Currently doing my homework on a brake upgrade for my 2001 C5 Z06.
I'm pretty much set all around but the most mixed reviews i've read are on brake pads.

After some reading seems i've heard plenty of positive reviews from the Hawk HPS. They stop on the dime, and dust very low. But how much is "very low"? People who have them swear they will never run another ceramic pad due to better braking.

On the other hand the GM Ceramics have also gotten very good reviews for fair stopping power and almost no dust. Ceramic users say they rather have less stopping power than a lot of dust to clean up after.

The Carbotech 1521 is also a great contender that offers pretty much everything you want in a brake pad "per advertisement". But the value is a little bit more that both mentioned above.

I know by going to a ceramic pad i'm sacrificing brake power, but i'm not too sure which route is best to take. I use the car mainly for joy rides and a few occasional runs. I do like to push the car at times, but no track use. I do not daily drive it.

Any insight or real experiences would be helpful.

Thanks

 

Per our resident C5 specialist, no ceramic pad has the stopping power of semi-metallic.

You're going to be pulling your wheels once per week to clean and polish them anyway, right?, so go with the best.

 

Maxx, you know what gets my vote but, I will let the members speak.

*One note the HPS is not a low dust pad.

Also, replied to your email.

 

Thank you for your speedy reply Adam.

 

Very true, and lmao at "You're going to be pulling your wheels once per week to clean and polish them anyway, right?"

 

I'll be pulling mine off this weekend.

 

Anymore input guys?

 

I have Carbotech 1521 , I am very happy with them . They are a little more than I wanted to pay. WTF it's only money..

 

I have the HPS pads all around. They are semi-metallilc pads. The rears squeak on my car. I think it's just too sticky of a pad for the rear on a daily driver. These are almost like race pads. You really have to get on them constantly or they will squeak. I'm pretty hard on the brakes, but the street is just not enough for daily driving to keep the pads in the rear from squeaking. Going to z06 pads eventually for the rear. Staying with the HPS on the front.

 

True, I guess i could pay a little extra for pads that perform like a non ceramic but don't dust like one. Is the initial bite on them good? I've read braking is a little sketchy with a ceramic pad.

How bad do they really dust from a daily driving use?

 

They don't dust quite as bad as oem pads. I'm not a much of waxer, so I don't pay too much attention. Although I do use an Eagle One product on my wheels that is supposed to repel brake dust. It does a decent job, and makes it pretty easy to wash off.

 

Come on now Adam, they aren't that bad. (Note the "clean" spot at the bottom of the wheel.)



Note: This was a few sessions at the racetrack on street tires and HPS pads. I ran a track day last year in street config just to instruct. They really don't do this with street driving. I wash my car/wheels every couple of weeks and the dust is no worse than my pickup with OE pads. I love the HPS and will continue to use them on the street.

 

I have the HPS on the front of mine and love them... they were a big improvement.... Yes, they dust.... but I am more concerened about stopping than dust build up on the wheels....

 

They have an excellent initial bite. I would buy them again. These pads are not for track ,My car is not a DD, I do canyon runs on the weekends and I am very happy with them so far. They do dust up a little but I wipe them down after every drive. OCD about my car.

 

I went w/ Kangaroo Paw DBA's (slotted) & HPS from Southern Car Parts. Big improvement! My old brakes were not worn out. This set-up STOPS!

 

I'm running Hawk Performance Ceramic pads http://www.hawkperformance.com/perfo...rmance-ceramic on my factory rotors. I have no plans to change when I mount up the new Eradispeeds. Good bite, low dust. They're not as "good" as the original Z06 pads, but they're not supposed to be. I'm not tracking the car, just street driving.

 

If I was tracking more often I would go with the HPS pads, but HPS pads made a lot of noise and left the wheels filthy after spirited street driving.

These Hawk Ceramics are quite good at panic stops. Multiple very hard stops and they tend to fade a little too much, but for any two panic stops in a row they are just fine. Very quiet and the wheels always look nice even if I go two weeks without cleaning the wheels.

 

Hawk HPS pads. The dust for me is a none issue.

 

HPS pads all around, work extremely well on the street.
A little dust, but hey! Thats what regular car washing is for

 

I've been happy with the stopping power of the HPS pad on the street. Much much better than the factory pads.

I am unhappy with the amount of dust they generate.

It was time for some new pads, so I ordered some 1521s from Adam last week. As soon as they arrive I'll install and report back.

The extra money is worth it if they maintain the stopping power I had with the HPS and keep the wheels as clean as the stock pads. That's all I'm hoping for.