Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

epix

epix

Typhoon
Me and a buddy have spent ALL day installing the CBR LS1 Kit. I am using C6 Z51 rotors and calipers. Everything is bolted up correctly but the brake pads are TIGHT.

It's almost impossible to move the rotors by hand when the Ty is in neutral and no pressure on the brakes, when put into drive it will move but even after a quick trip around the block the brakes are very hot and starting to smoke.

Is there a way to loosen up the caliper/brake pads?

One issue I think happened is during powdercoating they got some powder got into the caliper chamber and even into the piston chamber. We've been able to get some of the powder coat out but the stuff is rock hard.. even with grinding carefully it barely removes it. Anyone know of a good solution to degrade powdercoat? I've tried Aircraft stripper and its not much of a use.

The setup looks awesome.. now just need some function over style..
 
4C FED

4C FED

Absolutum Dominium
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Shims or no shims installed on the pads?
In times when I've installed new pads & they were too tight, I've removed the shims.
 
Luke

Luke

Fish sticks SUCK !!!
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

did you unscrew the bleeders and make sure the pistons are compressed all the way?
 
bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Luke said:
did you unscrew the bleeders and make sure the pistons are compressed all the way?
Click to expand...
you don't have to unscrew the bleeders, if your lines are hoked on you can press them in , and the oil goes into the resevoirs. that way you can swap pad/disks without bleeding the brakes:D
 
fauXGT

fauXGT

Brick Pilot
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

I just finished LS1 front & rears on mine (2002 Camaro parts). Didn't powdercoat thou, just painted. Sounds like they need to be re-torn apart and powdercoat scraped away where pistons set (re-rebuilt). If you use a good solvent for coating, it can eat at the seals also. :(
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

bezerk said:
you don't have to unscrew the bleeders, if your lines are hoked on you can press them in , and the oil goes into the resevoirs. that way you can swap pad/disks without bleeding the brakes:D
Click to expand...

you can only do that with the ABS removed - obviously in this case with the bigger calipers and backing plates the sensors aren't there but if you try and push the fluid back in the sytems with the ABS in then it will cause problems on a stock truck.
 
bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Quickstop [UK] said:
you can only do that with the ABS removed - obviously in this case with the bigger calipers and backing plates the sensors aren't there but if you try and push the fluid back in the sytems with the ABS in then it will cause problems on a stock truck.
Click to expand...

weird, i did it that way with alot of abs cars, the fluid should always be able to be pushed back, otheriwse your brakes will stay locked after you brake.
 
mattw

mattw

Active member
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Quickstop [UK] said:
you can only do that with the ABS removed - obviously in this case with the bigger calipers and backing plates the sensors aren't there but if you try and push the fluid back in the sytems with the ABS in then it will cause problems on a stock truck.
Click to expand...

I've been told the same thing by a friend who is a mechanic.
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Its bad because its sends any grit and dirt in the line back into the screens in the ABS unit which clogs them up resulting in a faulty unit.
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

bezerk said:
weird, i did it that way with alot of abs cars, the fluid should always be able to be pushed back, otheriwse your brakes will stay locked after you brake.
Click to expand...

the ABS has two valves - an input and a release. when you apply pressure the release valve opens and allows the brakes to bleed off pressure.
 
J

'JustDreamin'

Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Sounds to me like whoever did your powdercoating screwed you (and didn't use KY).

There shouldn't be anything in the piston bores. They need to be bare metal and on size. Piston bore tolerances should be on the order of a couple thousandths of an inch (.001" to .003" difference between piston diameter and bore diameter). Powdercoating is a thick product and can easily be at least that thickness (meaning you could be into negative clearances (also called interference fit) by .001" to .003".)

Good luck getting it off. That stuff doesn't like to come off.

I'm not sure that there is a chemical stripper that will touch it.

Mechanical removal will work, but you need to keep the bore sizes the same and ROUND or you're asking for brake trouble. So the dremel tool is out. You might get a brake hone to take it off evenly enough to make it work (I'd suggest it as your best choice)

You might also be able to bake / burn the powdercoating off, but at that point, you've got to repaint the entire caliper.

Another choice would be to upgrade the calipers with some form of sleeve. I think I've seen vette calipers with titanium pistons (for heat management reasons) and sleeved (to deal with the titanium pistons). Not sure this is something easily done, however.

You could also just bite the bullet and buy new / rebuilt calipers.


'JustDreamin'
 
Luke

Luke

Fish sticks SUCK !!!
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

bezerk said:
you don't have to unscrew the bleeders, if your lines are hoked on you can press them in , and the oil goes into the resevoirs. that way you can swap pad/disks without bleeding the brakes:D
Click to expand...


well you shouldn't have to, but sometimes the piston doesn't always behave and if it wont compress all the way unscrewing the bleeder helps....
 
epix

epix

Typhoon
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

Some preliminary pictures of them installed. Still working on the stiff brakepad/caliper issue.

Front:
IMG_33761024x768.jpg

IMG_33731024x768.jpg


Rear:
IMG_33741024x768.jpg


Side View:
IMG_33791024x768.jpg

IMG_33751024x768.jpg


Wheels are 19" Diameter.
 
J

'JustDreamin'

Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: Help! Just Installed LS1 C6 Brakes

epix said:
I found some great stuff that strips powdercoat like warm butter.. Permatex Aerosol Gasket Removal 80646.

http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80646-Gasket-Remover-Aerosol/dp/B000HBM5DM

Just spray it on and 10-15 mins the powdercoat is ready to be scraped away.. basically works just like paint thinner but for powdercoat.
Click to expand...

Good job finding a stripping product that takes it off. Wasn't sure there was anything that would get it off.

'JustDreamin'.
 
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