c5 vs Wilwood sl6 calipers

[ks71z28]

Why would anyone choose the SL6 caliper over the C5? The C5 uses a MUCH larger pad, and more clamping force.

anyone

Keith

[silver69camaro]

and more clamping force.

anyone

Keith

Clamping force is a function of input force to the brake pedal and master cylinder bore size. How can you say one caliper has more clamping force than the other?

The Wilwood SL6 caliper, IMO, provides better braking the C5 OE stuff. I like the pedal feel better, and I can count on a huge range of pads to fit my needs. I understand there are also lots of pads for the C5, but Wilwood has them all in one spot. No comparing Porterfield XXX to Hawk XXX compounds.

I also prefer fixed calipers to floaters. Whether the cost is justifiable, that's up to you.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Clamping force is a function of input force to the brake pedal and master cylinder bore size. How can you say one caliper has more clamping force than the other?

The Wilwood SL6 caliper, IMO, provides better braking the C5 OE stuff. I like the pedal feel better, and I can count on a huge range of pads to fit my needs. I understand there are also lots of pads for the C5, but Wilwood has them all in one spot. No comparing Porterfield XXX to Hawk XXX compounds.

I also prefer fixed calipers to floaters. Whether the cost is justifiable, that's up to you.

Yeah, what he said!

And they look cool as hell too!

[ks71z28]

but seriously, the friction surface plays a huge role, and the sl6 is kinda small

[Balance_Point]

With breakes bigger isn't necessarily better. Sizing is a function of need. Why have all the unsprung weight of big rotors and calipers if smaller ones will get the job done. You have asked too open ended a question to effectivly answer it. Possibly people get the bigger set up because they are endurance racing or choose smaller because they care more about maximizing performance from their suspension.

[ks71z28]

I was just trying to hear a compelling arguement why anyone would swap C5 brakes for sl6 calipers, and the reasoning, performance based ofcourse. I use Supelites on my GT-2 car, but it weighs 2000 lbs, not 3500 lbs. I get the brake feel, as a positive, but the friction surface, bothers me. i wish there was a larger version, I have a pair of Hearst-airhart calipers, old school that were once used on my GT-2 car, they use a much larger pad and the same mounting as the Superlite, but they are poor sand castings. Wilwood makes a GN III caliper that seems like it would make a MUCH better candidate, since the pad is about 40% larger. the drawback is it isn't as purdy, and pad selection and price isn't so good. Just my 2cents

Keith

[andrewb70]

Pad size doesn't have anything to do with the braking force that is being applied to the rotor. The braking force is determined by the total caliper piston area. So for a given pressure, say 1000 psi, at the caliper, the caliper with the greater piston area will provide more force on the rotor. Pad size comes into play when you consider pad life. Two calipers with equal piston area will provide the same force on the rotor, but the one with the larger pad will have longer pad life.

Anyone know the pistons size of a C5 caliper?

Andrew

[Apogee]

C5/C6 base calipers are twin 40.5 mm pistons up front.

In addition to what Andrew said with respect to pad area increasing pad life, it also reduces average operating temperatures due to the increase pad volume. C5/C6 pads are medium sized relative to the truly huge pads that are out there for endurance and other grueling brake applications.

Tobin
KORE3