Hawk Ceramics
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 54
Hawk Ceramics
'Just installed Hawk Ceramics on my C3 w/PB. Spent hours removing and prepping the nearly new Chinese rotors per Hawk instructions. (Except the part where Hawk says to sand them with "130" grit. I guess their extensive 'aerospace' experience has never exposed them to common sandpaper.) Also did the "bedding" per Hawk instructions.
It's lucky I tried the ceramics before driving into my garage or I would have hit the wall. It feels like I installed the pads backwards (with the steel backing plate against the rotor) or like braking a PB car with the engine off.
Hawks says their ceramics provide "Up to 32% More Stopping Power " - the set I installed feel like they provide 50% LESS stopping power.
FYI: I've installed perhaps a hundred sets of OEM pads on C2's and C3's back in the day, rarely 'prepped' the rotors (except checking runout) and never had to 'bed' them. Always stopped well, no squealing, no dust. I'm looking for 2 sets of NOS pads now.
Anyone who wants a set of Hawk ceramics for a C2-C3 with 6 miles on them for cheap, PM me.
It's lucky I tried the ceramics before driving into my garage or I would have hit the wall. It feels like I installed the pads backwards (with the steel backing plate against the rotor) or like braking a PB car with the engine off.
Hawks says their ceramics provide "Up to 32% More Stopping Power " - the set I installed feel like they provide 50% LESS stopping power.
FYI: I've installed perhaps a hundred sets of OEM pads on C2's and C3's back in the day, rarely 'prepped' the rotors (except checking runout) and never had to 'bed' them. Always stopped well, no squealing, no dust. I'm looking for 2 sets of NOS pads now.
Anyone who wants a set of Hawk ceramics for a C2-C3 with 6 miles on them for cheap, PM me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I have Hawk for 4 years and 20K. Every one who drives my car always says how great it stops with no fad, pull, noise and the car is flat with no skidding. I had no trouble right out of the box with the Hawk Pads. Used the origianal 65K rotors. Have new USA rotors for about 3K, used the old Hawk Pads.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 54
Mike,
Hawk has made different pads; as noted in the post the pads I installed were a ceramic compound.
It may also be that Hawk has changed their ceramic compound over the years.
It may also be that Hawk uses a different compound in other pads, like for c5's. About half the forum members say they noticed no difference in braking on later model cars; others said they required much more brake pedal force to stop.
The new PC Ceramic pads I just installed require much more pedal force to stop. That's the only problem I see; no pull or noise.
Hawk has made different pads; as noted in the post the pads I installed were a ceramic compound.
It may also be that Hawk has changed their ceramic compound over the years.
It may also be that Hawk uses a different compound in other pads, like for c5's. About half the forum members say they noticed no difference in braking on later model cars; others said they required much more brake pedal force to stop.
The new PC Ceramic pads I just installed require much more pedal force to stop. That's the only problem I see; no pull or noise.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Ops
I was using these Hawk Pads, and they do work well.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Just assumed there were ceramic!
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
Just assumed there were ceramic!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,279
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
'Just installed Hawk Ceramics on my C3 w/PB. Spent hours removing and prepping the nearly new Chinese rotors per Hawk instructions. (Except the part where Hawk says to sand them with "130" grit. I guess their extensive 'aerospace' experience has never exposed them to common sandpaper.) Also did the "bedding" per Hawk instructions.
It's lucky I tried the ceramics before driving into my garage or I would have hit the wall. It feels like I installed the pads backwards (with the steel backing plate against the rotor) or like braking a PB car with the engine off.
Hawks says their ceramics provide "Up to 32% More Stopping Power " - the set I installed feel like they provide 50% LESS stopping power.
FYI: I've installed perhaps a hundred sets of OEM pads on C2's and C3's back in the day, rarely 'prepped' the rotors (except checking runout) and never had to 'bed' them. Always stopped well, no squealing, no dust. I'm looking for 2 sets of NOS pads now.
Anyone who wants a set of Hawk ceramics for a C2-C3 with 6 miles on them for cheap, PM me.
It's lucky I tried the ceramics before driving into my garage or I would have hit the wall. It feels like I installed the pads backwards (with the steel backing plate against the rotor) or like braking a PB car with the engine off.
Hawks says their ceramics provide "Up to 32% More Stopping Power " - the set I installed feel like they provide 50% LESS stopping power.
FYI: I've installed perhaps a hundred sets of OEM pads on C2's and C3's back in the day, rarely 'prepped' the rotors (except checking runout) and never had to 'bed' them. Always stopped well, no squealing, no dust. I'm looking for 2 sets of NOS pads now.
Anyone who wants a set of Hawk ceramics for a C2-C3 with 6 miles on them for cheap, PM me.
The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
