C5 Brake Advice

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Nov 14, 2008 | 07:45 PM

kbootch

Thread Starter

8th Gear

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

C5 Brake Advice

Have a 2000 C5 I need to upgrade the brakes on. This is a daily driver that has the dustiest pads and warped rotors I have ever experienced with any car. Had the rotors turned twice and they warped after a few miles.

Would like to use slotted and drilled (I know, drilled may be bad

- but the look cool!) rotors and low dust pads. Need your advice.

Nov 14, 2008 | 07:57 PM

Mr.Bill

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 18,681

Likes: 47

From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion

St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14

Get Ceramic pads next time, They have the least dust of all pads.
As far as rotors go there are a ton out there....Stay away from China rotors.

Nov 14, 2008 | 10:26 PM

Oldvetter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 6,937

Likes: 21

From: Waldorf MD

NAPA has some slotted/drilled rotors, but they are not zinc plated, so you have to paint them (silver high heat rustoleom) before you install.

I would use HAWK HPS pads, they dust very little but stop MUCH better than ceramics.

Nov 15, 2008 | 01:13 AM

Bill Dearborn

Tech Contributor

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 41,037

Likes: 9,798

From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)

Anything you do to reduce the dust will be a downgrade to the system not an upgrade. As far as warped rotors there is no such thing. Do a search on the forum and you will see plenty of references to the Stop Tech article on the myth of warped rotors. You may have lateral thickness variation or uneven build up of pad deposits on the rotors. The harder you use these brakes the better they are. Babying them usually results in problems like you are experiencing.

As for turning rotors it is just about as cheap to replace them as turn them given the low cost of aftermarket replacement rotors. NAPA rotors can still be purchased for $35 apiece.

Bill

Nov 15, 2008 | 08:19 AM

rws.1

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 16,795

Likes: 62

From: Lake Havasu City, AZ

I have sportbrakes d+S rotors. After 40K miles they still lool like new.
www.sportbrakes.com

I use A/C Delco durastop ceramics. They are very low dust and the dust is light gray in color so barely visible.

BUT you said upgrade...
the question is upgrade looks or performance?

solid rotors give better stopping power than drilled/dimpled or slotted.

the less dust from a pad means less aggressive, lower stopping power.

The combination I have is fine for the street. BUt I do change to solid rotors and Hawk HP + pads for autocross. If I leave those on, I have to wash the wheels after each drive.

Nov 15, 2008 | 09:22 AM

KENCO

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 212

Likes: 1

From: Clearwater FL

St. Jude Donor '11

I put this setup on my car and am very pleased so far. $239.00 for the whole kit, front and rear. Great communication and fast shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...4153QQtcZphoto

Nov 15, 2008 | 12:35 PM

kbootch

Thread Starter

8th Gear

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

Thanks for all your Help

Thanks guys, this is a great forum - don't know where else I could get so much info. The other issue I will be dealing with is the oil sender. Found a great post for that one too and will replace and relocate it next week.

Nov 16, 2008 | 09:38 AM

Redneck Slim

Racer

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 314

Likes: 17

From: Palo Alto California

Hawk HPS and Baer 2-piece rotors. The rotors are works of art as well as performance enhancers: drilled and slotted,black hats,bright silver anti-rust coating,and of course lighter than stock. If you have 18" or larger front wheels,you can use their larger diameter rotor kit that comes with different caliper brackets.

hawk