AP Racing by Essex Competition Front Brake Kit 325mm - C5 Corvette

This AP Racing by Essex Competition Brake Kit is a complete front big brake upgrade for every 1997-2004 C5 Corvette, including the Z06. It swaps the heavy factory calipers and rotors for AP Racing CP8350 four-piston calipers and 325 x 32mm, 70-vane J Hook discs on floating aluminum hats, giving a C5 that sees HPDE days, time trials or club racing a brake system designed around repeated hard stops.

Why upgrade

The C5 is quick and light, but its factory front brakes fade once a session gets long. This kit takes roughly 20 pounds of unsprung weight off the front axle: each caliper weighs 4.8 pounds against the 10.1 pound original, and each disc 15.93 pounds against 21.8. The change in front brake torque is modest, so brake balance stays predictable, ABS behaves as before and nothing else on the car needs to change. Run it with the stock rear brakes or add the matching rear C5 kit later.

Construction

The CP8350 calipers are hard anodized instead of painted, so the finish holds up at track temperatures and does not flake into the pads. Stainless steel pistons keep heat out of the fluid for a firm pedal, anti-knockback springs stop the pads being pushed back in hard corners, and high-temperature, low-drag seals mean less rebuilding. Pads change with a single bolt and the caliper stays on the car. The discs use 10 attachment points to the hat with anti-rattle hardware, and the iron rings can be replaced on their own when they wear out. Spiegler stainless lines replace the softer rubber hoses.

Features

• AP Racing CP8350 four-piston calipers with black AP Racing logos
• 325 x 32mm, 70-vane J Hook discs on fully floating 6061 aluminum hats
• About 20 lb of unsprung weight saved at the front
• Discs interchange with base C5 OEM discs
• Common 20mm pad shape available in many compounds
• Replacement 325x32mm disc rings available

What's Included

• One pair AP Racing CP8350 racing calipers (now with black AP Racing logos)
• One pair 325x32mm AP Racing CP3870, 70 vane, J Hook racing discs, with fully floating 6061 hard anodized aluminum hats, and attachment hardware
• One pair caliper mounting brackets and hardware
• One pair Spiegler Stainless Steel Brake Lines with abrasion resistant coating
• Detailed installation instructions

Brake pads are not included.

Specifications

Video

Fitment notes

Fits all 1997-2004 C5 Corvette models. Wheels confirmed to fit without a spacer: OEM 17 inch C5 Z06 front wheels, OEM 18 inch C5 Z06 rear wheels when run on the front, TSW Nurburgring 17x9 ET50 and TSW Interlagos 18x9 ET50. OEM C5 base and Z51 wheels will not clear without a spacer.

Fitment