Brake pad question
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I am using the Carbotech's like Brad (tobasco) just put them on the Z a few weeks ago and quite a bit difference in terms of dust...I'd say it's almost cut the dust compared to the stock pads by 50% 
Very happy wiht them. Stopping power is almost identical as stock pads. I went with 1 piece pads.
Very happy wiht them. Stopping power is almost identical as stock pads. I went with 1 piece pads.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
FWIW here is a pic I took today after 8 days and 400 miles with the ceramics. I made a couple X's with my finger to show how much dust was on there, I'd say about an 75% improvement. Mine looked as bad as the pic posted earlier here, wheel and tire was brown after 200 miles of mountain roads and city driving.
Not to mention the 4 brown spots under the tires after washing the car on my driveway with the stock pads.
GM should maybe make a 'street only' pad option for these, closest I'll get to a track is when I drive by on on the expressway
Not to mention the 4 brown spots under the tires after washing the car on my driveway with the stock pads.
GM should maybe make a 'street only' pad option for these, closest I'll get to a track is when I drive by on on the expressway
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 857
Likes: 10
From: Indianapolis Indiana
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Looking around at various sellers of AC Delco ceramic pads, there are full sets for $80-100 and set for $160-180. Some pictures of the box say "Advantage" and some say "DuraStop."
Anyone know the difference there?
Anyone know the difference there?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 16
From: Yorktown Heights NY
These are the ones I got.. Fit my 2007 C6 Z51 no problems.. Clean and Quiet.
Rear Pads.
Front Pads.
AC Delco Advantage Pads.. All in like $54.. Don't forget the Permatex.....
Rear Pads.
Front Pads.
AC Delco Advantage Pads.. All in like $54.. Don't forget the Permatex.....
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I can help anyone intrested in the 1521 compound. We may not be the cheapst pad on the market ,but we are the best. We are only making 1 piece pads for these cars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
Yep... I've "borrowed" TOBASCO's picture several times to illustrate exactly how my wheels looked after a couple hundred miles of driving.
After 1000 miles I was fed up with it.
Switched to Hawk Ceramics and 8000 miles later, 90% dust reduction and no noticible differences in braking performance.
(I don't track).
After 1000 miles I was fed up with it.
Switched to Hawk Ceramics and 8000 miles later, 90% dust reduction and no noticible differences in braking performance.
(I don't track).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,320
Likes: 145
From: Murfreesboro, TN
CI 2-4-5-6-7-8-10-11-12 Vet
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '08-'11-'13-'14-'15
HA! Never thought of that, Jim. Maybe I should have kept them that way then! 
FWIW - I love my Carbo-Tech 1521 one piece ceramics. Agree, they cost a little more, but I'm convinced they're the best pads on the market. Give Adam a shout - I'm sure he won't mind (
) me saying that he offered me a 7% discount, which paid for shipping and a little more - which was good enough for me!
FWIW - I love my Carbo-Tech 1521 one piece ceramics. Agree, they cost a little more, but I'm convinced they're the best pads on the market. Give Adam a shout - I'm sure he won't mind (
) me saying that he offered me a 7% discount, which paid for shipping and a little more - which was good enough for me!
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 21
From: Arlington VA
FWIW here is a pic I took today after 8 days and 400 miles with the ceramics. I made a couple X's with my finger to show how much dust was on there, I'd say about an 75% improvement. Mine looked as bad as the pic posted earlier here, wheel and tire was brown after 200 miles of mountain roads and city driving.
Not to mention the 4 brown spots under the tires after washing the car on my driveway with the stock pads.
GM should maybe make a 'street only' pad option for these, closest I'll get to a track is when I drive by on on the expressway
Not to mention the 4 brown spots under the tires after washing the car on my driveway with the stock pads.
GM should maybe make a 'street only' pad option for these, closest I'll get to a track is when I drive by on on the expressway
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
Hi Kev,
Yes, IMHO, this is a difference - the instant I tried out my new Carbo-Tech 1521 one piece ceramics, the stopping power was very noticeable. I'm assuming that because you've got a bit more surface area working with the rotor that it should. But I could feel it.
Did your wheels look like mine when I got home from Bowling Green when I still had on the stock pads??
Yes, IMHO, this is a difference - the instant I tried out my new Carbo-Tech 1521 one piece ceramics, the stopping power was very noticeable. I'm assuming that because you've got a bit more surface area working with the rotor that it should. But I could feel it.
Did your wheels look like mine when I got home from Bowling Green when I still had on the stock pads??
