Are hawk pads better the GM's
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
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I have had stock C5 Pads with stock rotors, very dusty and good stopping.
I have had GM Ceramic pads with stock rotors, very little light colored dust and poor stopping (takes much more force).
I now have HAWK HPS pads and drilled and slotted rotors. Little dust and GREAT stopping. No noise. You need to follow installation and coat backs with anti-squeal grease and properly bed in pads.
HAWK HPS pads are GREAT, they are supposed to stop better than ZO6 pads with very little brake dust.
I have had GM Ceramic pads with stock rotors, very little light colored dust and poor stopping (takes much more force).
I now have HAWK HPS pads and drilled and slotted rotors. Little dust and GREAT stopping. No noise. You need to follow installation and coat backs with anti-squeal grease and properly bed in pads.
HAWK HPS pads are GREAT, they are supposed to stop better than ZO6 pads with very little brake dust.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
I replaced my wife's 2001 convertible brakes with Hawk HPS pads and Motul RBF 600 fluid 2 years ago. The setup is still working great. The 2001 has a tighter pedal feel, stops quicker and makes less dust than my 2004 Z06 with factory pads and fluid.
This is what the Z will get when it's time for new shoes.
D.
This is what the Z will get when it's time for new shoes.
D.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Missouri
St. Jude Donor '09
I have been on Hawks for 2 years now. I have never had to clean brake dust. It stops much faster and smoother than stock pads. And I have no squeel. My only noise comes from the air rushing through the cross drilled rotors.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: NOVA VA
My HPS pads have been on for about a year / 25,000 miles. I agree with everything said so far. I drive my car about 90 miles a day and I only clean my Y2K wheels about once every two weeks with some Windex.
With my Bear Eradispeed cross drilled rotors and HPS pads my braking from 100+ down to 40ish is much, much smoother and consistent than with OE stuff.
-Steve
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
From: Willow Spring N.C.
I've used Hawk pads with Bear Eradispeeds on my Z06, and 94 Vert.
I now use them on my 00 Vert with stock rotors. They stop a lot better then GM pads. I would buy nothing else for any of my vehicles. I use this C5 for my daily, and I don't drive it easy.
I now use them on my 00 Vert with stock rotors. They stop a lot better then GM pads. I would buy nothing else for any of my vehicles. I use this C5 for my daily, and I don't drive it easy.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood Village Colorado
St. Jude Donor '08
I think I have Hawk HP Plus on my Z06.
There is definitely squeak, but the brakes work well. I'm willing to live with squeaking for improved performance. They seem to have more bite than the OEM Z06 pads had on my 2004.
There is definitely squeak, but the brakes work well. I'm willing to live with squeaking for improved performance. They seem to have more bite than the OEM Z06 pads had on my 2004.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: sacramento california
hawk pads
i recently changed to the zip products brake kit with cross drilled and slotted rotors and hawk pads they work great. i think the performance is better than stock. If you bed them in right you shouldnt have any noise from the pads. i havent had a problems with noise. get them you wont be sorry 99c5
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 2
From: Alexandria Northern Virginia
I love the Hawk HP+ pads for the road courses. I can drive the car for a week or two on either end of a track weekend and be ok. They ARE squeaky but man do they ever stop.
Compared to stock pads they are not even in the same ballpark for stopping power. Now, for clean and quiet, I would go stock Z06 compound and be done with it. If you are going to do autocross or HPDE stuff, get a good set that you can swap in and out.
FWIW, I run stock pads most of the time around town.
Cassidy
Compared to stock pads they are not even in the same ballpark for stopping power. Now, for clean and quiet, I would go stock Z06 compound and be done with it. If you are going to do autocross or HPDE stuff, get a good set that you can swap in and out.
FWIW, I run stock pads most of the time around town.
Cassidy
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 242
Likes: 2
From: Mims Florida
Hawk HPS vs DuraStop
I replaced the factory semi metallics with Hawk HPS and it seemed to me that the dust wasn't much less with the Hawks. I have now switched to the DuraStop ceramics and I think there is less dust with them. I have to agree that the Hawks have a bit more bite, and they both take a little while to bed in and obtain full friction. That said, I am happy with the DuraStops.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
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From: Monticello MN
Ed
Last edited by C5XTASY; Jan 22, 2009 at 09:57 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 2
From: Plano Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
When I had new pads installed, I asked for hawk hps pads to be installed. They installed hps pads on the front, but incorrectly installed hp+ pads on the back. WOW was that squeaking annoying that came from those hp+ pads, and a ton of brake dust as well. I thought they were hps and so I ordered some gm ceramic ones and had them installed. when I was given the old ones, that's when I noticed that the rears were hp+ and it all became very clear. They stopped great, but I couldn't stand the squeaking that came with the hp+