Brake Pads
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach NY
Brake Pads
I am replacing the Brake pads and hoses and fluid on my 1993 Convertible. The car has 34,000 miles now and has the original system. I am fine with the present system, the rotors are fine.
My question is the experience with the Ceramic pads members have had.
I am not sure what the OEM pads are. I am leaning to replacing with Ceramic.
What are your thoughts.
I am not looking to replace with the J55 or a C5 system as yet.
If I don't like what I end up with now, I will just replace them and perhaps upgrade.
I don't Track, just cruise when the weather is good here on Long Island, NY.
Barrier
My question is the experience with the Ceramic pads members have had.
I am not sure what the OEM pads are. I am leaning to replacing with Ceramic.
What are your thoughts.
I am not looking to replace with the J55 or a C5 system as yet.
If I don't like what I end up with now, I will just replace them and perhaps upgrade.
I don't Track, just cruise when the weather is good here on Long Island, NY.
Barrier
Last edited by Barrier; Mar 4, 2017 at 09:11 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Recommended pads.....research your application:
https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/bran...170304145928:s
https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/bran...170304145928:s
Last edited by don hall; Mar 4, 2017 at 10:02 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have read that the OEM pads were semi metallic, but I have also looked up an OEM part number and it said it was ceramic. So I don't know, but my guess is semi metallic from the factory.
You will get a lot of very strong opinions that don't agree with each other.
I like ceramics for the street. On my C5 I was going to upgrade to some nice pads and rotors, but for temporary I bought some of the cheapest ceramics (Friction Master on a Rock Auto closeout for about $20 for all four wheels). I put them on and was impressed. They were better stopping than the OEM, and they were much less dusting than the OEM. I put them on as temporary, but even though I bought some nice rotors and pads, I still haven't swapped them since mine is doing good with the "temporary ones".
There was/is a forum vendor (Brakemotive) that had a low cost set up with rotors and/or pads. They used a PowerStop Z16 pad which is a low cost ceramic. On the C5 section there is a thread about them with about 80 pages of positive reviews. They even had a poll about them and they were 100% positive for quite a while. The only negatives seemed to be due to drilled and slotted rotors that could crack at the drill holes in track use, but were fine on the street.
Many people also like the Hawk brand which seems to be one of the better performing pads especially for track cars.
Another forum vendor (Amp’D Autosport.com) frequently recommends their Carbotech Bobcat 1521 ceramic brake pad, and there have been many responses that they liked the pads.
In short, you will be getting a lot of different opinions, but I have had good experiences with ceramic pads on the street.
Good luck.
You will get a lot of very strong opinions that don't agree with each other.
I like ceramics for the street. On my C5 I was going to upgrade to some nice pads and rotors, but for temporary I bought some of the cheapest ceramics (Friction Master on a Rock Auto closeout for about $20 for all four wheels). I put them on and was impressed. They were better stopping than the OEM, and they were much less dusting than the OEM. I put them on as temporary, but even though I bought some nice rotors and pads, I still haven't swapped them since mine is doing good with the "temporary ones".
There was/is a forum vendor (Brakemotive) that had a low cost set up with rotors and/or pads. They used a PowerStop Z16 pad which is a low cost ceramic. On the C5 section there is a thread about them with about 80 pages of positive reviews. They even had a poll about them and they were 100% positive for quite a while. The only negatives seemed to be due to drilled and slotted rotors that could crack at the drill holes in track use, but were fine on the street.
Many people also like the Hawk brand which seems to be one of the better performing pads especially for track cars.
Another forum vendor (Amp’D Autosport.com) frequently recommends their Carbotech Bobcat 1521 ceramic brake pad, and there have been many responses that they liked the pads.
In short, you will be getting a lot of different opinions, but I have had good experiences with ceramic pads on the street.
Good luck.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
The Carbotech 1521 pad is a low dust pad that is rotor friendly and performs like OEM and last longer. 100% non-corrosive dust will not harm your paint or wheels. This pad also contains NRS technology. Carbotech uses NRS technology on all C4, C5, C6 & C7 front and rear brake pads.
Here is a link to explain further what NRS technology is exactly: http://www.nrsbrakes.com
If interested let me know I will be happy to help you.
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.
Here is a link to explain further what NRS technology is exactly: http://www.nrsbrakes.com
If interested let me know I will be happy to help you.
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.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 294
Likes: 40
From: Massachusetts
I have the power stop brake pads and rotors. I don't even have 100 miles on them but so far I like them. Couldn't beat the price especially for their brake/rotor sets and I really wanted something to cut down on brake dust. The zinc plated rotors look great and I'm hoping to not have rust. So far I have a thin layer of dust inside the wheel but it's not nearly as thick or nasty as the brake dust I would get on the original pads. Could just be road dirt. Will know for sure after some spring driving.