Does anyone know why some vettes "dust" to almost orange in color, and others are like mine?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
But my old Z51 '07 used to dust the wheels just as bad with the stock pads, I replaced them with the cheaper AC Delco pads and had no issues.
I have the comp grey wheels on my 2011 GS and still have stock pads, but my wheels are only a light grey dusting after a week of daily driving, which is usually 200 - 300 miles. In fact, unless you wipe your finger on it, its pretty hard to notice that they are dusty. I know (as would other vette owners), but it is hardly noticable.
Does anyone know why some vettes "dust" to almost orange in color, and others are like mine?
Does anyone know why some vettes "dust" to almost orange in color, and others are like mine?
I'm sure the way its driven makes a difference, I drive on mountain roads so I use the brakes. I'm sure the less you use them the less they dust, I dont beat on mine or ride the brakes, I should have taken a pic of the wheels after I drove it home mostly in the rain for 500 miles. I had to take the front wheels off and clean them, they were completely rust brown on the inside and the calipers looked black with 560 miles on the odometer..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 104
From: Orange County California
Everyone get their ceramics that were intending to from back in June?
I just switched into a C6Z and wow the memories of when I first got my C5Z and the bad brake dust. In my C5, I started using the AC Delco Durastop ceramics. Great pads. Low dust. I want to switch these, now, but don't know if the Hawk Ceramics are any better than the Durastops? And how do the Delco Advantages compare to the Durastops?
Meanwhile, anyone get noise from the Hawk Ceramics? This is what a salesperson told me: "If you are primarily concerned about noise, I would recommend the HPS pads. If you are primarily concerned about dust, then I would recommend the ceramics." Is that true?
Thanks!
I just switched into a C6Z and wow the memories of when I first got my C5Z and the bad brake dust. In my C5, I started using the AC Delco Durastop ceramics. Great pads. Low dust. I want to switch these, now, but don't know if the Hawk Ceramics are any better than the Durastops? And how do the Delco Advantages compare to the Durastops?
Meanwhile, anyone get noise from the Hawk Ceramics? This is what a salesperson told me: "If you are primarily concerned about noise, I would recommend the HPS pads. If you are primarily concerned about dust, then I would recommend the ceramics." Is that true?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,967
Likes: 43
From: Bradenton Florida
2017 C4 of the Year Finalist
No-IL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I put Hawk one piece ceramics on my '11 GS. No dust and no noise. Brake feel is excellent, no difference on the road. I do not track the car.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Everyone get their ceramics that were intending to from back in June?
I just switched into a C6Z and wow the memories of when I first got my C5Z and the bad brake dust. In my C5, I started using the AC Delco Durastop ceramics. Great pads. Low dust. I want to switch these, now, but don't know if the Hawk Ceramics are any better than the Durastops? And how do the Delco Advantages compare to the Durastops?
Meanwhile, anyone get noise from the Hawk Ceramics? This is what a salesperson told me: "If you are primarily concerned about noise, I would recommend the HPS pads. If you are primarily concerned about dust, then I would recommend the ceramics." Is that true?
Thanks!
I just switched into a C6Z and wow the memories of when I first got my C5Z and the bad brake dust. In my C5, I started using the AC Delco Durastop ceramics. Great pads. Low dust. I want to switch these, now, but don't know if the Hawk Ceramics are any better than the Durastops? And how do the Delco Advantages compare to the Durastops?
Meanwhile, anyone get noise from the Hawk Ceramics? This is what a salesperson told me: "If you are primarily concerned about noise, I would recommend the HPS pads. If you are primarily concerned about dust, then I would recommend the ceramics." Is that true?
Thanks!
all though discount is 5% now.FWIW - I love my Carbo-Tech 1521 one piece ceramics. Agree, they cost a little more, but I'm convinced they're the best pads on the market. Give Adam a shout - I'm sure he won't mind () me saying that he offered me a 7% discount, which paid for shipping and a little more - which was good enough for me!
Pro
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 719
Likes: 14
From: Poplar Bluff, MO
St. Jude Contributor
I had the OEM pads on my 08Z for about 3k miles before I got tired of dust and bought the Centric Posi-Quiet pads. I had the Posi's on for a couple thousand miles and while they were cheap, clean, and stopped the car just find at highway speeds I wanted something more. After some research I bought the Carbotech 1 piece 1521's. Yes, they aren't cheap but for me they're perfect! Very little dust, easy on the rotors and a solid reputation as a great street pad. Give Adam a call, great guy who knows his product and can answer your questions.
Last edited by K.Shupe; Oct 17, 2012 at 06:00 PM.