Changing brake pads question???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
From: Los Angeles CA
Changing brake pads question???
I am about to change all brake pads on my 2006 C6 Z51. I was wondering if it was that necessary to resurface the rotors? The dealer told me I did not have to but recommends it for longer life and no brake squeal. That if not resurfaced they would for sure squeal. Also there is a big price difference from just installing pads to resurfacing rotors. I would rather just do the pads if I am able to. What do you guys think? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I had 6000 miles on my OEM break pads (Z51) and changed to Ceramic pads, never touched the rotors, and I now have 30,000 miles on the car (about 24,000 on the Ceramic pads) never had a squeal or any dust...
BTW I also drag race it most weekends, but am easy on the breaks as I have over 1/2 mile to slow down after crossing the 1/4 mile finish line..
BTW I also drag race it most weekends, but am easy on the breaks as I have over 1/2 mile to slow down after crossing the 1/4 mile finish line..
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
They can be resurfaced if within machine to specs, but you will have plenty of people like Marc here chiming in with opinions that have little to do with facts. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
From: Los Angeles CA
Yes, someone told me that I cant because they are drilled. And yet the dealer tells me I need to. So you are saying my only options are change the pads and rotors or just the pads?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
From: Los Angeles CA
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
you can resurface those rotors. if you have a vibration when braking at higher speeds id recommend resurfacing the rotors due to them being out of round causing the vibration. every brake job i do i cut the rotors. but if you like for your rotors to last longer you dont HAVE to but i would recommend it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
From: Los Angeles CA
you can resurface those rotors. if you have a vibration when braking at higher speeds id recommend resurfacing the rotors due to them being out of round causing the vibration. every brake job i do i cut the rotors. but if you like for your rotors to last longer you dont HAVE to but i would recommend it.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Look, this is the last time I'm going to chime in.....they can be machined...I do it for a living.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 5
From: Brea CA
0k...
I have a 2006 Z51... I had mine turned, $15 ea, No they are NOT cheap to replace, like Stock Base Rotors... The whole job is WAY easy to do, total cost to do front & rear with Ceramic Pads was about $300 + 2 hours of my time...
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Thanks. The pads need changing, but the rotors feel fine all around. I have only changed all pads once at 15k miles now I am at 35k. I just don't want to run into any issues down the road like noises or vibration. But I also don't want to spend extra money when not needed.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 38
From: Los Angeles CA
[QUOTE=carbotech adam;1580638808]Why are you chaging brake pads so often? If your just street driving I would look at a longer lasting pad like the Carbotech 1521.
Thanks I will check into them. But I have been to the track with these pads twice.
Thanks I will check into them. But I have been to the track with these pads twice.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
[QUOTE=C6Vette710;1580640788]Gotcha thats a whole diffrent story.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 772
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa ON
While it's easy to find rotors for the Base Vette for less than 100$ each, it's very hard to have z51 rotors for less than 150$ each. I just ordered the cheapest blank rotors for my Z51 that I could find (no cross-drilled or slotted, just blanks) made by Centric with high carbon content and they are 125$ front and 110$ rear. The next step up was 140$ for slotted only. Then there's the DBA 4000 or something like that, at 200$ per corner.
So you see, z51 rotors are easily 2x more expensive than base rotors. I can understand the wish to get them machined instead of just buying new ones.
So you see, z51 rotors are easily 2x more expensive than base rotors. I can understand the wish to get them machined instead of just buying new ones.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I don't know what kind of mileage is on your car or how it's typically driven. In the absence of any noticeable brake issues I'd simply change the pads (easy to do). Remember to bed the pads in properly.
http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm
There's no way for me to know the condition of your rotors but I wouldn't be surprised if the dealer was recommending work that wasn't truly needed.
http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm
There's no way for me to know the condition of your rotors but I wouldn't be surprised if the dealer was recommending work that wasn't truly needed.