How-To Check Wheel Clearance for a Big Brake Kit

A quality big brake kit offers many advantages, but you want to make sure it will fit behind your wheels before you buy.

Installing a big brake kit on your Corvette is one of the best investments you can make. It offers a combination of performance and safety advantages. You will typically get shorter stopping distances as well as a braking system that will be much more resistant to fade. This is critical for those that drive their car on the track or spiritedly on the street. And even if you don’t, a big brake kit still looks cool. So, it is a nice visual upgrade as well. However, it is also an expensive upgrade. A quality big brake kit for your Corvette can easily cost you over $6,000. So, before you drop that kind of coin you are going to want to make sure that your shiny new kit will actually fit behind your wheels.

Full disclosure:
Essex Parts Services is a CorvetteForum vendor, but this is NOT a sponsored post.

The folks at Essex Parts Services recently posted a video on their YouTube channel showing you exactly how to check to see if that big brake kit you are looking to buy will fit with your current wheels. They posted a link to this helpful video in the C8 Tech/Performance forum under the title How to Check Big Brake Kit Wheel Clearance. We don’t like to see anyone have to deal with the hassle of getting a brand-new kit only to discover it is useless with the existing wheels. So, we wanted to make sure everyone saw the steps on how to take the measurements. Don’t worry, it is super easy.

To complete the job, you will only need a couple of basic household items –

• A printer
• Tape or glue
• A piece of cardboard or a manila folder
• A pair of scissors

Wheel Fitment Template

The first thing you need is the wheel fitment template. This can be found on the Essex Parts Services website. Navigate to the product page of the big brake kit you are looking for. Under the add to cart button there is a “Wheel Fitment & Installation” tab. Click on it and you will see a link for the wheel fitment template. To see an example of one click HERE.

1. Start by printing the wheel fitment template.
2. Once printed take a ruler and check one of the dimensions on the template to ensure that the template is printed to scale.
3. Tape or glue the template to a piece of cardboard or a manila folder.
4. Cut along the dotted lines.

Your template is now ready to use.

Measuring the Wheel

This is the moment of truth. Will the big brake kit you have your heart set on fit with your wheels? Time to measure.

1. Drop the designated end of the template into the center hole of the wheel and press it up against the wheel surface or spacer if one is being used.
2. Now check the caliper end of the template and make sure it has at least 2mm of clearance.

Now you know if that kit will be compatible with your wheels.

Tips and Tricks

Measuring the clearance with the template is super easy. But there are a two more tips to keep in mind —

1. Never assume. Always measure the specific wheel and kit you are looking at. Because of wheel designs it is possible that a smaller brake kit would not work with the same wheel that a larger kit does fit. Sounds counterintuitive but that is why you need to measure.
2. Don’t forget wheel weights. You don’t want to get your new kit installed only to smack your new caliper into the wheel weights. So, check their clearance before driving.

Hopefully, you found this guide helpful and now you can confidently buy that big brake kit you have had your eyes on.

Images: Essex Parts Services

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