same here
[Z06] Ceramic Brake Pads Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: Lorton VA
Ceramic Brake Pads Question
Any recommendations or comments on Ceramic Brake Pads? I'm thinking about replacing the stock pads with GM Ceramics. I'm getting tired of constantly cleaning the black brake dust off the wheels after driving the Z. I heard that the ceramics drastically reduce the brake dust issues. I was also told by a friend (a big car guy but not a vette owner...he would like to get one some day), that the ceramics don't work too well when cold but are otherwise good pads and they also outlast the stock pads. Any issues with glazing of the rotors? (A mechanic friend told me that ceramics can sometimes cause glazing of the rotors). Any recommendations or comments (both pros and cons) on the ceramics pads would be appreciated before I decide to stick with stock or go with the ceramics. Also, do all the C5's, including the Z06, use the same pads?
Thanks in advance for any advice/comments.
Thanks in advance for any advice/comments.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Yes, ceramic rotors create less dust than the semi-metallic pads that are the stock Z06 pads
Ceramic pads are fine when they are cold ... they will "fade" when they get hot
I doubt you will notice a big difference in pad life .... the ceramics might last a bit longr than the stock pads
Any pad can "glaze" .... a couple of good hard stops will fix that ....
No, the stock C5 has a different pad from the Z06 ... the Z06 pad is a "high performance" pad.
Pro's and Con's ....
Pro
* The ceramics appear to dust less because the material is a lighter color, and the pad is "harder" so less material comes off them.
* They stop the car
Con
* The ceramic pads take more pedal effort to achieve the same stopping distance as the stock pads
* The ceramic pads will "fade" much sooner than the stock pads after repeated brake applications that heat the pads/rotors to a "high" temperature
Bottom line, for street driving, the ceramics are fine. But, you bought a Z06 .... if you drive it every Sunday to church and home again ... get the ceramics .... if you take the Z06 to a nice twisty road and drive it like it was built for ... screw the dust ... forget ceramic pads ... put something manly on the car like Hawk or Paget pads ....
Or get a Honda Civic ... nobody notices dust on them ....
Ceramic pads are fine when they are cold ... they will "fade" when they get hot
I doubt you will notice a big difference in pad life .... the ceramics might last a bit longr than the stock pads
Any pad can "glaze" .... a couple of good hard stops will fix that ....
No, the stock C5 has a different pad from the Z06 ... the Z06 pad is a "high performance" pad.
Pro's and Con's ....
Pro
* The ceramics appear to dust less because the material is a lighter color, and the pad is "harder" so less material comes off them.
* They stop the car
Con
* The ceramic pads take more pedal effort to achieve the same stopping distance as the stock pads
* The ceramic pads will "fade" much sooner than the stock pads after repeated brake applications that heat the pads/rotors to a "high" temperature
Bottom line, for street driving, the ceramics are fine. But, you bought a Z06 .... if you drive it every Sunday to church and home again ... get the ceramics .... if you take the Z06 to a nice twisty road and drive it like it was built for ... screw the dust ... forget ceramic pads ... put something manly on the car like Hawk or Paget pads ....
Or get a Honda Civic ... nobody notices dust on them ....
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
I have ceramics on mine because I didn't want to be cleaning my wheels all the time. They do fine for DD and have really good bite and don't squeal. That is for my dd.
For the track, I have another set I put on becuase the ceramics are just not made for high temps. Works out best for me.
Good luck with your choice.
For the track, I have another set I put on becuase the ceramics are just not made for high temps. Works out best for me.
Good luck with your choice.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 217
From: Arizona AZ
I just went from a ZO6 to a convertible and the convertible has ceramics. I was a very light braker on the Z but I too grew weary of the constant cleaning. The convertible with the ceramics is great for daily use but I won't test the twisties with it and find out how well they fade.
You basically have to decide on how you're going to drive the car. Then choose.
You basically have to decide on how you're going to drive the car. Then choose.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 36
From: INDIANA
I've got 35,000 miles on my AC Delco ceramics that I changed at 1500 miles for the same reasons as you mention, plus my originals sqeaked. No rotor problems here, and my cars stops GREAT! (and I don't have to wash the wheels every other day.) 
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But the dust removal is just one more excuse to spend quality time with your car! 
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I am wanting to pick up a set of ceramics for mine. I drive it every day and at this time of year, it may be a week or two between cleanings and the wheels look like hell in that amount of time.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
OK .... I don't get it ..... but they are your cars .... the part numbers for the AC Delco Durastop Ceramic pads are ....
Front pad kit - GM part number 88909667 - AC Delco part 17D731CH
Rear pad kit - GM part number 88909668 - AC Delco part 17D732CH
Ceramic pads on a Z06 ......
Front pad kit - GM part number 88909667 - AC Delco part 17D731CH
Rear pad kit - GM part number 88909668 - AC Delco part 17D732CH
Ceramic pads on a Z06 ......
Last edited by BlackZ06; Feb 22, 2008 at 11:00 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 584
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From: Lakewood Colorado
I had a set of ceramic pads on my Z. Hated them. At first they were cool because of the less dust issue. However, I can't seem to keep this car below 100mph for more then a month. Go figure. If you have to haul the car down from triple digits in a hurry say bye bye to the rotors. They put a glaze or whatever you want to call it on the rotors that even resurfacing wouldn't get rid of. I have a set of HAWK HP Plus pads on the car now and will gladly deal with the dust and squeal. I can put a small amount of pressure on the brake pedal and it almost feels like they bite harder the hotter they get. I'm sure there is a limit since they are manely a steet performance pad that with handle the occasional track day. But I'm very impressed. Of course the SS lines and RBF 600 I'm sure help. Nope, no ceramics for me.
