2008 Corvette Z06 Testing - Stock Z06 Brakes

In seven 20-30 minute sessions on Friday, I (Mark Murnahan) discovered that the stock Corvette Z06 brake calipers simply do not match the abilities of the rest of the car. The stock Z06 calipers leaked brake fluid from the bleeder valves, even following many checks and re-tightening. They even leaked from the bolts holding the pistons in place!

I have purchased three new C6 Corvettes in just the last two years. I enjoy my Corvettes (2007 Z51 and 2008 Z06, a.k.a. CopMagnet I and CopMagnet II), but Chevrolet should be very ashamed of the brakes they put on Corvettes. There is no denying that I am a huge fan of Corvette. However, I must say that nothing about the breaking systems is even close to adequate for the car. The brakes used in the 2008 Corvette Z06 look fantastic. They are big red calipers that look great, but they should have painted them pink with little daisies and puppy dogs on them. They are terrible with a capital TERRIBLE! If I ever meet the cost-cutting General Motors knucklehead who puts $40 brakes on the $80,000 Corvette Z06, I will offer him a ride to show him just how rude he was to insult big-money-spending car enthusiasts in this way. If Chevrolet cannot get brakes right for $80,000, perhaps my next car will be European (a painful reality).

Other than the braking, we had fun burning off $2000 worth of tires and screaming past everything at the track with the exception of a very well prepared 996 porsche GT3 Cup car (with good brakes). However, I did notice that he was not burning up a set of factory run-flats like I was.

If Tire rack does not get on the ball pretty quick to find us the tire sizes that we need, I may have to just buy another Z06 for each track day. Otherwise, perhaps I should buy a car that is expected to be tracked (European), and has better brakes and tire availability. I hope that the rest of the car is not as disposable as the brakes, but only time will tell. For now, I will invest in a good set of StopTech brakes and keep my fingers crossed.

Shame on General Motors Chevrolet Corvette Division.

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