The Chevy dealer where I take my Corvette for maintenance recently told me my brakes were at about 3 mm, fronts and rears. Bought the car new in 2012 and it only has a tad over 20,000 miles but I do a lot of short jaunts with lots of stop and go. Is 3 mm time to get them changed?? I think likely yes but wanted to ask here first. Anything I should also ask for when I have them change the brakes??? do anything to the rotors as standard maintenance or no?? Anything that should go along with brakes?? And any idea how long it takes a dealership to replace brakes??

thanks...

 

I did my brakes myself with a floor jack and a jack stand and it took me about 30 minutes per wheel. A dealer shop with a lift and experienced mechanics with the right tools could do it faster but they are going to bill for the book labor regardless of how long it actually takes. You didn't say how many miles are on your car now. I would at least have them inspect the rotors. They could need nothing, they could need "turning" a little or it might be best to just replace them. Mine is a 2012 and I still don't have 20k miles on it, but I replaced my pads with ceramic ones just because I was tired of the dust. Night and day difference with the dust - can't tell a difference at all in how it stops (but I don't and won't track the car).

 

If your pads are that worn which is about 1/8" it's time to replace them before rotor damage.

 

So I see 3 types of brake pads talked about in the literature, organic, ceramic and metallic. One write up says this about those three types.

ORGANIC BRAKE PADS

Originally, brake pads were made from asbestos, a heat-absorbing material that was well-suited for the wear and tear that brake pads took on. However, asbestos has been found to be a highly-potent carcinogen and prolonged exposure to it can cause cancer. Asbestos-based brake pads would wear down over time, releasing asbestos that stuck to tires and get into the air. Manufacturers realized asbestos wasn’t a safe compound to use for manufacturing braking systems. As a result, organic brake pads, or non-asbestos organic (NAO) brake pads, were created to fill the gap.

Organic brake pads, which come standard on about 67% of new vehicles sold within the United States, are made of a mixture of fibers and materials such as rubber, carbon compounds, glass or fiberglass, Kevlar, and more, and are bound together with resin. They tend to produce less dust than some other types of brake pads, such as metallic ones, and are available at a reasonably low price point. Unlike performance brake pads, which are primarily used in heavy and high-performance vehicles, organic brake pads generate a moderate amount of friction without much heat being present, making them suitable for drivers who use their cars for normal driving and commuting. Organic brake pads also tend to be quiet and don’t put much stress on the brake rotors, which is a plus because brake rotors can be costly to repair or replace if damaged.

However, organic brake pads do have some disadvantages when compared to other types of brake pads. Because of their composite nature, organic brake pads can tend to wear out a bit more quickly, meaning they might have to be replaced more often. They also tend to function best within a smaller range of temperatures, meaning they don’t work as well in extreme weather or when they are being pushed too hard and overheat. Organic brake pads also have a higher level of compressibility, which means the driver has to press the brake down with more force to engage them.

CERAMIC BRAKE PADS

Another option for brake pads are ceramic brake pads. These brake pads are made from ceramic very similar to the type of ceramic used to make pottery and plates, but is denser and a lot more durable. Ceramic brake pads also have fine copper fibers embedded within them, to help increase their friction and heat conductivity.

Since they were developed in the mid-1980s, ceramic brake pads have been consistently increasing in popularity for a number reasons:

• Noise-Level: Ceramic brake pads are very quiet, creating little-to-no extra sound when the brakes are applied.
• Wear & Tear Residue: Compared to organic brake pads, ceramic brake pads tend to produce less dust and other particles over time as they wear down.
• Temperature & Driving Conditions: Compared to organic brake pads, ceramic brake pads can be more reliable in a wider range of temperatures and driving conditions.

But, as with most things, there is some “give” that comes with the “take”; ceramic brake pads do have some limitations. Primarily, their cost: due to higher manufacturing costs, ceramic brake pads tend to be the most expensive of all types of brake pad. Also, since both ceramic and copper can’t absorb as much heat as other types of materials, more of the heat generated by braking will pass through the brake pads and into the rest of the braking system. This can cause more wear and tear on other braking components. Lastly, ceramic brake pads aren’t considered the best choice for extreme driving conditions, such as very cold climates or racing conditions.

