C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ceramic Pads for 2003 c5 z06

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 11:43 PM
  #1  
klly0050's Avatar
klly0050
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Default Ceramic Pads for 2003 c5 z06

How's it going... I was wanting to switch out my stock c5 z06 pads with some ceramics due to heavy amounts of dust and squeaking.

Any suggestions on brands. Will the rotors need any work... the car only has under 20k on it

Thanks
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2009 | 11:52 PM
  #2  
Gene Culley's Avatar
Gene Culley
Premium Supporting Vendor
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30,317
Likes: 165
From: Reading PA
Default

Lots of people buy the GM ceramic pads from me. I would personally scuff up the rotors before I added the new pads.

||--Genuine GM C5 Ceramic Brake Pads--||

88909667 – Front ceramic pad kit
88909668 – Rear ceramic pad kit

Both front and rear ceramic pad kits 153.03 shipped.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 10:18 AM
  #3  
Oldvetter's Avatar
Oldvetter
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Default

I used GM ceramics on my C5 Coupe. VERY little dust, but they didn't stop near as well and warped my rotors.

I would STRONGLY recommend HAWK HPS pads, they dust little and stop GREAT, as good (if not better than) as your ZO6 pads.

Gene is right on "scuffing"up rotors and don't forget to bed in the new pads (HAWK HPS come with bed in directions and antisqueal grease for back of pads).
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 11:17 AM
  #4  
HinsonSuperCars's Avatar
0HinsonSuperCars
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 39
From: Birmingham, AL www.hinsonsupercars.com 205-909-9402
Default

Hawk Ceramics for low dust.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...d-special.html

Seth
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 11:23 AM
  #5  
Konomi's Avatar
Konomi
Instructor
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 164
Likes: 8
From: WI
Default

I installed new rotors and the GM ceramic pads this spring. I have had no issues with them on my Z06. They produce minimal dust, are quiet, and perform well. I would recommend the GM pads.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 12:08 PM
  #6  
turboc5's Avatar
turboc5
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
Default

Ceramics will be fine if you drive your vette like a normal car. If you drive it like a sports car you will warp the rotors. If that makes any sence Ceramics are hard for low dust but because of that they don't bite into the rotors to stop you well. They glide on top creating excess heat. I have had very good results with hps (minimal dust) and hp+ (lots of dust) and I assume hawk ceramics would be good too
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 12:15 PM
  #7  
wildwall's Avatar
wildwall
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 8
From: Datil NM
Default

The rotors must be free of the residue from regular pads when you install ceramic pads. Since the Hawk pads run around $200, I installed new rotors. I got them on the auction site- drilled and slotted and powder coated red! The outside edge and center are coated. Looks awesome and no dust! Did this back in 2007 and I can't telll you how nice it is to not have that brake dust on the wheels!
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 02:52 PM
  #8  
zeevette's Avatar
zeevette
Race Director
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Default

I use the GM Durastop ceramics, and the rotors are the +2 Baer. I'm very happy with the lack of dusting, and braking performance. I wish they made them for my HHR SS. The factory wheels look crappy after only 100 miles after washing.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 03:30 PM
  #9  
Carbotech Adam's Avatar
Carbotech Adam
Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Default

Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ is a great way to go!

The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2009 | 04:08 PM
  #10  
BenC5's Avatar
BenC5
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1
From: MA
Default

For scuffing up the rotors, are we talking taking the palm sander with 100 grit?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 02:29 AM
  #11  
jdmvette's Avatar
jdmvette
Night Owl for life
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Shutterbug
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Default

Originally Posted by carbotech adam
Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ is a great way to go!

