Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

[Z06] brake dust phenomenon

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 12:49 PM
  #1  
krabtree13's Avatar
krabtree13
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: plymouth ma
Default brake dust phenomenon

traded my '02 coupe in on a Z16 just a week ago,and i can't believe the obscene amounts of brake dust that are accumulating all over the wheels!!i thought that the coupe was a pain,but this is bordering on ridiculous!!will this problem subside any as i put more miles on?i'm guessing that this may be a ,but not a recent one,so no flames please!!!
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 01:05 PM
  #2  
anniv88's Avatar
anniv88
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: East Peoria Illinois
Default

Get used to it unless you are willing to change brake pads.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 01:16 PM
  #3  
MikeP's Avatar
MikeP
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 830
Likes: 29
From: crestview fl
Default

I have a Z16 also with the same problem, going to change to ceramic pads ASAP. Zero dust problems and nice shiney wheels
Mike
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 01:20 PM
  #4  
BrianS's Avatar
BrianS
Pro
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From: plainview ny
Default

It is a small price to pay for short stopping distances!!
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 01:30 PM
  #5  
slythetove's Avatar
slythetove
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 609
Likes: 23
From: Austin TX
Default

Originally Posted by anniv88
Get used to it unless you are willing to change brake pads.
Comes with the superior stopping power.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 05:37 PM
  #6  
Shylor's Avatar
Shylor
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Default



All Z06's have this issue because the brakes are better. You didn't know this before you got the car? I would check out the forums first next time, so you don't get any surprises.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 07:09 PM
  #7  
Soundbroker's Avatar
Soundbroker
6th Gear
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Default

Get some Rejex and coat your wheels with it. Makes the brake dust come off with water! I also use it on the front end of the car and bugs just slide right off. Stuff works!
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 07:11 PM
  #8  
DWS'03Z's Avatar
DWS'03Z
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: NC
Default

If you do not track your car, you may want to consider ceramic pads. You do give up a little stopping power with ceramics, but not enough to justify the dusting/slight squeeking of the OEM's IMO.

I have ceramics, and have no issues with them......and no dusting.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 07:48 PM
  #9  
DsC5's Avatar
DsC5
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,292
Likes: 0
From: Hockessin Delaware
Default

Originally Posted by DWS'03Z
If you do not track your car, you may want to consider ceramic pads. You do give up a little stopping power with ceramics, but not enough to justify the dusting/slight squeeking of the OEM's IMO.

I have ceramics, and have no issues with them......and no dusting.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 08:00 PM
  #10  
xsiveone's Avatar
xsiveone
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,661
Likes: 1
Default

If you do not track your car, you may want to consider ceramic pads. You do give up a little stopping power with ceramics, but not enough to justify the dusting/slight squeeking of the OEM's IMO.

I have ceramics, and have no issues with them......and no dusting.


I switch to a track pad and separate set of rotors for the track and run the ceramics on the street. You don't need any more than the ceramics on the street and you won't have any dust to speak of.

X
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 08:02 PM
  #11  
Thud's Avatar
Thud
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 69,020
Likes: 0
From: Bagpipes put the "fun" in "funeral"
Default

Originally Posted by krabtree13
traded my '02 coupe in on a Z16 just a week ago,and i can't believe the obscene amounts of brake dust that are accumulating all over the wheels!!i thought that the coupe was a pain,but this is bordering on ridiculous!!will this problem subside any as i put more miles on?i'm guessing that this may be a ,but not a recent one,so no flames please!!!

Yep, the special carbon brake pads on the Z06 are designed for track use. They reduce brake fade greatly, and give the Z06 really short stopping distances.

However I'm going to switch to ceramics just because mine is only street-driven... you should do the same, and you can always keep the carbon pads to swap out if you ever do race it.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 08:36 PM
  #12  
Z06-JIM's Avatar
Z06-JIM
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

I went with the Wilwood Ceramic Pads and have never regretted it.
Hardly any dust and a lot less cleaning my wheels now!
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2004 | 11:13 PM
  #13  
RobG03Z06's Avatar
RobG03Z06
Racer
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land TX
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by DWS'03Z
If you do not track your car, you may want to consider ceramic pads. You do give up a little stopping power with ceramics, but not enough to justify the dusting/slight squeeking of the OEM's IMO.

I have ceramics, and have no issues with them......and no dusting.
Ditto...
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2004 | 01:27 AM
  #14  
Subw00er's Avatar
Subw00er
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 14
Default

just wax your wheels, no big deal. I use liquid glass.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2004 | 01:28 AM
  #15  
Subw00er's Avatar
Subw00er
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 14
Default

just wax your wheels, no big deal. I use liquid glass.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2004 | 07:16 AM
  #16  
AFVETTE's Avatar
AFVETTE
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Default

Mine is a street car so I opted for GM ceramic pads. I have gone 3 weeks and the wheels show almost no dust. As far as stopping power all I know is when I'm out with the boys on the back roads here in southern Illinois romping and stomping when I need too I can get the ABS to engage. Seems the ceramic pads offer at least enough bite to cause the F1's to lose grip. Would they work on the track probably not, but as I said for a street car they are a good choice. Oh and they don't squeal either.

Tom
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2004 | 12:28 PM
  #17  
SMOKNC6Z06's Avatar
0SMOKNC6Z06
Former Vendor
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 0
From: Roseville CA
Default

We use Perfomance Friction Z rated pads, front and rear. Better braking and very little dust.
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2004 | 12:08 AM
  #18  
LT1GMC's Avatar
LT1GMC
Drifting
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 35
From: INDIANA
Default

Seems like alot of guys want to say that brake dust is the price you pay for great brakes, well, no one seemed to think that the '01 Z06 had anything less than AWESOME brakes when it came out, and the '01 had a no dust/no squeal pad set! The dusty/squealing pads came out with the later year models. I changed my '03 pads to the ceramics the first month, cause who really wants to wash the wheels 3 times between each car wash? ( not to mention I would like people to look at my car because they liked it, not cause it was squealing)
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2004 | 08:35 AM
  #19  
04Z16's Avatar
04Z16
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: Warrick County IN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
Default

I didn't even have the break in done yet when I switched to the ceramic pads. The wheels look great all the time and I've not had a problem stopping the car! The GM ceramic pads are great for the street.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To brake dust phenomenon





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:06 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE