el es tu

I was just wondering if this would work, and if it would require less wheel clearance than the 6 piston calipers. I dont think anyone has tried this yet. It could turn out to be a cheap upgrade for the c6 z51 t1 people or anyone looking for a small budget brake upgrade.

from the piston sizing, the area of the Z06 4piston rear calipers with the base (non z51) rear calipers looks like it will closely match the f/r ratio of the z06 brake setup. Im not sure about the dimensions of the z51 rear piston (supposed to be smaller than the base one).

If the hat to rotor spacing is the same per c6 model, then the only two issues I see are:

needing a spacer such as a washer/nord lock where the caliper mounts to the spindle (not sure how thick but I know that when people run the base front calipers in the rear, the carrier is supposedly filed/ground to take some of the thickness off)

the pads possibly contacting the rotors requiring some modification (due the the fact that the front rotors are 32mm and the rear are 26mm)

Z06 front piston 33mm (x6), Z06 rear piston 30mm (x4)

Base/z51 front piston 40.35mm (x2), Z51 rear piston 41.60, Base rear piston 44.75

davidfarmer

I can't imaging the Z06 rear caliper pistons have the same surface area as the base C6 fronts. It's possible, but I think GM keeps the master cylinders etc the same, and that wouldn't be the case.

They certainly will fit on the front though, just curious as you about the rotors. I don't have OEM brakes on my car now, or I'd try it. I don't think many people would be interested in running padlets by choice, plus exposing calipers made for the rear to more than double the loading on the front could be problematic.

el es tu

Heres the area for the pistons on those calipers:
Z06 front caliper: 6x((33mm/2)x(33mm/2))pi=5131.79 square mm
Z06 rear caliper: 4x((30mm/2)x(30mm/2))pi= 2827.43 square mm
Base/Z51 front caliper: 2x((40.35mm/2)x(40.35mm/2))pi= 2557.45 square mm
Base rear caliper: ((44.75mm/2)x(44.75mm/2))pi =1572.81 square mm
Z51 rear caliper: ((41.6mm/2)x(41.6mm/2))pi= 1359.18 square mm

front to rear piston area ratios:
Z06f/Z06r 5131.79/2827.43 = 1.82
Basef/Baser 2557.45/1572.81 = 1.63
Z51f/Z51r 2557.45/1359.18 = 1.88

Z06r/Baser 2827.43/1572.81 = 1.80

The area increase is small, and the f/r ratio is changed to be closer to the z06 or z51 setup (supposedly better balance).
It would be interesting to see if the brake feel, and lower chance of caliper spread (as compared to the base front calipers) would make it worth while.

Considering the stories about those z06 padlets backing out - Id lean toward going with the 1 piece pads that a few manufacturesrs are making now

thanks for the reply.
all input is much appreciated!



EDIT: Just found out from a separate thread that while it might fit, it wont work out.

TPSMak

If your looking for a good upgrade for the fronts I would just go with a set of LG G-Stops.. they work really good and are reasonably priced.

0Vector Vette

The caliper will bolt to the spindles. It won't fit with a rotor though. The rotors are not the same thickness and the drop isn't the same. Won't work for clamping force either. What you forgot is that the Z51 is a sliding caliper, so while it only has 2 pistons, it is a sliding design. Therefore you have twice the clamping force that you have in your figures. Remember Sir Isac Newton, "for every force there is an equal and opposite force".