, just didnt go into detail . Good catch by the way.