The Carbotech Bobcat 1521™ is our high performance street compound that is our most successful compound. The Bobcat compound is known for its awesome release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. Like our AX™ & XP™ line of compounds, Bobcat 1521™ is a Ceramic based friction material offering minimal rotor damage and non corrosive dust. Bobcat 1521™ offers outstanding performance, even when cold, low dusting and low noise with an excellent initial bite. This compound’s virtually perfect linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Bobcat 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 900°F. Bobcat 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle, police cruiser, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. The Bobcat 1521™ compound has been found to last two-three times longer than OE pads you can purchase at a dealership or national retailer. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

an order link with prices would help...
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 10:29 AM
  #12  
Carbotech Adam's Avatar
Carbotech Adam
Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Default

Originally Posted by jdmvette
an order link with prices would help...
http://ctbrakes.com/


Corvette Z06 - C6 2009-2006 Bobcat 1521 AX6 XP8 XP10 XP12 XP16
12 individual backing plates-front F: CT1185 $256 $264 $272 $285 $297 $311
8 individual backing plates-rear R: CT1185R $215 $230 $242 $254 $266 $280

Single backing plate-front F: CT1185-S $269 $282 $297 $311 $327 $343
Single backing plate-rear R: CT1185R-S $228 $244 $256 $269 $282 $297
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 11:33 AM
  #13  
jovette's Avatar
jovette
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by BenC5
For scuffing up the rotors, are we talking taking the palm sander with 100 grit?
That could work. I have those circular discs that you can put on the end of your drill, and use to scuff the rotors. They can be purchased in various levels, of fine, medium, and coarse surface.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2009 | 11:58 AM
  #14  
dankhts's Avatar
dankhts
Safety Car
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,986
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
Default

I switched to the GM Performance ceramic pads, and drilled/slotted rortors..a year or so ago... . virtually no dust at all, no rotor warp, seems to take a bit more pedal pressure than the stock soft pads, but they work great, and feel like they could put you right through the windshield! I beat on it pretty hard a few times with some road course type driving with no issues or fade/dust...
I'd probably use them again, or may try the Hawks next time.. lost of good reviews for them too..
Got my pads/rotors form GM Parts Direct btw.. best price I could find at the time
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2009 | 12:22 PM
  #15  
voda1's Avatar
voda1
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 33
From: Cedar Rapids IA
Default

HPS versus Bobcat 1521 - how do they compare?
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2009 | 12:58 PM
  #16  
fixvet's Avatar
fixvet
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,631
Likes: 2
From: Clever, MO aka SOMO
Default

Originally Posted by dankhts
I switched to the GM Performance ceramic pads, and drilled/slotted rortors..a year or so ago... . virtually no dust at all, no rotor warp, seems to take a bit more pedal pressure than the stock soft pads, but they work great, and feel like they could put you right through the windshield! I beat on it pretty hard a few times with some road course type driving with no issues or fade/dust...
I'd probably use them again, or may try the Hawks next time.. lost of good reviews for them too..
Got my pads/rotors form GM Parts Direct btw.. best price I could find at the time
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 11:06 AM
  #17  
Carbotech Adam's Avatar
Carbotech Adam
Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Default

Originally Posted by voda1
HPS versus Bobcat 1521 - how do they compare?
They dont the 1521 is low dusting no noise and a 100% non crossive dust, wont harm your wheels or paint.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Ceramic Pads for 2003 c5 z06

Old Jun 29, 2009 | 11:19 AM
  #18  
garllo's Avatar
garllo
Instructor
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: ct
Default

This spring I replaced my rotors and pads on my C5. I used Satisfied Pro Ceramic pads with ATE slotted rotors.They are an awesome combination; great stopping performance with VERY minimal dust. I ran up and down Mt. Equinox in Vermont with my club ( 2.5 mi. closed road ,4000elev.) with no fade. The rotors are coated so the vanes and the hats wont rust.Look great!
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 01:32 PM
  #19  
Mike Mercury's Avatar
Mike Mercury
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Default

Originally Posted by turboc5
Ceramics will be fine if you drive your vette like a normal car.
exactly. You'll alawys get one good stop out of ceramics... and if allowed to cool down you'll get another good stop. But repeated brake applications - well... the ceramics will fade quickly.

I run ceramics on every vehicle I own; solely to reduce the dusting. But I don't roadcourse or autocross; so the fading concerns are a moot point to me.
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2009 | 01:45 PM
  #20  
RyanR0101's Avatar
RyanR0101
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 33
From: Milwaukee WI
Default

This weekend at Bloomington I asked Muskegon Brake what they recommended. They said Akebono Proact Ceramic were the best. They said they use them in all their cars and they are as good or better stopping than OEM semis and don't warp the rotors. For what it's worth.
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:26 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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