Hawk brakes
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Hawk brakes
Getting sick of the dust from my GM brake pads... I have the chrome gumbies and they shine like the sun when I finish cleaning them. I take the car out for a 3 - 4 mile drive tops come home and there is a small layer of black dust on them already. It really makes me not want to drive the car after cleaning it. Plus I am getting a few brake squeals here and there and it is a little embarrassing, its americas greatest sports car and the brakes squeal like a 12k hyundai accent?
A friend of mine told me to replace the pads now (dont wait for the factory pads to wear out). It makes sense but my question is has anyone changed over to hawk ceramic? or should I buy the GM ceramic instead. I planned on changing the pads myself.
Thinking of getting these... HAWK performace brake pad R/F combo!
Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance!
A friend of mine told me to replace the pads now (dont wait for the factory pads to wear out). It makes sense but my question is has anyone changed over to hawk ceramic? or should I buy the GM ceramic instead. I planned on changing the pads myself.
Thinking of getting these... HAWK performace brake pad R/F combo!
Any input would be appreciated, thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
I thought the hawks would be better than the GM... Do you have any dust problems with the ceramic? I expect some dust but it certainly has to be better than the factory pads now.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Practically no dust compared to stock pads. If I change them I'll probably go with Carbotech pads.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,774
Likes: 0
From: Loganville GA
I can get you a decent price on Hawk Ceramics, but you are better off going with the AC Delco pads from Gene Culley. Much less expensive and even less dust than the hawks, which have little already.
You wouldn't be disappointed with the hawks, but my experience is the Delcos are better and cheaper.
You wouldn't be disappointed with the hawks, but my experience is the Delcos are better and cheaper.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton Florida
I put Hawk HP Plus pads in my C6, they stop good, but the squeal is something that is only heard on a subway train, I bed them and it gets much better, only there just before the car comes to a stop, then after 50 miles of so it comes back, squeal is there from the moment you step of the brakes right thru stop, I am sure that it will get much better if I do a full bed, also a lot of dust, I guess I have to take them out, now what to use? Stock pads fade too quick and seemed unuseable on the track, bu the way , the hawks squealed on the track very bad until they got very hot.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
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, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. 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. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/
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, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. 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. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,085
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN
I have the Hawks and I'm very satisfied with them after 18K miles so far. I have not noticed any difference in stopping performance vs. OEM (Z51). No squeal before the Hawks or after. The brake dust has been reduced about 95%.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
I think I might goto Gene Culley and get the AC Delcos. My next question is...
I have 4300 miles on the car, I hardly did any hard braking, except a few here and there to avoid hitting a few idiots. Do I have to cut the rotors? Or can I successfully swap the factories with the ceramics and just bed the brakes?
Thanks to all for any info, previous or in the future...
I have 4300 miles on the car, I hardly did any hard braking, except a few here and there to avoid hitting a few idiots. Do I have to cut the rotors? Or can I successfully swap the factories with the ceramics and just bed the brakes?
Thanks to all for any info, previous or in the future...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Champaign IL
---Matthew Hicks
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton Florida
Well, I had to take the Hawk HP Plus out, squeal was unreal, I put the stock back in, silent again, I guess I will keep the Hawks for the track, if at all. I maybe get G.M. ceramics for street????
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I have Hawk Ceramics on my Z06. There is still a little dust - more than other Ceramics I've had on other cars. But it is still reduced by probably 90% over stock.
The nice thing about the Hawk Ceramics is that I don't feel any difference at all. After I got them bedded in, I did six hard stops from 60mph to over 100 within about one minute and felt no fade at all.
So far I have no squeal, but I admit that the other day for the first time I thought I might be hearing a very faint squeal, but I'm not sure - it was extremely faint and there was other traffic around me.
BTW, I've had them on for about 3,000 miles now.
The nice thing about the Hawk Ceramics is that I don't feel any difference at all. After I got them bedded in, I did six hard stops from 60mph to over 100 within about one minute and felt no fade at all.
So far I have no squeal, but I admit that the other day for the first time I thought I might be hearing a very faint squeal, but I'm not sure - it was extremely faint and there was other traffic around me.
BTW, I've had them on for about 3,000 miles now.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Myrtle Beach & Greenville, SC -- Hung Like a Republican -- Network Admin/IT
How are the Hawk Ceramics and Hawk HPS (street) in the rain?
I have heard numerous complaints regarding severe loss in stopping distance...
I have heard numerous complaints regarding severe loss in stopping distance...
Last edited by coastalcarolina; Apr 30, 2009 at 01:20 AM.