I'm hoping for some insight I can't find anywhere regarding the front pads on my '87. I noticed when I replaced the pads that they overhung the outer edge of the rotor. I've done dozens of brake jobs but never on a C4. It just seems odd because every other car I've done the pads contact just the swept area of the rotor and never hang outside the diameter. Thanks for any advice.

dont ever remember seeing that either. i would check to make sure you have the right size rotor. were the old pads the same way when you took them off?

I'm fairly sure that '88 was the year on Vettes equipped w/Z51 handling package that Gm went from a 12" rotor to a 13' rotor. you never know what sort of "mods" the PO may have done before you bought the car As Dave said if the old pads were making complete rotor contact..then I'd guess you have the wrong brake pads. On the other hand if the old pads were sitting out past the rotor just like the new pads....then it sounds like the rotor itself is to small for the caliper and bracket which you have.....JMO

|UPDATED|9/1/2012 11:21:01 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

How much "over" was it? A 1/16" or so is common, and no cause for alarm. It actually helps prevent a lip from building up on the rotor that can cause noise. (Squeak).

The 84-87 is a single piston caliper. The 88-up is a dual piston caliper. Completely different pad, caliper and mounting.

The 88-89 Z51 "big brake" has a larger rotor, and a bracket that spaces the caliper 1/2" further outboard to match the larger diameter rotor. However the caliper and pads are identical to the "regular" caliper and pads. Not many people realize this. Only the rotor and the special bracket are different. The ZR-1 front brakes are identical to the 88-89 Z51 package.

Thanks for all the helpful replies! A new set of pads and new rotors has set everything right. The culprit was the old pads! The bearing surfaces that ride on the carrier bracket were plain wrong when compaired with a new set. Can't say the "what" or "why" because they are the pads already install when I bought mine last year. Weird puzzle to figure out someday but for now all is good. Fact is, I'll be shopping around this winter for the parts needed to convert to C5 front brakes. Thanks again and enjoy the Labor Day weekend!