Ceramic pads?/?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,515
Likes: 255
From: Rochester New York
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-specials.html
Scroll down to the C-5 section. $159 Front and rear.
Scroll down to the C-5 section. $159 Front and rear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
I had an interesting chat with my service adviser at the dealership today. Let me preface this by saying that I have the best Chevrolet Cadillac dealership in the world, bar none. These guys have done things for me above and beyond, time and time again. And I trust them.
Anyway, the adviser seemed very reluctant to fit a set of ceramics on my 'Vette, in part because of the reduced stopping power, in part because he said they are noisier. The thing that he said though that has me wondering a little bit though, is that he claims that the brake dust will get worse as the pad is nearing the end of its serviceable life. Like I said, I tend to trust this guy implicitly, but I'm wondering if that is actually the case. If so, then it seems to me that those pads are probably coming due for swap regardless, and if it's true that worn pads dust worse than newer ones, I might be just sticking with the OEM pads, if not the Hawk HPS pads that everyone seems to be raving about.
Anyway, the adviser seemed very reluctant to fit a set of ceramics on my 'Vette, in part because of the reduced stopping power, in part because he said they are noisier. The thing that he said though that has me wondering a little bit though, is that he claims that the brake dust will get worse as the pad is nearing the end of its serviceable life. Like I said, I tend to trust this guy implicitly, but I'm wondering if that is actually the case. If so, then it seems to me that those pads are probably coming due for swap regardless, and if it's true that worn pads dust worse than newer ones, I might be just sticking with the OEM pads, if not the Hawk HPS pads that everyone seems to be raving about.
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,592
Likes: 1,710
From: Converse TX
You will not be happy with the performance of ceramic pads, especially on a ZO6. I ran GM Ceramics, very little dust, but lousey performance, you have to press much harder and do not stop as well.
I recommend HAWK HPS brake pads, very little dust and GREAT performance, better than ZO6 pads.
I recommend HAWK HPS brake pads, very little dust and GREAT performance, better than ZO6 pads.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,225
Likes: 0
From: The Great Truth: "There ain't no free lunch"
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Changed to drilled/slotted rotors and although the original pads stopped great, cleaning became an aggravating chore. Changed to the GM ceramic after a lot of research here and locally. I mostly cruse with some romping, work great for me and don't have to clean after each trip...
If you track, don't use ceramic.
If you track, don't use ceramic.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Interesting. I had Hawk HPS pads on my C4 and they were great stoppers but I thought the dusting was pretty severe -- which surprised me. I don't know why that would be different on a C5. I am leaning toward higher-quality ceramics when the time comes to replace mine on the C5.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Oakdale CT
I've had Raybestos Quiet stops on the car for about 2 years or so. You can still stop hard enough to pull teeth out of your head, but you will only be able to do so a few times. These pads are excellent for daily driving/weekend cruiser but I wouldn't recommend them for track use aside from an occasional trip down the 1/4.
should they?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
I have HPS pads now and they dust quite a bit!! They also squeal a fair bit. I'm going to try the Hawk Ceramics next... From their brochure (for what it's worth):
I have now used the Hawk Performance Ceramic Brake Pads for over a month. I use my 2002 Z06 as my daily driver and track time car. First I want to report to you, I have battled with brake dust on my various Corvettes since 1997 and I have to say you’ve got a winner! The dust these pads produce is far less than the stock pads, and it actually keeps the rims looking good for about 3 times as long. That’s the first good news! Even better is the noise level of the pads for a performance pad, there is none! It’s an absolute pleasure to have a performance pad that doesn’t loudly announce its arrival before every stop. And most importantly, the pads perform as promised, they do a great job of stopping! -- Michael G. Wilson, Eckler’s Corvette Parts
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield MO
you can search this thread to you are blue in the face. I just replaced my brake pads and rotors for new ones.The rotors are cryostop plain no crossdrilled or slotted and the brake pads are the Hawk Ceramics. I have read alot of bad things about drilled and slotted for track use because they are prone to cracking and warping. They work much better than the OEM. I use my Z twice a month for autocross and some street use. No complaints as of yet. this is my 2cents worth.
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Ed
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 1
From: Torrance California
ok so now i'm really confused. Some say Hawk HPS pads work better and dust a lot less some say dust a lot as well. And Hawk ceramics seems to be less dust but loss of brake performance. I'd rather now sacrifice safety for cleaner wheels.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,828
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I've had Raybestos Quiet stops on the car for about 2 years or so. You can still stop hard enough to pull teeth out of your head, but you will only be able to do so a few times. These pads are excellent for daily driving/weekend cruiser but I wouldn't recommend them for track use aside from an occasional trip down the 1/4.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 539
Likes: 4
From: Rochester, NY
Tire Rack Performance Ratings
Tire Rack sells brake products and I noticed that most of the ceramic brake pads only scored 2 out 5 stars in the stopping power category, but were 5 out 5 stars in dusting & low noise
The non ceramic pads were mostly 4 out of 5 stars in the stopping power category, while dusting and noise were mostly 3 out of 5 stars
The non ceramic pads were mostly 4 out of 5 stars in the stopping power category, while dusting and noise were mostly 3 out of 5 stars