C5 Rotor Problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Somerton AZ
C5 Rotor Problems
I need some help. Has anyone had problems with the C-5 (04) brake rotors or brake pad combination. My wife 04 brakes, with approximately 6000 miles, have been sqealing during city stop and go traffic. It's a little embarrassing. Had it two the dealer and they said they turned the rotors and replaced the pads because the rotors were glazed. We do drive or brake the car hard. Today it currently back at the dealer for the same problem, not as bad as before, but still a problem. I read in a Corvette publication that the only problem with the new Vette's were the cheep brakes, but this was written by a after market brake supplier. Any idea's......... 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I had a 97 (same brake rotors/pads as 04) for 6 years and never had any brake squealing. However, I used the brakes hard. I now have an 03 Z with the Z06 pads and get some squealing now and then but that is a feature of the higher performance pad.
You may actually have to use the brakes harder to solve the problem.
I wouldn't call the C5 brake components cheap compared to other street cars. They perform very well for all but the most serious racers. What kind of car were you and your wife driving before you bought the Vette? It may be you are not used to having higher performance brakes that sometimes have a tendency to squeal.
Bill
You may actually have to use the brakes harder to solve the problem.
I wouldn't call the C5 brake components cheap compared to other street cars. They perform very well for all but the most serious racers. What kind of car were you and your wife driving before you bought the Vette? It may be you are not used to having higher performance brakes that sometimes have a tendency to squeal.
Bill
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Buena Park CA
i remember reading a post on this a while back. i have an 04 also and i think everyone in the post complaining about squeal had 04's. i agree with it being embarrassing. $50k car squeaking :o . don't know about not braking hard enough either. im on the abs on a reg basis and they squeak like bastards.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
From: Arlington VA
Originally Posted by desertapache
I need some help. Has anyone had problems with the C-5 (04) brake rotors or brake pad combination. My wife 04 brakes, with approximately 6000 miles, have been sqealing during city stop and go traffic. It's a little embarrassing. Had it two the dealer and they said they turned the rotors and replaced the pads because the rotors were glazed. We do drive or brake the car hard. Today it currently back at the dealer for the same problem, not as bad as before, but still a problem. I read in a Corvette publication that the only problem with the new Vette's were the cheep brakes, but this was written by a after market brake supplier. Any idea's.........
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Somerton AZ
Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
I had a 97 (same brake rotors/pads as 04) for 6 years and never had any brake squealing. However, I used the brakes hard. I now have an 03 Z with the Z06 pads and get some squealing now and then but that is a feature of the higher performance pad.
You may actually have to use the brakes harder to solve the problem.
I wouldn't call the C5 brake components cheap compared to other street cars. They perform very well for all but the most serious racers. What kind of car were you and your wife driving before you bought the Vette? It may be you are not used to having higher performance brakes that sometimes have a tendency to squeal.
Bill
You may actually have to use the brakes harder to solve the problem.
I wouldn't call the C5 brake components cheap compared to other street cars. They perform very well for all but the most serious racers. What kind of car were you and your wife driving before you bought the Vette? It may be you are not used to having higher performance brakes that sometimes have a tendency to squeal.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 13
From: N. County/San Diego
Originally Posted by 2kbluestreak
Bed the brakes! Go to baer.com and read the Rotor Seasoning procedure. 
It`s discussed on pg one at this web address:www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/bedinstock.htm
Cheers, Rick
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Originally Posted by desertapache
I need some help. Has anyone had problems with the C-5 (04) brake rotors or brake pad combination. My wife 04 brakes, with approximately 6000 miles, have been sqealing during city stop and go traffic. It's a little embarrassing. Had it two the dealer and they said they turned the rotors and replaced the pads because the rotors were glazed. We do drive or brake the car hard. Today it currently back at the dealer for the same problem, not as bad as before, but still a problem. I read in a Corvette publication that the only problem with the new Vette's were the cheep brakes, but this was written by a after market brake supplier. Any idea's.........
A quick and easy fix may be to find a safe place and do some hard stops in reverse. Sometimes that is an easy way to get pad deposits off. If that doesn't do it it is almost certain the full bedding proceedure mentioned will fix the squeal.