Corvettemechanic.com | Certified Technicians helping corvette owners
Portal Forum Garage Video My Threads/Replies Members List
Go Back   CM > C5 Corvettes 1997-2004 > C5 Technical Questions
Question re: C5 Z06 Brake Pads Question re: C5 Z06 Brake Pads
Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Tech Staff

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-02-2011, 03:45 pm   #1
TAC
Corvette Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Points: 2,710, Level: 7
Points: 2,710, Level: 7 Points: 2,710, Level: 7 Points: 2,710, Level: 7
Level up: 80%, 140 Points needed
Level up: 80% Level up: 80% Level up: 80%
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Last Achievements

CM Question re: C5 Z06 Brake Pads
A question about brake pads elsewhere got me looking at my pads on my 2003 Z06. The question is:

Should the inside pads be installed so the wear sensor is positioned at the top of the caliper or bottom?

I looked at mine, which have been changed several times, and my fronts have the sensors at the bottom while the rears are at the top. I just changed them last weekend and matched the pads to what was last installed and didn't even think about the position of the sensor. I haven't driven the car since then so it shouldn't be a big deal to reverse them...I just want to get them done correctly.

TIA
TAC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2011, 08:51 pm   #2
Spotter
 
vettex2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Jose CA.
Posts: 1,006
Thanks: 26
Thanked 38 Times in 37 Posts

Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Level up: 25%, 833 Points needed
Level up: 25% Level up: 25% Level up: 25%
Activity: 4.0%
Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0%
Last Achievements

CM
Personally , I don't think it matters but I usuall put them on the trailing edge
86 & 99 auto Z51's
AMA Lifetime Member

NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Dirt Track)
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series California State Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
vettex2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2011, 08:58 pm   #3
Master Technician
 
LLC5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,145
Thanks: 9
Thanked 106 Times in 106 Posts

Points: 5,574, Level: 11
Points: 5,574, Level: 11 Points: 5,574, Level: 11 Points: 5,574, Level: 11
Level up: 3%, 1,076 Points needed
Level up: 3% Level up: 3% Level up: 3%
Activity: 96.0%
Activity: 96.0% Activity: 96.0% Activity: 96.0%
Last Achievements

CM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TAC View Post
A question about brake pads elsewhere got me looking at my pads on my 2003 Z06. The question is:

Should the inside pads be installed so the wear sensor is positioned at the top of the caliper or bottom?

I looked at mine, which have been changed several times, and my fronts have the sensors at the bottom while the rears are at the top. I just changed them last weekend and matched the pads to what was last installed and didn't even think about the position of the sensor. I haven't driven the car since then so it shouldn't be a big deal to reverse them...I just want to get them done correctly.

TIA



They should be installed so that the wear sensor is at the closest location to direction of travel. If the caliper is on the backside of the rotor and the direction of rotor travel is counter clockwise, then the sensor should be at the bottom. It's harder to describe than do. Good luck with it.
Master Technician

20 year ASE Master Certified Tech

1998 black 6spd convertible
LLC5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2011, 09:34 pm   #4
Spotter
 
vettex2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Jose CA.
Posts: 1,006
Thanks: 26
Thanked 38 Times in 37 Posts

Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Level up: 25%, 833 Points needed
Level up: 25% Level up: 25% Level up: 25%
Activity: 4.0%
Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0%
Last Achievements

CM
why ?
just gotta know......
86 & 99 auto Z51's
AMA Lifetime Member

NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Dirt Track)
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series California State Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
vettex2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2011, 09:47 pm   #5
Corvette Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Akron OH.
Posts: 164
Thanks: 0
Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts

Points: 3,237, Level: 8
Points: 3,237, Level: 8 Points: 3,237, Level: 8 Points: 3,237, Level: 8
Level up: 49%, 413 Points needed
Level up: 49% Level up: 49% Level up: 49%
Activity: 18.0%
Activity: 18.0% Activity: 18.0% Activity: 18.0%
Last Achievements

CM
If I understood this right, should be on the side the rotor is moving away from. Some years ago I install them the other way on something and it broke both sensors off. I didn't inspect soon enough, and trashed the rotors.

