I'm having trouble finding c5 Z06 brake information. Basically I want to upgrade to the Z06 brakes but I can't find anything on how much better they are, specifications, etc.

Will I need different rotors?

 

As far as I can recall, I believe all C5's, including Z06's, were outfitted with identical rotors and calipers (except the Z06 calipers are painted red; otherwise they're the same piece underneath the paint). The only difference is that the Z06 had different brake pads. I've heard of a lot of C5 owners upgrading to the Z06 pads and reporting excellent improvements. So, basically if you buy and install Z06 brake pads, you'll have the same "brakes" as a Z06.

Am I right on this guys?

 

Yes, there is no difference other than the front pads and caliper color.

 

do slotted/drilled rotors make a big difference, other than looks?

 

For a street driven car, no.

 

Well the drilled rotors have a habit of wanting to stress crack at the holes over time. Particularly if you drive in the rain, yes some of us have to do that. I would go slotted only for the street.

 

Try living in Ireland. haha

 

Get some Slotted Rotors (Powerslot, EBC or something along those lines) and some Hawk Ceramic Pads. The Ceramic IMO are great for the simple reason they REDUCE brake dust to almost Nothing.

 

Even... wait, no. ESPECIALLY if you track the car. NO. Solid rotors are just fine and far less likely to crack.

 

Stay away from the Hawk DTC pads. They are strictly for tracking and need to be at temperature to work (i.e. on the street you will hit the car in front of you). If you go Hawks go the HPS.

I've heard the CarboTechs are better when it comes to dust.

If you want increased braking performance I recommend NAPA rotors and CarboTech pads. If you are going for looks, just about anything goes, other than the Hawk DTC pad for the reasons identified above.

 

Get ready to clean your wheels daily....I went to ceramic because of the dust. There is a difference in performance. But I don't race so, no problem.

 

I'm not familiar with Hawk "DTC" I'm running the HPS. But I will stand by the recommendation of Hawk Ceramic Pads. I've used only ceramic pads for the last 5 years and will only use them from here on out.

My car is not daily driven and rarely sees a track.

 

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, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. 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. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

 

I'm running the Hawk Performance Ceramics on the street. That is their latest pad. Super low dust. Less stopping power than their HPS, which used to be their easiest going pad. The DTC is their top of the line race pad. Most certainly not for street. I do commute to the track with any race pad I buy. Carbotech or Hawk. You won't die if you do it. Just have to drag the brakes a bit the first couple of stops to get heat in them. I drove to work today on DTC70s. They'll kill rotors in short order though without enough heat.

So for Hawk the rate of aggression/dust is like this:

Street: Performance Ceramic; HPS; HP+
Track: Black; Blue; HT; DTC

HP+ and up the dust is down right nasty and stains wheels and your paint.


The Carbotech Bobcat is a very good pad too. For street cars and tow vehicles. They brake hard enough and wear like iron. We are running the AX6 pad on my friends S2K for autocross. They work very good. I wouldn't pick them as a street pad though. Nasty little buggers for dust and they squeek. Then the XP family is pure track much like the HT and DTC from Hawk.

Either way I've been happy with both vendors.

Graham

 

Hello neighbor!!

Pretty correct on the Hawk stuff.

Hawk HPS - semi metallic street pad. Basically medium everything and a good overall street pad

Hawk Performance Ceramic - for those that simply hate brake dust. Ceramic is a bit of a misnomer but these are decent performing for a ceramic pad. Most ceramic pads don't really like to stop well.

Hawk HP+ A pretty aggressive street pad. Very streetable as far as bite goes - GREAT for auto cross - limited track performance

Hawk Blue/Black - forget these - there are much better race pads - these are for lighter/slower cars.

Hawk HT-10 - Street tire track pad

Hawk HT-14 - R-comp or 'fast' street tire pad

DTC-60 - improved HT-10

DTC-70 - improved HT-14

The DTC's was not so much about adding friction - it was more to increase overall performance so things like rotor wear, modulation etc were addressed.

The pad we WANT them to make is the DTC-30. I assure you it rocks if you want a very aggressive street pad.

 

After looking at the above posts I am NOT running HPS but am in fact running the Performance Ceramic. DOn't know why I got that mixed up. but I did.

 

Infantsam - Hey neighbor. There are a few Z's around here. Don't see them much though. I caught up with one last night on 540 on the way home. Btw, never used the Hawk Blue/Black. They have been around forever and make good low cost track day pads. I used to AX on HP+ pads on a C4. I was going to try an HT14/HT10 setup. Ended up using DTC70s cause I got them used from a racing team. About 90% meat still on the pad, for half price :-)

Speedyhawk101. Sounds like you have the same ones as I do for street. They wear pretty darned good and are super low dust. Fine for street and a few hard braking stops. Definitely not a performance pad in my mind. Even though they call them that.

 

Mine is red w/ A6 hoosiers and DTC 70's

RU heading up to NCM/Chin?

 

Instructing at NCM. Not doing Chin this year. Not up for 4 days in a row. Did 3 with PCA. That was enough. I'll see you up there.

 

I have some GM part numbers that someone may prove me wrong but I will give them to you.
front ceramic 88909667
rear ceramic 88909668
Z06 front 88952008
Z06 rear 12530688
non Z06 front 12530681

Hope this helps