[Z06] Brake Question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 53
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From: Keller Tx
Brake Question
I have a 02 Z and have a little over 36000 on it. My question is at about what mileage do I need to start checking the brake pads for replacement and is there any special tool needed to replace them myself. Also do any of you have any recommendations on brand of replacement pads as the factory pads create a lot of dust. Thanx.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,838
Likes: 85
From: DFW Texas
Depends on how you drive the car too. I have 18K miles on my car and had to replace all four rotors and the front brakes.
Rotors are cheaper then brakes..... (last time I checked anyway).
Rotors are cheaper then brakes..... (last time I checked anyway).
Last edited by CDH76; Mar 16, 2005 at 09:02 AM.
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield IL
If you are familiar with brakes then it is very easy---no special tools required. Rotors are easy to replace and cheap---under $60 each for fronts at GM Direct. If you want good pads i would look at Hawks---I've never been disappointed!
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 156
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From: Euless Texas
Originally Posted by dwjz06
Do a search on Ceramic pads. Very little dust. Pads are easy to change on the Z. 
Racing pads are harder on the rotors, but then again, racing is hard on rotors. I wouldn't fret about wearing out rotors because rotors are cheap, besides a brake system is designed to have the pads and rotors be ablative.
Ciao,
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
If you don't mind giving up some brake performance you can opt for the ceramic pads. Just understand that they aren't as good as stock Z06 pads in friction so the lessor amount of dust comes at a cost.
You should check your brakes about twice a year. Easy to do and free.
Rotors aren't that expensive either and are just as consumable as pads. Do a search on bedding brakes. Flush the fluid out when you do the pads. Fresh fluid is a good thing, gets out the moisture and other impurities.
You should check your brakes about twice a year. Easy to do and free.
Rotors aren't that expensive either and are just as consumable as pads. Do a search on bedding brakes. Flush the fluid out when you do the pads. Fresh fluid is a good thing, gets out the moisture and other impurities.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
This is a very easy do it your self. The tough part is getting the car off the ground, there are links at Z06vette.com for that as well.
The ceramics work great I did them myself, you can't tell much of a difference on the street.
Here is how to do it;
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showt...ght=brake+pads
The ceramics work great I did them myself, you can't tell much of a difference on the street.
Here is how to do it;
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showt...ght=brake+pads
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Somerville NJ
Brake Pads
If you track your car frequently (sounds like a no - if you have 36k on this set) and don't want to be swapping pad sets and rotors too often - I like the EBC Reds. Good pedal feel - high thermal stability and low rotor wear (little less dust around town than stock pads) You give up a little in initial bite around town but overall feel is solid compared to the Hawks. At the track the EBCs are superior to the hawks - don't fade/overheat like the hawks. If you're for more around town driving the EBC Greens have excellent bite and lower dust. While you're at it might as well switch to steel braided brake hoses and change your fluid. Good upgrade on fluid is the ATE super blue or gold - it's a DOT4 fluid that is factory on porsche and BMW M cars. Better heat resistance - you won't need to bleed brakes as frequently if you track on the weekends. My rule of thumb is changing brake fluid every 2 years.
If you do the job your self - make sure you grease the guide pins on your calipers with good synthetic grease. They tend to dry out over time.
If you do the job your self - make sure you grease the guide pins on your calipers with good synthetic grease. They tend to dry out over time.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Euless Texas
Originally Posted by pinoy vette
don't have a Z06, are the steps in changing pads the same on a C5? any links on how to change the rotors? thanks.
In regards to rotor replacement, there's nothing to it. Once you have your wheel and caliper off, the rotor just slides off. Both front and read are the same procedure. I think that there are little metal clips on the wheel lugs that need to be removed, but they are there for manufacturing purposes only. Just remove them and throw them away (the clips, not the rotors
)Ciao,
Rick