i'm looking into doing a front brake upgrade and would like to hear opinions on the LS1 bigbrake kit vs the C5 brake upgrade. considerations are: ease of install, fitment, cost and of course performance. does anyone have experience comparing the two side by side performance-wise?

 

apparently not

 

C5 = best, but you need 17" wheels.

LS1 is good if you don't mind the calipers spreading if you drive aggressively. I had actually wished I went LS1 intstead of my C4HD kit until I read the last post about spreading calipers. That made me feel better about not getting the LS1 setup.

 

Plus the C5's are just plain better looking. When people see the Corvette lettering they know it's custom. I get lots of questions and compliments.

<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/473000-473999/473585_59_full.jpg">

 

That's probably because most people didn't respond because they didn't want to waste their time telling you to do a search. This topic has been covered a ton of times.

As for the Corvette lettering, I personally would rather not have that there (though it depends on personal taste obviously). I like my car looking as sleeperish as possible. Sure I have huge brakes, but most people don't realize its not stock unless they know our cars real well, which I like. Shows me which people actually know something about our cars, but doesn't show it off to everyone.

 

bling , i also wish it didnt have the letters. but here it is.

 

i never post a question without doing an extensive search so dont waste my time either. i dont see anything on the boards about performance comparison. also, if no one ever asked questions here there would never be any new information so get off your high almighty horse.

 

Let's answer your questions:

If you can fit them, go C5s;

C5s will cost a bit more but they're worth it, no spreading issues there;

Install will be the same, only difference is in the brackets;

Performance will be roughly the same but like I mentioned, LS1s may spread out on you;

I have no performance info for you but I've built both types in kit form and I prefer the C5s. Honestly you won't see much performance comparisons here since most guys won't take the time or the money to buy or make and install both setups. It's a preference thing. I have 1LEs and also C4 HDs and are very happy with them.

As for looks, I found a few sets of C5 calipers without lettering, in a dark gray, so I bought them. It adds to the intrigue of the brakes without "CORVETTE" or "BAER" on the outside.

Ed

 

To keep this from being locked, all I am going to say is that I didn't tell you to search. I was telling you that's probably why most people didn't respond. Don't tell me to not waste your time when I was the first person to respond with useful info to your thread.

Here, like I said, this information has been more than a few times before. Its as close to a "performance" comparison as you're going to get from most of us unless you find someone that has used all the different brake setups on a single car.

C4 = 12" x .8"? I'm not sure on the width to be positive. 2-piston calipers.
C4HD = 13" x 1.1". 2-piston calipers
LS1 = 12" x 1.25", 2-piston calipers, new pin-guided caliper
C5 = 12.75" x 1.25" (??), 2-piston caliper, new pin-guided caliper.

LS1 and C5 calipers are very similar, but C5's don't have the spreading problem associated with LS1 brakes. I like my C4HD brakes quite a bit. They stop the car quite well, and I have crappy PFC pads still. Will be buying new Stillen MetalMatrix pads in a few weeks when I get my new LS1 rearend to replace my current LS1 rearend. That way I'll just buy new front and rear metalmatrix pads.

 

12" C4s are .81" thick, and all C4 style calipers are pad guided.

"Kits" listed in my order of preference:

C5s, Wilwoods (using at least a 12.5" or larger rotor), 13" HDs, LS1s, 12" C4s, 1LEs.

Ed

 

as far as the ls1 calipers "spreading", does this happen often or is it something that occurs only under very extreme conditions? also are there and other stiffer calipers made that will fit the ls1 setup? someone on another thread inferred that you could swap a Z06 caliper onto the LS1 setup. is this true? if so you could have the best of both worlds - a stiff caliper that wont spread but will fit under a 16" wheel.

 

I'm pretty sure C5 calipers won't clear the 16" rims because of the fins on them to give them more strength. They are VERY similar to LS1 calipers but with more fins on there for better cooling and more strength to prevent the spreading issues. Grind away the fins, and you're back with an LS1 caliper.

 

Extreme. I've never seen a set that has done that but I know guys racing have had the issue. Normal street driving would be OK.

Ed

 

who has the best price on a c5 kit?

 

here is link to a site that will help to you part numbers for the C5 swap.http://82lt1.cz28.com/brakes/page5.html Take those part numbers and go to gmpartsdirect.com and get prices. I paid $170 for 4 Z06 calipers from ebay and I think the rest of the parts from gmpartsdirect where $230 or something. I still need to get pads, maybe $40-$50 or so for those. getting brackets made by someone you know well will save you around $50. same goes for the rotor/hub modification. hope this helps.