METALLIC BRAKE PADS

The final type of brake pad is the semi-metallic brake pad, often referred to as just “metallic brake pad”. Metallic brake pads are comprised of anywhere between 30% and 70% metals including copper, iron, steel, or other composite alloys. These various metals are combined with graphite lubricant as well as other fillers to complete the brake bad. The metallic brake pad compounds that are available vary, with each offering their own advantages for different situations as diverse as daily commutes to track racing.

For many drivers, especially those who value high-performance, the choice between ceramic vs. metallic brake pads is easy. Performance-driven drivers prefer the metallic brake pads because they offer improved braking performance in a much wider range of temperatures and conditions. Because metals are such a good conductor of heat, they tend to be able to withstand more heat while simultaneously helping braking systems cool back down more quickly. They also don’t compress as much as organic brakes, meaning less pressure needs to be applied to the brake pedal to affect stopping ability.

However, there are some disadvantages to metallic brake pads. They tend to be noisier than ceramic or organic brake pads - meaning a louder ride - as well as more stressful for the brake system, adding more strain and wear on the brake rotors. As far as price goes, metallic brake pads tend to fall somewhere between organic and ceramic pads. They tend to produce more brake dust than the other two varieties as well.

Can I assume that standard brakes that came on the car would be considered in the "organic" category??? Or "metallic"???? I do concur that the brake dust gets old on the brakes that came new on the car. So is ceramic that way to go??? I want good, reliable brakes that last a reasonable number of miles and reducing the dust would be a plus for sure...

My car is 20,300 miles on it currently...

 

If you don't track the car ceramic pads are tough to beat. I've had them for 14 years. Much less corrosive brake dust.

 

Agree. As far as cost goes - I ordered online from Auto-Zone and got an online coupon code and free shipping - I got gold ceramic pads for both front and back for right around $100 shipped to my door. For everyday driving, even somewhat spirited driving from time to time, they do just fine. I haven't washed my car since doing the brakes and the wheels still look good - not covered in black dust.

 

If your not tracking the car Ceramic is the way to go.. Take a look at the Carbotech 1521 pads.

he Carbotech1521 brake pads are a high performance low dust street compound.100% non-corrosive dust will not harm your wheels, paint or rotors. Carbotech brake pads are 100% made in the USA and are equipped with NRS Technology you can read more about that here http://www.nrsbrakes.com/ Carbotech brake pads can be ordered online @ http://ampdautosport.com/brake-pads/corvette/ or call me at 216-780-8825. The part numbers you need are front CT731 and rear CT732 Pads are located under C6 section. Use promo code z28 at check out to receive your forum discount. .


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.

__________________
Adam Adelstein
Amp’D Autosport.com
Internet's largest retailer of Carbotech Performance Brake Pads.
PH:216-780-8825.
Email: sales@ampdautosport.com
Web Site & Direct ordering http://ampdautosport.com/
All major CC and Pay Pal accepted.
Check out Promo code:z28

 

I have 05, with at the time had 73,000 miles and just replaced the front brakes, rear still good. I went OEM pads and rotors, since high mileage, decided to replace the rotors, had no brake pulsation, but age felt better to replace.
I used a friends lift in his garage, to do the job.

 

I answer part of your question - How long at dealer?

My comment - Bring in at 8AM job finished at 4PM.
It is rare to schedule for 8AM and get car back at 11AM.

PS You could consider a brake fluid flush at this time, using a Tech II to open the ABS system.

 

I'll put in my .02. I replaced mine at 3mm because that seemed like it was due. Plus, I was planning another big road trip, and I was tired of the brake dust generated by the OEM pads. IIRC, the dealer took 1.5 hours to do the job from the time it went up on the hoist, to the time the mechanic wheeled it around the lot a few times and re-torqued the lug nuts. I think I only waited about 1/2 an hour for them to start the job once I got there (I was on time). YMMV depending on the dealer's scheduling philosophy.

 

If you don't drive the car with a lot of "spirit" to often, then are they / you sure it needs rear pads ? Maybe the ol saying of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies to the rear.......just sayun.

 

Amazon has OEM performance ceramic pads for a good price. They work better than most ceramic pads.....better initial bite when cold. That was my biggest complaint with the Hawk ceramic pads.
Very pleased with them and have over 40,000 miles on them.