I believe the sensors dug in too much and broke.

Mark
markw8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 05:13 pm   #6
Award-Showcase
 
froggy47's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,473
Thanks: 18
Thanked 55 Times in 55 Posts

Points: 7,694, Level: 12
Points: 7,694, Level: 12 Points: 7,694, Level: 12 Points: 7,694, Level: 12
Level up: 87%, 156 Points needed
Level up: 87% Level up: 87% Level up: 87%
Activity: 99.9%
Activity: 99.9% Activity: 99.9% Activity: 99.9%
Last Achievements

CM
I used to wonder about this, but since I visually check the pads before every event, I just stick them in any old way. I don't think I ever wore a pad so thin that it touched.

:)
2004 Z06/Z16
1996 LT4 Coupe (SOLD)

2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 SCCA Solo Regional Champion

Check out my DIY videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/1947froggy?feature=mhee
froggy47 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 09:29 pm   #7
Spotter
 
vettex2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Jose CA.
Posts: 1,006
Thanks: 26
Thanked 38 Times in 37 Posts

Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Level up: 25%, 833 Points needed
Level up: 25% Level up: 25% Level up: 25%
Activity: 4.0%
Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0%
Last Achievements

CM
I never had either
I can't imagine them breaking either unless you ran the pads metal to metal anyway......
86 & 99 auto Z51's
AMA Lifetime Member

NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Dirt Track)
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series California State Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
vettex2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2011, 10:00 pm   #8
TAC
Corvette Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Points: 2,710, Level: 7
Points: 2,710, Level: 7 Points: 2,710, Level: 7 Points: 2,710, Level: 7
Level up: 80%, 140 Points needed
Level up: 80% Level up: 80% Level up: 80%
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Last Achievements

CM
What I heard is they should be put at the trailing edge, which to me means at the top. The sensor is a bent piece of metal, right? Rubbing it one way might transfer more force to the rotor?
TAC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 02:22 pm   #9
Award-Showcase
 
froggy47's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,473
Thanks: 18
Thanked 55 Times in 55 Posts

Points: 7,694, Level: 12
Points: 7,694, Level: 12 Points: 7,694, Level: 12 Points: 7,694, Level: 12
Level up: 87%, 156 Points needed
Level up: 87% Level up: 87% Level up: 87%
Activity: 99.9%
Activity: 99.9% Activity: 99.9% Activity: 99.9%
Last Achievements

CM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TAC View Post
What I heard is they should be put at the trailing edge, which to me means at the top. The sensor is a bent piece of metal, right? Rubbing it one way might transfer more force to the rotor?

On c5 trailing edge is top on front & bottom on back. Which adds to the confusion for me anyway. The metal tab is tiny compared to the total surface of the pad so I don't think there is any way it affects pad performance, I don't think anyone could stand the god awful squeal it makes when it hits for very long.

"If" for some reason I have to run a pad really thin (not recommended) I bend or break the squealer off. I think I did it once while waiting for some new pads to be delivered & then only for light street driving.
2004 Z06/Z16
1996 LT4 Coupe (SOLD)

2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 SCCA Solo Regional Champion

Check out my DIY videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/1947froggy?feature=mhee
froggy47 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2011, 04:12 pm   #10
Spotter
 
vettex2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Jose CA.
Posts: 1,006
Thanks: 26
Thanked 38 Times in 37 Posts

Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11 Points: 5,817, Level: 11
Level up: 25%, 833 Points needed
Level up: 25% Level up: 25% Level up: 25%
Activity: 4.0%
Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0% Activity: 4.0%
Last Achievements

CM
trailing edge varies by caliper location
it's what I've always done......
I really doubt it makes much difference
86 & 99 auto Z51's
AMA Lifetime Member

NASCAR Winston Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Dirt Track)
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series Track Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Series California State Championship Crew Member (Pavement)
vettex2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Portal - Text Version - Top
SEO by vBSEO ©2009, Crawlability, Inc.