Brake Upgrade Fitment

[enkeivette]

I asked this ques a while ago on CF, and not surprisingly no one on that forum knew, bu I have more faith in you guys. :D

So, since my 19" wheels wont be limiting the size of the calipers I can fit, and since my wheels are spaced 2" out with the forged spacers, my brakes are way far away from the wheel.

So, since space isnt an issue, and since I have a welder and an angle grinder and thus the ability to make a custom bracket, cant I fit any brakes with a 5x4 3/4 bolt patten on the car that I want?? Is there some other limiting factor? I know Ill need to research brake proportioning more, but as far as fitment, wont basically anything fit with a custom bracket?

[Vettezuki]

Yes. Your critical path is getting your brake pedal/booster/mc/proportioning valves to work correcting with the calipers you choose. I vaguely recall some guys with C3s and bigger wheels going to C5ZO6 brakes with disappointing results, but the cause wasn't the calipers, it was that the the MC and proportioning wasn't matched to the bore stroke of the calipers. Basically, everything is a system and all the parts have to work together. You can futz around on margins, but if you want big brakes on an older Vette, you'll have to do your homework on MC and proportioning.

I think Wilwood now has a whole system for C3s that's not too expensive, something in the $1,500+- as I recall including Rotors. There's another company up north that went all the way with new hubs and everything. I think that's more in the $4k range though.

[Vettezuki]

Remember whatever fabbed up brackets you make are taking repeated torqing from pad application and even some heat cycling. Don't dick around too much. There's a reason the mounting points for calipers are beefy.

[Shaolin Crane]

Those brackets should really bee tig welded on the final product. I remember using a calculator when I did my 5 lug swap on the race car for proper MC bore size. You'll probably also need a few proportioning valves to screw with proper pressures. I have one mid line towards to rear of the car to adjust rear bias and total line pressure.

[Shaolin Crane]

Not the one I used but its a start
http://www.markwilliams.com/braketech.aspx

[Shaolin Crane]

GT500 brembos are easy to come by

[enkeivette]

Mustangs are 5x4 1/2 though right? Although I guess you could get the rotors from a Chevy to work with it.

Thanks guys, I think if I did it Id just go with a booster/ master cylinder for the same car. Drilling holes in the pedal assembly and fabbing a rod connection would be easier than doing math. Hahaha


As far as the bracket goes, you guys know me, Id weld it with my mig. But whatever it is it would be twice as thick as the factory bracket, welded on both sides and weigh 30lbs.

[Shaolin Crane]

They are but a brembo caliper isnt designated to a rotor. They're for a 14" sized rotor and as long as you have the proper bolt pattern when you make the bracket you'll be fine. Brembo blanks are reasonably priced.

[Shaolin Crane]

Mustangs are 5x4 1/2 though right? Although I guess you could get the rotors from a Chevy to work with it.

Thanks guys, I think if I did it Id just go with a booster/ master cylinder for the same car. Drilling holes in the pedal assembly and fabbing a rod connection would be easier than doing math. Hahaha


As far as the bracket goes, you guys know me, Id weld it with my mig. But whatever it is it would be twice as thick as the factory bracket, welded on both sides and weigh 30lbs.

Whenever you decide on a caliper I have the equation saved on my desktop and i'll be able to figure out what size you need without moving the fulcrum of the lever. Work smarter and all...