07-31-2020, 11:45 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2019 ZLE Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Dallas
Posts: 136
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18" wheels and brake degradation
Noob here. Just purchased a 2019 ZLE. It's waiting for me in Chillicothe, OH. I'm in Dallas. The drive home will be the perfect break-in. Super excited.
I've been reading about 18" wheels and brake performance degradation due to reduced caliper clearance. Is their actual data (empirical or anecdotal) to support that claim or is it theoretical? I'd like to get a set of 18" wheels in stock size/offset to increase my tire choices. I don't need to be a hero at the track every event. But brakes are the most important performance variable to me. I don't want to waste to a single brain cell worrying about brakes. Thx |
08-03-2020, 02:08 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 807
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Don't understand your question. The challenge with an 18 inch wheel is will it fit over the ZL1 caliper. If one does, the quality of tire will impact the braking distance...possibly even the diameter compared to OEM. Seems folks run a Michelin for better street performance.
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08-03-2020, 02:22 PM | #3 |
Drives: Chevrolet SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: St. Charles, MO
Posts: 1,446
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There is no brake degradation due to reduced caliper clearance.
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Matt Miller
2020 SS 1LE |
08-03-2020, 08:24 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2020 SS 1LE (previous: 2017 SS 1LE) Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada, eh!
Posts: 5,091
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08-06-2020, 10:50 PM | #5 |
1LE Convert
Drives: 2018 ZLE Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 367
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I think I have experienced what the OP is asking about actually. I've attached pics of my front brake pads which saw 3 track days. Two of them on old cup 2 tires on stock 19" wheels and one day with used Pirelli slicks on 18inch wheels. Almost all of the tapering seemed to have happened on the final day when I used slicks. The wheel barrel clearance was really tight. My thought is that the pads tapered poorly towards the bottom of the calipers because that seems to be the hottest part of the caliper (appears to get less airflow). Of course running stickier tires would wear brakes down more, but if the heat distribution was more even I'd expect fast but fairly even wear.
I could be wrong though. I had pad taper on my old SS 1LE too but never anything like this. IIRC it did taper more when I ran 18" wheels with RS4s mounted but I am not certain.
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2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE (Red Hot)
2002 BMW Spec E46 race car (Lizard Green) Previous cars: - 2018 Miata RF GT (Machine Gray/Auburn) - 2017 Camaro 1SS 1LE (Summit White) - 2008 BMW 135i (Montego Blue) - 1996 BMW 328i (Arctic Silver) |
08-07-2020, 07:16 AM | #6 | ||
Drives: 2013 C6Z06 Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: PA
Posts: 1,577
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Quote:
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08-07-2020, 09:00 AM | #7 |
Drives: 21 SS Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Dallas
Posts: 322
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If the 18s you get are anything like the oems 18s you will need to cut about half inch off front brake ducts
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08-07-2020, 11:27 AM | #8 |
1LE Convert
Drives: 2018 ZLE Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 367
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Pads weren't flipped. I think it is the increased heat from running stickier tires and less airflow with 18s.
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2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE (Red Hot)
2002 BMW Spec E46 race car (Lizard Green) Previous cars: - 2018 Miata RF GT (Machine Gray/Auburn) - 2017 Camaro 1SS 1LE (Summit White) - 2008 BMW 135i (Montego Blue) - 1996 BMW 328i (Arctic Silver) |
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