How to Prep a 2020 C8 Corvette for the Track

After breaking in your Corvette, it’s ready for the track, right? It will be if you follow this guide to get it all right.

You’ve probably seen us and a few others take the 2020 Corvette out for a spin through the desert sun and neon lights of Vegas by now. You’re wondering when you’ll get to see some time behind the wheel of your own ‘Vette. And you’re definitely anxious to hit the track with the mid-engine wonder.

Before you or your friends roll up to the local road course, though, you’ll need to prepare themselves and their new Corvette. Luckily, Corvette Forum forum moderator Zymurgy posted a guide to track prep from Chevrolet for the C8-era ‘Vette. Let’s have a look!

Z51s Get Brake Fluid, All Other ‘Vettes Stay Home

First, make sure your new Corvette has the Z51 package. As we noticed in the C8 Owner’s Manual, Chevrolet says C8-era ‘Vettes without it should not hit the track. Then, spend the first 1,500 miles breaking in everything as recommended.

Next, swap out the factory brake fluid with “a qualified high-performance brake fluid from a sealed container.” You’ll have to replace it again with street-approved fluid before heading home. Also: no silicone or DOT-5 brake fluid at all.

Burnish Those Pads

After the fluid swap, it’s time to burnish those brake pads. The standard procedure is a four-step process, each one starting with your C8 ‘Vette at 60 mph.

The first phase is to start from 60 mph, braking 25 times to 30 mph while decelerating at 0.4 g, with driving stretches of 0.6 miles between braking. The second phase takes your ‘Vette from 60 mph to 15 mph 25 times, applying 0.8 g of decelerating force each time. Brake travel may increase at this phase.

After the third phase — driving 10 miles at 60 mph without braking — you repeat the first step for the last time. Then, your brakes are burnished.

The track-focused burnishing alternative — applicable only to Z51s with the J55 brake setup — takes three steps and a dry track. You start at a lower speed and brake as softly as possible for three minutes, then boost speed and effort over six minutes, ultimately driving and stopping at nine-tenths. Finally, you’ll do a few laps for six minutes to cool it all down.

Time to Adjust Your Corners

Once the brakes are done, adjustments to the corners are on the agenda. Upon lifting the Corvette off the ground, you’ll loosen the lower spring seat lock nut, then place it upon the center support tube. You can then adjust the spring seat increase or decrease the spring load, followed by torquing everything back to 18.4 lb-ft.

After that, inflate your front tires to 23 psi, your rears to 24 psi, then adjust your control arms. For the track, front and rear caster is set to +8.0 and 0 degrees, camber is -3.0 and -2.5 degrees, and toe-in is 0.1 degrees all around. The thrust angle at the rear be at 0 degrees thrust angle; otherwise, you’re not going to have a good time at the track.

Check Your Fluids

Upon dropping your Corvette back to earth, be sure to check your fluids. Luckily, the OEM engine oil works everywhere; just make sure you have plenty on hand to replenish consumed oil. You can also swap in 15W-50 full synthetic oil for the track, so long as you swap it back out for the OEM oil or, if needed, 5W-30 dexos1 full synthetic.

While under the hood, the eight-speed dual-clutch auto will need some prep, as well. As the guide says, the fluid and filter will need changing after 24 hours of track time. You can have your dealer add two quarts of fluid on top of what’s already inside, as they’ll have the right DCT fluid on hand; all others may ruin your day.

Select Your Mode

If your Z51 Corvette has driving-mode selection and performance traction management, you’ll want to set those up as the last step before track-day domination. Simply turn the wheel to track mode (sport mode if your ‘Vette has traction management), then push the wheel twice to turn on ESC/StabiliTrak.

After the day on the track is over, reset everything to factory for the drive home. It’s a lot of effort to run well, but it’s worth it for getting the most out of the first mid-engine Corvette.

Photos: Chevrolet

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