CessnaDriver

No track plans at all, but would like to stay in factory Z51 performance realms.
I did some forum searches but sometimes it's a bit fuzzy and old threads. What is the up to date forum wisdom for below?...

Factory cross drilled rotors again or is there a better brand choice?

Pads that have good record keeping dust and squeal minimized? I assume ceramic, but which brand? Should one purchase rotors/pads from same manufacturer?

Car is at 70k, been brutalized occasionally by terrible roads so looking to put fresh shocks in since getting all this work done. I do not mind the Z51 ride, I see Bilstien recommended often but which ones or other brand?

Thanks!

jaredtxrx

Shocks - OEM unless you just really want to put Bilstiens on there. But the OEM shocks are cheap and do well.

Rotors - Personally I would go with a Centric solid disk over the cross drilled. No cracking but that is mostly a track thing.

Pads - People have been getting awesome results from the Duralast Gold and the Power Stop Evolution Z26 pads. Near zero dusting and super quiet. I would steer clear of the OEM pads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...gold-pads.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rake-dust.html

PCMusicGuy

You may get a lot of "do a search" answers, but since I've recently done the search myself, here are my two cents.

Factory is a good option for rotors on a budget. Another you should consider is the Centric line (StopTech). They have many options such as drilled only, slotted only, both, cyro treated etc. They don't cost that much more than stock or some other parts house replacement. I've been using DBA4000 series rotors for the last 70k miles on a daily driver and I believe they may have developed a slight warp. I will have to confirm next time I have them off.

As for pads, that is more difficult. There are many who have tried both ceramic/non-ceramic pads from the local parts house and love them. Some of them are even produced in the USA. Personally, I've only used factory pads and Carbotech Bobcat 1521 pads. The Carbotech pads produce way, way less dust than the factory Z51 pads, but do not give quite as good of a first bite when stopping. After heated up, they are about the same. I would have no issues at all running them again. It does not matter if you have different manufacturers for pads and rotors.

The factory Z51 shocks are really not that bad. I have been running the DRM Bilsteins for the past 70k miles as well. They are supposed to be valves for the Z06 but good for the Z51 as well. I have no problems with them, but if I could go back and do it again, I think I would try the standard Bilstein HD shocks if I could get them for a good price. I think the DRMs are a bit overkill for anything my car would ever see.

johnodrake

This is from a forum Vendor Tire Rack

https://www.tirerack.com/brakes/category.jsp?gclid=CIzF9sH_29QCFcGLswod4 vgCdQ&category=Rotors&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3! 201371894336!b!!!!+rotors&ef_id=WR3uZQAA AsQf_yao:20170626170619:s

If I were getting new shocks I would get either Koni or Bilstein

I have used and will again Hawk Ceramic Pads

Turbo6TA

Bilstein, B8 'Sport' Shocks

Front . . P/N: 24-029773 ($99 ea)

Rear . . P/N: 24-029780 ($99 ea)

$ 396 (all 4 shipped)

https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...6&autoModClar=
__________________________________

EDIT: BTW, these shocks are equivalent to the Z51 / GS / Z06 shocks

.

Adam@Amp'dAutosport.com

Brake pads and rotors I would go OEM rotor with the Carbotech 1521 street pad performs like OEM and will cut your dust a tremendous amount along with being rotor friendly and quiet. A pad description is below if you are interested I will be happy to help you out.

Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ 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. 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. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

Elizabeth City Vette

I replaced mine about 2 years ago with
Centric 105.0731 Posi-Quiet Ceramic Brake Pad with Shims
Centric 105.0732 Posi-Quiet Ceramic Brake Pad with Shims
Total cost of the front and rear pads were around $60 and they have been great. I originally used the ACDelco Advantage Ceramic pads and they were fine for about 3 months then started squealing again. Got fed up and went with the Centrics and they have been perfect. They are made by Stop Tech.

jaredtxrx

Wow, the Bilsteins are much less expensive than I would have thought. No reason not to go this route.

Mike's LS3

The oem Z51 brake pads and rotors are more than enough for your needs.

Bilstein sport shocks are an upgrade from the Z51 oem shocks.

Bilstein heavy duty shocks are a little softer, but not really set up for the Z51 suspension, more for the base suspension.

Turbo6TA

As far as brake pads ... The Autozone Duralast Gold Ceramic pads are cheap, but good. And very little brake dust.

When I replaced the filthy OEM pads on my GS, I used Hawk Ceramic pads.

Had the Duralast pads been available when I did mine, I would have got them instead of the way more expensive Hawk pads.

I don't know how much the Duralast pads cost for a Z51, but for the GS / Z06, they cost about $110 for both front and rear ... Great Deal !

jaredtxrx

Priced at $96 for Z51/Base - all 4 corners.