brake dust
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
Ceramic pads are awsome 
If they do dust it's not much and not noticable at all. I can go for weeks with my DD without the wheels getting ugly. I used AC Delco ceramic pads with slotted rotors and have had them for several yrs. now and am very happy with them.
If they do dust it's not much and not noticable at all. I can go for weeks with my DD without the wheels getting ugly. I used AC Delco ceramic pads with slotted rotors and have had them for several yrs. now and am very happy with them.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: ramona california
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Yes, ceramic pads will dust less, however they'll also perform worse... Not bashing ceramics, just warning you. I drove a friends C5 with ceramic pads and the difference between that and my hawk hps is like the difference between a minivan and a corvette. I'm sure they'll work just fine for normal driving but be sure to adjust your habits and brake a little sooner until you get used to them. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Everything is a give and take
Ceramics dust less.. and they also perform less... with ceramics you can add another 20 feet to your stopping distance in a panic stop...
They will stop your car just fine under normal stopping conditions,, but dont ask them to save your life when conditions are out of the normal.
Its pretty simple, as I have said millions of times... they are harder !!! thats why they dust less.. they also have a very low coeffiecent of friction...( they do not grab as well ) No one in my family or anyone who asks me will ever put ceramics on their car. It's your choice, less dust or less stopping ability., We did the testing...
They will stop your car just fine under normal stopping conditions,, but dont ask them to save your life when conditions are out of the normal.
Its pretty simple, as I have said millions of times... they are harder !!! thats why they dust less.. they also have a very low coeffiecent of friction...( they do not grab as well ) No one in my family or anyone who asks me will ever put ceramics on their car. It's your choice, less dust or less stopping ability., We did the testing...
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
I heard that Hawk HPS pads grab much better but when they heat up too much, they fade abrubtly without a warning, so very dangerous in a panic stop at 150 mph, because your brakes will get too hot, and ceramic resists heat better, is that true?
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Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
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From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
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From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
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.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 39
From: Birmingham, AL www.hinsonsupercars.com 205-909-9402
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Not in my experience. I've run the HPS pads on a road course a few times without any problems. That being said, the stock brakes do get very hot with persistent hard braking at track events and you will see brake fade with ant pad. Under normal driving conditions it is unlikely that your brakes will heat up enough for this to be a concern. They do dust a lot though...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Ceramics dust less.. and they also perform less... with ceramics you can add another 20 feet to your stopping distance in a panic stop...
They will stop your car just fine under normal stopping conditions,, but dont ask them to save your life when conditions are out of the normal.
Its pretty simple, as I have said millions of times... they are harder !!! thats why they dust less.. they also have a very low coeffiecent of friction...( they do not grab as well ) No one in my family or anyone who asks me will ever put ceramics on their car. It's your choice, less dust or less stopping ability., We did the testing...
They will stop your car just fine under normal stopping conditions,, but dont ask them to save your life when conditions are out of the normal.
Its pretty simple, as I have said millions of times... they are harder !!! thats why they dust less.. they also have a very low coeffiecent of friction...( they do not grab as well ) No one in my family or anyone who asks me will ever put ceramics on their car. It's your choice, less dust or less stopping ability., We did the testing...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I have nothing to gain or lose by offering you good sound advice... ON the other hand vendors have everything to gain and nothing to lose by selling you them... The word " Ceramics" is a big marketing tool... Ill stick with the word " Safe ". and stay away from the buzz word ceramics.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 257
From: Lake Tapps WA.
As far as worse braking, not that I can tell. The brakes actually feel & work better than the semi metalics that were on it. Maybe because of the better rotors??
To the OP,
I have had no problems on my C5 and it's a DD. No discoloration, and it stops better than any other 4 wheel disc cars or trucks I own or have owned, so ?? try it for yourself and I think you will be pleased.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I took GM Ceramic pads off my C5 early. They warped my rotors and stopped poorly. But they dust VERY little.
I went with HAWK HPS, stopping is GREAT and they still dust less than standard C5 pads.
I went with HAWK HPS, stopping is GREAT and they still dust less than standard C5 pads.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Ceramic brakes cause thermal breakdown because they "are" harder... it takes much more force to stop with ceramics because of the low coefficient of friction.. You don't notice it because you have a brake booster,r but your rotors do...if you drive aggressively , you will put more force on your rotors.. the ceramics will easily discolor the rotors because of the heat that is created from having to push harder on the brake pedal, and ask the booster to assist in the force required to stop , or slow down. You wont see any discoloration on my rotors and these have 70,000 miles on them.
I have nothing to gain or lose by offering you good sound advice... ON the other hand vendors have everything to gain and nothing to lose by selling you them... The word " Ceramics" is a big marketing tool... Ill stick with the word " Safe ". and stay away from the buzz word ceramics.
I have nothing to gain or lose by offering you good sound advice... ON the other hand vendors have everything to gain and nothing to lose by selling you them... The word " Ceramics" is a big marketing tool... Ill stick with the word " Safe ". and stay away from the buzz word ceramics.
Who makes the Rotors and pads you are running ET?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
The rotors are Baer Eradispeed two piece rotors.. these are the first set that Baer brought into the country.. These are from Australia. The pads are the stock ACDelco semi metalic. After 78,000 miles, I just replace them, they were the original. Naturally I put the same thing back on.