[Z06] Brakes?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Milwaukee WI
Brakes?
I recently bought a used 02 Z06 with 28k miles. Seems kind of early but do you think its possible that I need brakes already? It squeels sometime when I brake but not every time. Also I was told the car was not raced and shows no signs of being ragged on to bad. Is this normal for only 28k. I cant jack it up and look for myself yet because I dont have the puck things to put on the jack yet. Just wondering.
Former Law Dawg Moderator
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From: Eads, Tennessee
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St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Could be the nature of the beast with the Z06 brake pads. They tend to squeal and have more brake dust than ceramic pads; but ceramics will not give you that extra braking power if you race or track. I recently switched to ceramics on my Z with 3600 miles and can't tell any difference in feel and braking performance. But, I don't race or track the car either.
Pro
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From: Carthage NY
Originally Posted by Tact
Could be the nature of the beast with the Z06 brake pads. They tend to squeal and have more brake dust than ceramic pads; but ceramics will not give you that extra braking power if you race or track. I recently switched to ceramics on my Z with 3600 miles and can't tell any difference in feel and braking performance. But, I don't race or track the car either.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Philadelphia PA
I would say 30k is good for a set of pads. I don't think a stock set or ceramic pads are that expensive. It's an easy swap. Best to do it now if they are thin, than take a chance on scoring the rotor.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Originally Posted by Tact
Could be the nature of the beast with the Z06 brake pads. They tend to squeal and have more brake dust than ceramic pads; but ceramics will not give you that extra braking power if you race or track. I recently switched to ceramics on my Z with 3600 miles and can't tell any difference in feel and braking performance. But, I don't race or track the car either.
If they are grinding, look out. That means the sensor is gone and the pad material is gone and you are using the backing plate to stop the car.
Bill
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From: Milwaukee WI
no grinding, I know that sound, but they dont squeek all the time either. Guess I'd better change them. The roters look good from the outside ( I know that can be a different story when I get them off) so do I have to have them cut if they look good? Do you recomend a new set? Thank for all the help!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Darien IL
Originally Posted by Sparky22
no grinding, I know that sound, but they dont squeek all the time either. Guess I'd better change them. The rotors look good from the outside ( I know that can be a different story when I get them off) so do I have to have them cut if they look good? Do you recomend a new set? Thank for all the help!
Squeeking is a function of how hard the pad is and how sharp the leading edge is. High performance brake pads are hard. The stock pads have a large shallow bevel on the leading and trailing edges to reduce squeeking. As they wear they get more of a square corner.
It kind of goes with the territory. You have a 170 MPH supercar and brakes to match. It will never be as quiet as granpa's Buick, or if it is, the braking will be on par with the Buick.
Don't cut the rotors. It's a bad idea perpetuated by brake shops. All it does is reduce the mass of the rotor, which is not a good thing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by UstaB-GS549
You can get rotors from RockAuto.com for $16-$60. When it sounds like you have gravel in the calipers, then the backing plates are hitting the rotors. The pads cost a lot more than the rotors, so I run them until they hit. I race on the $16 Canadian rotors as well as a lot of other guys.
Squeeking is a function of how hard the pad is and how sharp the leading edge is. High performance brake pads are hard. The stock pads have a large shallow bevel on the leading and trailing edges to reduce squeeking. As they wear they get more of a square corner.
It kind of goes with the territory. You have a 170 MPH supercar and brakes to match. It will never be as quiet as granpa's Buick, or if it is, the braking will be on par with the Buick.
Don't cut the rotors. It's a bad idea perpetuated by brake shops. All it does is reduce the mass of the rotor, which is not a good thing.
Squeeking is a function of how hard the pad is and how sharp the leading edge is. High performance brake pads are hard. The stock pads have a large shallow bevel on the leading and trailing edges to reduce squeeking. As they wear they get more of a square corner.
It kind of goes with the territory. You have a 170 MPH supercar and brakes to match. It will never be as quiet as granpa's Buick, or if it is, the braking will be on par with the Buick.
Don't cut the rotors. It's a bad idea perpetuated by brake shops. All it does is reduce the mass of the rotor, which is not a good thing.
rotors are cheap and not worth cutting. If brake dust bothers you, buy a set of ceramics. if you plan on tracking the car, get an extra set of pads that are track pads this way you get the best of both worlds. on the street, you may not even notice the diff in pads.
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Limerick PA
Hopefully you find what you are looking for. If you need prices on the ceramic pads or maybe the drilled and slotted rotor 
let me know. 484-931-4800 or jfink@fredbeans.com
let me know. 484-931-4800 or jfink@fredbeans.com
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Milwaukee WI
Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm not going to track the car, and I dont want alot of dust so I think I might go with ceramics. One last question, whats the advantage to drilled roters, remember I'm not a racer.
Former Law Dawg Moderator
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From: Eads, Tennessee
CF St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Originally Posted by mark896
I just ordered some ceramics a couple of days ago... Did you notice less brake dust? That's the main reason I bought 'em.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: The Holy City, South Carolina
One quick fix is to try and re-bed the pads. First take a look at everything (you can do this through the weels) to ensure that nothing is obviously worn or hurt. Then find a section of open highway and do about 5 or 6 hard 80-30 stops in a row to get the brakes up to temp. Then continue to drive for 10 minutes or so to let everything cool back down. This will often solve any squeaking, assuming that there is plenty of pad left.
If you are interested in going the ceramic route I would strongly suggest the folks at Fred Beans, they have given me top notch service in the past and have great pricing on everything they sell.
If you are interested in going the ceramic route I would strongly suggest the folks at Fred Beans, they have given me top notch service in the past and have great pricing on everything they sell.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: MD
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Originally Posted by Sparky22
Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm not going to track the car, and I dont want alot of dust so I think I might go with ceramics. One last question, whats the advantage to drilled roters, remember I'm not a racer.
Above advice all good.
To add:
Since you don't know for sure where the car's been for its first 28k or how it got there, pull the wheels, get a 15mm, 16mm, 18mm wrench and drop the calipers and check the pads. stock pads are made by PBR and will have that and a part number on the backing plate, front pads.
That way you know what you've got ... and have a good visual on the condition.
As for drilled rotors ... good for bling, not for track. Best to have cast holes, but any drilled rotor is prone to crack when used hard (read Track, not road use)
Congratulations on the Z !
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: CT
my car had 812 miles on it when i bought it. i kid you not...it had a squeak coming from the brakes the minute i pushed them. i think it is the nature of metallic pads.
slightly off topic, but i used to own an audi s4 which did the exact thing, with fresh rotors and pads. that was far more annoying than the z seeing it squeaked at drive thru's or in traffic.
you might try re-surfacing or replacing the rotors and trying a new set of pads.
good luck.
slightly off topic, but i used to own an audi s4 which did the exact thing, with fresh rotors and pads. that was far more annoying than the z seeing it squeaked at drive thru's or in traffic.
you might try re-surfacing or replacing the rotors and trying a new set of pads.
good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
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From: Folsom Ca
The squeaking used to bother me...but from what I understand now its a sign of high performance brakes..also the dust is common on C5s...its a trade off...you may sacrafice some stopping performance for not having to clean dust off your rims every day.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Orlando Fl
Originally Posted by bluestreak63
I would say 30k is good for a set of pads. I don't think a stock set or ceramic pads are that expensive. It's an easy swap. Best to do it now if they are thin, than take a chance on scoring the rotor.
