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Ceramic pads

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Old Aug 3, 2007 | 11:16 PM
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Default Ceramic pads

Let's talk about ceramic brake pads for Corvettes. Why doesn't GM use them? My pads generate an awful lot if brake dust which sticks badly to the wheels.

The ceramic pads on my ricer (Acura TL-S) produce no visible dust.

I'll be the first to admit that the brakes on my ricer seem about 1/2 as powerful as the Vette but this might have nothing to do with the pad material.

Has anyone switched to ceramic and if so, what are your findings?
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Old Aug 3, 2007 | 11:25 PM
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I have them on my 04 Z and I truly like them. I need to state that I do not auto cross or track the car. For me they do not dust the wheels and are very quiet.



Jim
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Old Aug 3, 2007 | 11:47 PM
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The GM ceramics do NOT have the stopping power of the stock Z06 pads. They are fine for everyday use as long as your not doing any spirited driving. If your doing any open track events or autocrossing, they are far from adequate.

I run them on the street for everyday use so I don't have to clean the wheels everyday, but use different pads for track events.
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Old Aug 4, 2007 | 10:59 AM
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I switched from stock to GM ceramic pads. I do not take my car on the track. The difference is amazing as far as the dust goes.
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Old Aug 4, 2007 | 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by thetorch
The GM ceramics do NOT have the stopping power of the stock Z06 pads. They are fine for everyday use as long as your not doing any spirited driving. If your doing any open track events or autocrossing, they are far from adequate.

I run them on the street for everyday use so I don't have to clean the wheels everyday, but use different pads for track events.
Ceramic pads are good for no dust, but there is a price to pay if you are hard on the brakes. Once the ceramic heat up they stopping power goes away.

for the most if you are just a normal street driver you will not have any problems stopping. If you are one of those weekend warriors then I would suggest staying away from them.

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Old Aug 4, 2007 | 01:24 PM
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I have ceramic pads and I took my car out to the tack last week. I was worried about them running 20 minute sessions. But they seemed to work OK for doing a hard stop from 130 mph down to about 30 mph. I did get a little worried once that I was going to overshoot my turn, so I started braking a little earlier. These are not the best pads for the track, but if you just track once in a while for the fun of it, then they will work. I never got any brake fade, and I heated my brakes up enough to peel the Cad platting on the edge of the hub. Just be cautious on your distant you need to brake at first until you get the feel of them.

Pads are easy to change, so you can always change them out for the track, and put the ceramics on for the street.

Last edited by RED99; Aug 4, 2007 at 01:27 PM.
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Old Aug 4, 2007 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by RED99
I have ceramic pads and I took my car out to the tack last week. I was worried about them running 20 minute sessions. But they seemed to work OK for doing a hard stop from 130 mph down to about 30 mph. I did get a little worried once that I was going to overshoot my turn, so I started braking a little earlier. These are not the best pads for the track, but if you just track once in a while for the fun of it, then they will work. I never got any brake fade, and I heated my brakes up enough to peel the Cad platting on the edge of the hub. Just be cautious on your distant you need to brake at first until you get the feel of them.

Pads are easy to change, so you can always change them out for the track, and put the ceramics on for the street.
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Old Aug 4, 2007 | 03:47 PM
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American Hydrocarbon
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Changed my stock pads for the ceramic ones to keep the dust off the wheels. I do not track the car so they work just fine on the street. I just put a set on the work minivan to keep those wheels clean also. I like to keep my vehicles clean for play and work so the ceramic pads are the way to go for me.
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