Best affordable brakes for second gen firebird with afx spindles

[7firebird1]

Hello all! I am working on my 71 Firebird Pro Touring build and am in the process of putting the front subframe together with SpeedTech suspension. I am at the point of needing brakes for the AFX C5/C6 spindles. I’m not really looking to spend 5k on brakes....I wish I could. Lol.
I am looking at the Powerstop/Stop Tech option but looking for other options as well. I am also unclear as to what options to order as the Corvette brakes have several....just not sure what will fit the AFX spindles. Anyone with experience with these spindles and choosing brakes? Thanks in advance!

[CapSS92]

Pretty much anything Corvette 97-up will fit it, IIRC. First option is the standard (JL9) 12.6" rotor with C5/C6 calipers and regular abutments(brackets), next is the Z51 (J55) rotor at 13.6" with C5/C6 calipers with Z51 abutments, and finally the big dog, Z06 (J56) rotors at 14.6" with the 6 piston calipers. I don't know about the J57 15.5" option but from what I see on pricing all I can say is YIKES!. Rockauto is your best bet for pricing. Here's a couple of links that go through the brake options for standard Vette's. I use the 13.6" on my Chevelle with an LS3 and hydroboost and it stops just fine. Real easy to lock up. HTH.

Alex

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/autocrossing-and-roadracing/3054189-how-do-i-tell-if-i-have-jl9-or-j55-brakes.html

https://vettelab.com/news-projects/explaining-c7-corvette-brakes-and-brake-option-codes/

[7firebird1]

Yikes was my reaction as well!! Lol!! Thanks Alex!

[7firebird1]

Great information!

[c4racer2]

Kore3 also sells the C6 brakes as a bundle for that spindle if you don’t want to piece it all together. Their pricing is pretty fair.

[7firebird1]

Are the Kore3 brakes better than the ones you get from RockAuto?

[c4racer2]

No. They are stock corvette. But it’s sometimes hard to find the abutement plates and Kore3 includes those in the kit.

[7firebird1]

They probably don’t sell them separately either.

[c4racer2]

What do you want separately ? Call them they might.

This is the kit they sell for those spindles ;

http://kore3.com/proddetail.php?prod=10336-01

[7firebird1]

Abutement plates. RockAuto has the front and rear as a kit for $700+....which is a decent deal but I’m sure it doesn’t come with said brackets to adapt to a 9”. I’m gonna give them a call to see if I can just buy the brackets.

[c4racer2]

They should sell brackets separately. Abutement plates depends how they source them. If they get as a kit with calipers they wouldn’t separate. These things are hard to find. All the kits assume you have them.

[7firebird1]

I appreciate all the info c4racer2!

[astroracer]

I got all of the Corvette stuff I am using on BadAst off eBay. The red set I used for development was a couple hundred. The black set I am actually using was about the same price and they are brand new. I got new abutments from Schram Auto Parts along with slide bolts and all of the fasteners. With everything I purchased I have about 700 into the everything and will be selling the red ones to recoup some cost.
I used Kore3 brackets on the 9". They fit very well and will do the job.
Check out my build thread:
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/20086-The-BAD-AST-Project-Faze-II/page21
I put the brakes together on pg. 21 and go thru some of the clean up and paint work as well.
Mark

[7firebird1]

Thanks Mark!

[F-Body International]

Not cheap but if you want Wilwood, look into the Wilwood SLC56 (C5/C6) calipers...
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-140-15173-r/

Other than that, the best affordable setup is standard GM rotors/calipers. Your best investment is good pads.

[7firebird1]

Thanks F-Body International

[TheJDMan]

A lot of the Corvette guys take off the stock brakes and install something else/better. I found a full set of C6Z06 calipers virtually new for around $450 without rotors.

169672

169673

I had to fabricate the rear caliper brackets but I hear Kore3 now offers everything you need in a kit using the stock C6Z06 calipers. I had to order custom rotors for the rear due to installing them on a Moser floater rear axle. The correct pads will make all the difference between a brake system that works well and one that doesn't. I have experimented with numerious different grip level pads before settling on a high grip pad up front and a lower grip pad on the rear in order to get the balance dialed in.

[7firebird1]

Very nice!!

[eville]

check ebay for the abutment brackets too. I got my rears there. Some of the rock auto kits include the abutment brackets.

[Smitham32803]

There is nothing wrong with he standard C5/c6 brakes. We run these on our corvette C4 race car running close to 160 mph at Daytona. I just picked up a set of takeoffs from a 02 corvette (calipers, rotors, master cylinder, and booster for $300. I plan on using them on my 68 Camaro with AFX spindles.

[130fe]

I have a set of front/rear C5 abutment brackets if you are interested. Pm me for details.

[CarlC]

There is nothing wrong with he standard C5/c6 brakes. We run these on our corvette C4 race car running close to 160 mph at Daytona. I just picked up a set of takeoffs from a 02 corvette (calipers, rotors, master cylinder, and booster for $300. I plan on using them on my 68 Camaro with AFX spindles.

This. I've been using C5/6 front and C6 rear for four years with very good results. Tobin at Kore3 is one stop shopping and he knows his business inside out.

[badazz81z28]

This. I've been using C5/6 front and C6 rear for four years with very good results. Tobin at Kore3 is one stop shopping and he knows his business inside out.


I just dislike the sight of “corvette” on my calipers installed on a Camaro. Really the only reason I use Baers. It just looks more appealing to me. They use the same pads....

[cypher]

This. I've been using C5/6 front and C6 rear for four years with very good results. Tobin at Kore3 is one stop shopping and he knows his business inside out.

Did you do the c5/6 rears with parking brake? Its such a huge jump in price for that option and i cant decide if its worth doing.... not sure ill actually use it.

[eville]

Did you do the c5/6 with parking brake? Its such a huge jump in price for that option and i cant decide if its worth doing.... not sure ill actually use it.

I'm installing the C5/6 park brake kit now. It's elaborate machining which effects the cost for sure. The available park brake options are all very expensive. To me, it's worth it.