Brake upgrade - Advice needed
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 935
Likes: 103
Brake upgrade - Advice needed
Hey all,
Pushed through the brakes today.. not a cool feeling. Never had this happen before. So it's time to go through do some maintenance and upgrades.
Keeping it to a budget what's the best way to improve the system?
Better pads?
Pads and Rotors and Calipers??
Looking for the best bang for the buck here
Pushed through the brakes today.. not a cool feeling. Never had this happen before. So it's time to go through do some maintenance and upgrades.
Keeping it to a budget what's the best way to improve the system?
Better pads?
Pads and Rotors and Calipers??
Looking for the best bang for the buck here
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 154
Likes: 35
From: Santa Cruz CA
Hey all,
Pushed through the brakes today.. not a cool feeling. Never had this happen before. So it's time to go through do some maintenance and upgrades.
Keeping it to a budget what's the best way to improve the system?
Better pads?
Pads and Rotors and Calipers??
Looking for the best bang for the buck here
Pushed through the brakes today.. not a cool feeling. Never had this happen before. So it's time to go through do some maintenance and upgrades.
Keeping it to a budget what's the best way to improve the system?
Better pads?
Pads and Rotors and Calipers??
Looking for the best bang for the buck here
I can also give a little more feedback based on your intentions for your car. Are you planning to start hitting the track or autoX? Also, under what circumstances were you experiencing brake fade?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 935
Likes: 103
What Pads are you currently running? The very first thing to do is new pads. I would suggest Ferodo DS2500 or Hawk HP Plus if you want to move up to a light track/autocross pad. I'm guessing you're still on stock brake rotors?
I can also give a little more feedback based on your intentions for your car. Are you planning to start hitting the track or autoX? Also, under what circumstances were you experiencing brake fade?
I can also give a little more feedback based on your intentions for your car. Are you planning to start hitting the track or autoX? Also, under what circumstances were you experiencing brake fade?
I am am on stock pads and rotors although I felt they were in great shape until earlier today.
The car is stock but will be getting bolt ons shortly and I plan to make a few 1/4 mile runs with it and daily drive it over the summer.
Last edited by Roddy13; Jun 1, 2017 at 12:05 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 154
Likes: 35
From: Santa Cruz CA
I had the fade after a 20 to 70mph run that had me on the brakes hard unexpectedly to a full stop.. I over shot where I thought I would stop by quite some distance ..
I am am on stock pads and rotors although I felt they were in great shape until earlier today.
The car is stock but will be getting bolt ons shortly and I plan to make a few 1/4 mile runs with it and daily drive it over the summer.
I am am on stock pads and rotors although I felt they were in great shape until earlier today.
The car is stock but will be getting bolt ons shortly and I plan to make a few 1/4 mile runs with it and daily drive it over the summer.
Either the Ferodo DS2500, or Hawk HP Plus compound will give you a more aggressive brake engagement and will function at higher nominal temperatures than the OEM Pads. You're not overheating your rotors yet, so unless you're planning to start tracking your car, there's no need to worry about BBK options just yet!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 935
Likes: 103
Go ahead and pick up some performance pads for now. The stock brake pads leave a lot to be desired from a performance point of view, and I think you simply overheated them. The stock brake rotors are 325x32mm directional vane discs, which are pretty substantial for the 3200-3300 pound weight range of a C5. I don't think you need to worry about a serious costly BBK upgrade just yet.
Either the Ferodo DS2500, or Hawk HP Plus compound will give you a more aggressive brake engagement and will function at higher nominal temperatures than the OEM Pads. You're not overheating your rotors yet, so unless you're planning to start tracking your car, there's no need to worry about BBK options just yet!
Either the Ferodo DS2500, or Hawk HP Plus compound will give you a more aggressive brake engagement and will function at higher nominal temperatures than the OEM Pads. You're not overheating your rotors yet, so unless you're planning to start tracking your car, there's no need to worry about BBK options just yet!
Any advice on brake fluid and brake lines?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 154
Likes: 35
From: Santa Cruz CA
I believe TPS Motorsports is a supporting vendor here, so I will point at: http://www.tpsmotorsports.com/tps-co...-base-z06.html based on the photos they are using technafit stainless steel brake lines, which is the same supplier for a lot of upper tier vendors. Stoptech isn't bad either for stainless lines. Red Line is my go to for fluids, but Motul also has very high quality brake fluid options!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 935
Likes: 103
That makes sense! Brake pad compounds have different materials in them which function most effectively at varying temperatures. So when a pad is overheated, a certain percentage of the material is effectively compromised, and the low temp materials are the most overheated. So a gentle push on the brakes at speed is where you will experience the most loss in braking function. When you step on it, the pads clamp down hard and the engagement is much more substantial.
I believe TPS Motorsports is a supporting vendor here, so I will point at: http://www.tpsmotorsports.com/tps-co...-base-z06.html based on the photos they are using technafit stainless steel brake lines, which is the same supplier for a lot of upper tier vendors. Stoptech isn't bad either for stainless lines. Red Line is my go to for fluids, but Motul also has very high quality brake fluid options!
I believe TPS Motorsports is a supporting vendor here, so I will point at: http://www.tpsmotorsports.com/tps-co...-base-z06.html based on the photos they are using technafit stainless steel brake lines, which is the same supplier for a lot of upper tier vendors. Stoptech isn't bad either for stainless lines. Red Line is my go to for fluids, but Motul also has very high quality brake fluid options!
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Have you checked the brake fluid level lately and made sure there is no leakage from the system? If all is well there, perhaps you did just overheat the brakes and need to upgrade to better materials. I ran some Hawk HPS pads on the '00 I had and they worked well for me, although they were for just ordinary street driving.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Cleveland OH
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All great points stated above I would definitely check your fluid and probably a good idea to bleed the system.
For pads check out the Carbotech 1521 compound.
Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ 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. 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. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
For pads check out the Carbotech 1521 compound.
Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ 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. 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. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
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From: Northville, MI
When you are checking your brake fluid make sure it is light amber in color and not dark brown. If the color is dark then it is past time to put new brake fluid in. Most brake mfg.'s and many auto companies suggest you change the fluid every two years, BMW recommended every year in the owners manual of one I used to own.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
In addition to pads and brake lines, I would suggest using ATE TYP 200 DOT 4 Brake Fluid, known as ATE Super Gold. Run it in all of my vehicles.
I would get six weekends with the track car without any issues. Only changed the fluid after six just because . . . .
The price is per liter so it's about half the cost of motul.
Marc
I would get six weekends with the track car without any issues. Only changed the fluid after six just because . . . .
The price is per liter so it's about half the cost of motul.
Marc
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 122
From: Lighthouse Point FL
What do you mean by "pushed through the brakes"?
Did ABS kick in? Did you release the brake pressure when it happened? A stock C5 will do 70-20mph stops till your leg wears out. Stock calipers, Master Cylinder, HD pads and SS lines will restore proper function.
Did ABS kick in? Did you release the brake pressure when it happened? A stock C5 will do 70-20mph stops till your leg wears out. Stock calipers, Master Cylinder, HD pads and SS lines will restore proper function.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 935
Likes: 103
it felt like the brakes completely faded. The pedal is firm it just felt like I couldn't stop. Gave me a scare for sure. I'm taking the advice from above, getting everything checked out and upgrading where needed.