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1985 needs new brake pads... suggestions

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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 04:13 PM
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Default 1985 needs new brake pads... suggestions

What do you guys reccomend I get for brake pads front and back for my 85 something good quality but not a wallet killer
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 04:56 PM
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How fast do you want to stop...... track or street?
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 05:22 PM
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...at what point does your wallet flat line?
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 05:32 PM
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The type of driving that you will be doing will determine what type of pads to use. There are a number of good OEM-style pads that will work for general street use and won't kill the budget.

For "spirited" driving or for autocross, look at Hawk HPS or CarboTech pads. Once you get into activities like track days/HPDE there are high performance pads that will handle that sort of driving, but these pads aren't the best for street use.
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 05:38 PM
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Don't be cheap when it comes to your brakes and pads. KNS brakes is on this forum as a sponsor and they have good deals on great parts and pads.

I've used them and they have kept me very happy with rotors and pads for my 94'

KNS Brakes is located at:
8821 Gulf Court, Suite C, Raleigh, NC 27617
PH: 919-420-0021
Select Your Vehicle at KNSBrakes.com

Last edited by 69mako; Nov 17, 2014 at 07:03 PM.
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 06:10 PM
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brakes was my next project on my .even got 18" rims so I could do the c5 thing....but that's expensive and after driving it around a bit, don't really have any problems stopping with the stock brakes....now I thinking a better grade pad is all I need....
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 06:32 PM
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My '94 ragtop is not a track car, and I am very satisfied with the NAPA ceramic pads that I installed four years ago. They probably aren't ideal for track use, but I think they're fine for a street car, and they deposit very little dust on the wheels, which is the main reason I chose them.

Live well,

SJW
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 09:23 PM
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Hi

You do not want basic road car brake pads, corvettes need a lot of friction material. If you fit some basic brake pads you will end up having to stand on the pedal to slow your car, with high metal/friction compound you need very little pedal effort to brake heavy.

How are your disc's? remember if they have some wear braking performance will be poor until the new brake pads have "worn" to the shape of the disc's.

I usually drive the car around town gently with normal slow stop start traffic, then after some time you can do a couple of medium then hard stops from higher speed. OR Replace the discs as well if they are worn, they have a minimum thickness stamped on them.

Hawk HP plus are great if you want to use your car on a track, however for a street car use the street ones. See links below.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
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Old Nov 17, 2014 | 10:54 PM
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I put these pads on my highly modified 85 and they work incredibly well. On a stock 85, they'll be far better than stock pads. You cannot go wrong with Hawk pads.


Originally Posted by gerardvg
Hi

You do not want basic road car brake pads, corvettes need a lot of friction material. If you fit some basic brake pads you will end up having to stand on the pedal to slow your car, with high metal/friction compound you need very little pedal effort to brake heavy.

How are your disc's? remember if they have some wear braking performance will be poor until the new brake pads have "worn" to the shape of the disc's.

I usually drive the car around town gently with normal slow stop start traffic, then after some time you can do a couple of medium then hard stops from higher speed. OR Replace the discs as well if they are worn, they have a minimum thickness stamped on them.

Hawk HP plus are great if you want to use your car on a track, however for a street car use the street ones. See links below.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050F~~~
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Old Nov 18, 2014 | 01:20 AM
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I have Raybestos ceramic pads on my street-only car. I got them from O'Reilly's. These things are amazingly dust free, which is a good thing with spoked wheels that expose the barrels. I did coat the barrels with POR Glisten PC, which makes them really easy to clean.
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Old Nov 18, 2014 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Cliff Harris
I have Raybestos ceramic pads on my street-only car. I got them from O'Reilly's. These things are amazingly dust free, which is a good thing with spoked wheels that expose the barrels. I did coat the barrels with POR Glisten PC, which makes them really easy to clean.
Cliff, how is your cold stopping power? I had ceramics on my '85 which has the C5 upgrade and I hated them, I always had to ride the brakes for a while when they were cold. If I forgot to do this they just flat would not stop the car. I did like the fact I had no dust on the wheels but stopping was way more important. I took them off and put the Hawk HP's on it and it stops much better now cold or hot. Maybe the ones I had were an inferior brand?? FWIW I bedded both sets in before doing any driving around.
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Old Nov 18, 2014 | 10:23 AM
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For a quality street pad that performs check out the Carbotech 1521 pad. A 100% non corrosive will not harm your wheels or paint low dust and quiet but good to 900 degrees. If interested I will be happy to get an order going for you. Price below.

Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ 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. 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. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

F: $120 R: $113
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Old Nov 18, 2014 | 12:59 PM
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Using it for street discs are good , rotors will be resurfaced and I want to break fairly fast because there's a lot of jackasses on the road up here in norcal. I don't want to spend more than $150
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Old Nov 23, 2014 | 07:47 PM
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Contact Adam @ carbotech he's a sponsor here... He'll set you straight. He's the MAN when it comes to pads and carbotech are just badass.
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by volkswagens-for-life
Contact Adam @ carbotech he's a sponsor here... He'll set you straight. He's the MAN when it comes to pads and carbotech are just badass.
Thank you for the kind words..
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Adam@Amp'dAutosport.com
Thank you for the kind words..
Shoot didn't even see your post 2 above me. Oh well, glad you joined in! Great guy, great product!
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Old Nov 25, 2014 | 10:07 PM
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Hawk HPS pads are a good street pad.
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