brake pad advice
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
brake pad advice
I have a 07 C6 base model and want to upgrade my brake pads. A GM dealer told me that the C5 standard pads were ceramic and were a step up from the standard C6 pads. Is this true? If they are ceramic, how would you rate compare them with lets say Hawk ceramic pads.
The GM part number for the pads I received were AC Delco DuraStop 88909667 and 88909668.
Thanks.
The GM part number for the pads I received were AC Delco DuraStop 88909667 and 88909668.
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Depends on who you talk to. I have the ceramic pads because I don't like cleaning my wheels every day. Some say that ceramic pads don't stop as well. All I can say is that they work well for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,412
Likes: 1
From: Just moved back to the "old country"
depends on what you mean by "upgrade your brake pads" ....
Ceremic will produce less dust and likely less squeal and should be fine for normal daily driving ...
If you do a fair amount of spirited high performance driving they will fade faster and they won't give you the bite of a good performance pad like the stock ones will ...
Then, there are street /track combo pads that are a step up from stock for HPDEs ...
And beyond that, specialty racing pads ...
So ... what do you mean by upgrade?
Ceremic will produce less dust and likely less squeal and should be fine for normal daily driving ...
If you do a fair amount of spirited high performance driving they will fade faster and they won't give you the bite of a good performance pad like the stock ones will ...
Then, there are street /track combo pads that are a step up from stock for HPDEs ...
And beyond that, specialty racing pads ...
So ... what do you mean by upgrade?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
I guess because I upgraded to Baer DecelaRotors, Stop-tech brake lines , I thought the ceramic pads would be a step up from the stock pads as far as better braking goes, less dust and less squealing. Sometimes the forum can be very confusing as far as opinions go, thus my question.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
better braking=more dust
It's that simple.
Also, C-5s did not come with ceramics. But C-5 pads are the same as base and Z51 C-6 pads.
It's that simple.
Also, C-5s did not come with ceramics. But C-5 pads are the same as base and Z51 C-6 pads.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
According to the forum GM Dealer I bought these C5 pads from told me they are ceramic. Looking at my C6 base pads and the C5 pads they sent me, they seem to be different as far as the material on the pads. There are specs of gold looking particles within the pad, not on the C6 base pads. The dealer told me they sold hundreds of these C5 pads to C6 owners as a step up from the base C6 pads.
True or False, they were not cheap.
True or False, they were not cheap.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,774
Likes: 0
From: Loganville GA
Paul,
I'm sure they were cheaper than Hawk Ceramics! I run Hawk ceramics for street use and don't notice any difference in daily driving. I swap out for track use.
I even now run Hawk ceramics with my Z06 brake conversion.
I'm sure they were cheaper than Hawk Ceramics! I run Hawk ceramics for street use and don't notice any difference in daily driving. I swap out for track use.
I even now run Hawk ceramics with my Z06 brake conversion.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
ceramics brake just as good a carbon ones. the problem is they don't brake well with multiple heavy braking in a short amount of time. try it.. go out with your ceramic brakes and hit em hard ! at 60 mph down to 10 mph then speed back up and do it again and hit your brakes...fade! 
but thats not normal driving and most people rarely have to do multiple emergency braking, so ceramics are nice and very clean and they last a long fricken' time!
but thats not normal driving and most people rarely have to do multiple emergency braking, so ceramics are nice and very clean and they last a long fricken' time!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,989
Likes: 5
From: DFW This user does not support or recommend the product or service displayed in the ad to the right
According to the forum GM Dealer I bought these C5 pads from told me they are ceramic. Looking at my C6 base pads and the C5 pads they sent me, they seem to be different as far as the material on the pads. There are specs of gold looking particles within the pad, not on the C6 base pads. The dealer told me they sold hundreds of these C5 pads to C6 owners as a step up from the base C6 pads.
True or False, they were not cheap.
True or False, they were not cheap.
The Ceramics or any brake pad for a C5 will fit the regular C6.....True
The Ceramics are an upgrade...They are an upgrade if you want less dust and are willing to compromise on track performance....True
They are not an upgrade if you want better performance IE repeated heavy stops. like track or autox use. Ceramic pads are the last thing you want for that type of duty.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,412
Likes: 1
From: Just moved back to the "old country"
It is true and False
The Ceramics or any brake pad for a C5 will fit the regular C6.....True
The Ceramics are an upgrade...They are an upgrade if you want less dust and are willing to compromise on track performance....True
They are not an upgrade if you want better performance IE repeated heavy stops. like track or autox use. Ceramic pads are the last thing you want for that type of duty.
The Ceramics or any brake pad for a C5 will fit the regular C6.....True
The Ceramics are an upgrade...They are an upgrade if you want less dust and are willing to compromise on track performance....True
They are not an upgrade if you want better performance IE repeated heavy stops. like track or autox use. Ceramic pads are the last thing you want for that type of duty.
Yup ... the ceremic pads don't go with the improved rotors and stoptech brake lines - those would be more for improved higher performance braking ... your stock pads would be better for performance than the ceremics you bought ...
I have the Porterfield R4S pads which will give you a step up in performance AND produce less dust BUT they will squeal in street applications ...
I have heard the C5Z pads might be a good choice for what you might be seeking ....
but you are NOT going to get All of the following - LESS DUST, Improved Braking performance, and NO SQUEAL ...from one pad type ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 1
From: SE Coast FL
I guess because I upgraded to Baer DecelaRotors, Stop-tech brake lines , I thought the ceramic pads would be a step up from the stock pads as far as better braking goes, less dust and less squealing. Sometimes the forum can be very confusing as far as opinions go, thus my question.
So, how did the pads work out for you with your set up back then?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 1
From: SE Coast FL
