I have a 1986 IROC with an LS2/T56 combo installed. I seriously need to upgrade to a better brake system. Current horsepower to the rear wheels is approx 440. I have the 10 bolt with 3.23 gears and the 10.5" 4-wheel disc all the way around. If I upgrade to the '98-'02 LS1 brakes, will that be enough stopping power or should I go with the C5 or C6 setup? Not sure if I want to stay with stock rims or change them as well. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

LS1 brakes are the largest that can fit in a 15" wheel with some effort, and should basically bolt onto a car using 16" wheels. I'd only go with more if you plan on ONLY running something bigger than a 16" wheel. I'm using LS1's on my 15" wheels and they seem to work well enough to burn off my 147mph 1/4 mile passes decently while using a manual master cylinder.

 

I have C5 brakes on mine, and they are great, but unless you want to run bigger wheels I'd go with the LS1s, they will be really good for street use.

 

I'd get LS1s on all four corners, should be more than enough and a great bang for the buck. They're one of my favorite things about my Z28 because the sport coupe doesn't stop for crap, lol.

 

I see on the www.flynbye.com website they have a LS1/C5 Hybrid kit that will fit under my 16" wheels. Would these be better than the LS1's or the same?

 

Sorry, I had to leave early. Car will mostly be driven on the street. It may periodically be driven on a road course track. How much handling improvement would I get going to 18" tires over my 16"? Thanks.

 

The C5/LS1 hybrid should give you a bit firmer pedal as the C5 caliper is stiffer, but that's about all. And all else being equal 18s with give you better handleing, and worse ride, but on the street it won't matter much. If you spent the price difference on buying a set of really good tyres for your 16s they will handle much better than 18s with crap tyres. Of course 18s with big brakes look really cool, which was a bit of a factor when I did mine (if I'm completly honest)

 

While I haven't tried it, I seriously doubt LS1 brakes will be suitable for a track day. If you plan to use 16" wheels and want trackable brakes I'd go with Ed's $1000 13" Wilwood kit. If you plan to use 18" wheels I'd go with one of his 14" Brembo based kits.

 

Show me lap times to prove your 18" tires handle better than 16" tires. its not the size of tire, its the quality that mainly counts. But to the sidewall size of the tire- tire sidewall has compression rate just as the shock and spring do in compression. Generally a 16" 50 series tire is more forgiving and more predictable on extreme edge than a lower profile 40/35 series tire.

I personally choose the 16" over 18. I really feel 17" on a 45/40 series sidewall is best suited for a thirdgen suspesion geometry- but that is just a personal opinion and preferance for a drivers perspective.

 

What are you using for a manual master cyl & pedal ? Sorry for the hijack

 

From how others have talked about their manual master cylinders, it seems I don't have the best one, but what I'm using is one from a 68 corvette. I used to have an adjustable proportioning valve that I never really did anything with, so I currently don't have one on the car. Pictures are kinda old, but here:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...z/pushrod2.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...2z/pushrod.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...erCylinder.jpg

 

What about the brakes off of a 1995 trans am. would these be just as good as the LS1 brake set up?

 

I'm going to say no that with 440whp and the potential to push 200mph if the car is right, LS1 brakes are not going to cut the mustard for your application.

I would suggest going to a 4 piston Baer/Wilwood/Brembo front setup (with upgraded rear brakes) with a set of 17" wheels.