Ceramic brakes
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Ceramic brakes
I went to the dealer to get my inspection done, and a while ago I posted about hawk brake pads. Some people suggested I go with the GM ceramics, which is fine but I asked the dealer on a price quote for the install. I told him I couldnt take the brake dust anymore and needed the ceramics to alleviate that problem
He comes back and tells me it will cost somewhere in the $400 dollar range for each side (side meaning fronts, and rears). So the entire brake pad swap would be close to $800. I think its a bit too much for this since it should only take about an hour and a half to swap all 4 brake pads. I think the job should only total tops $400. The dealer also said that I will still get dust because the GM pad isnt a composite ceramic pad and still has metallic in it or something to that effect.
Given this quote I am now contemplating on doing it myself... any suggestions or advice? And shall I still go with the hawks or GM ceramics?
Thanks for any info!
He comes back and tells me it will cost somewhere in the $400 dollar range for each side (side meaning fronts, and rears). So the entire brake pad swap would be close to $800. I think its a bit too much for this since it should only take about an hour and a half to swap all 4 brake pads. I think the job should only total tops $400. The dealer also said that I will still get dust because the GM pad isnt a composite ceramic pad and still has metallic in it or something to that effect.
Given this quote I am now contemplating on doing it myself... any suggestions or advice? And shall I still go with the hawks or GM ceramics?
Thanks for any info!
PHOTOSHOP SPECIALIST
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 16,433
Likes: 40
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
You can purchase the GM Ceramic Brake Pads
from Gene Culley (GMPartsHouse.com) at this link:
http://www.gmpartshouseusa.com/partl...&siteid=214638
[Front Pads ($83.40) + Rear Pads ($55.97) + Shipping ($13.66) = $153.03]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a couple of threads that might help
with the brake pad installation:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1441293
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1596138
Good luck!
from Gene Culley (GMPartsHouse.com) at this link:
http://www.gmpartshouseusa.com/partl...&siteid=214638
[Front Pads ($83.40) + Rear Pads ($55.97) + Shipping ($13.66) = $153.03]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a couple of threads that might help
with the brake pad installation:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1441293
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1596138
Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
You can do the job yourself. I would also bleed the brake fluid using the motive pressure bleeder.
And ceramics do dust but it is whitish in color and not as noticeable. It is also less dust.
And ceramics do dust but it is whitish in color and not as noticeable. It is also less dust.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I changed the pads on two different Z06's in my garage the same day. Needless to say, I don't have access to the same equipment the dealers do. And I had not worked on Z06 brakes before, but do have some experience with brakes (although I still have to work through them carefully as it's something I don't to a lot).
I still managed to do each car in about 90 minutes. So I agree with you. Also, the dust on the GM ceramics will be virtually nothing to you. I'd say that in a week you will have to look hard to see it.
I still managed to do each car in about 90 minutes. So I agree with you. Also, the dust on the GM ceramics will be virtually nothing to you. I'd say that in a week you will have to look hard to see it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
You can purchase the GM Ceramic Brake Pads
from Gene Culley (GMPartsHouse.com) at this link:
http://www.gmpartshouseusa.com/partl...&siteid=214638
[Front Pads ($83.40) + Rear Pads ($55.97) + Shipping ($13.66) = $153.03]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a couple of threads that might help
with the brake pad installation:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1441293
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1596138
Good luck!
from Gene Culley (GMPartsHouse.com) at this link:
http://www.gmpartshouseusa.com/partl...&siteid=214638
[Front Pads ($83.40) + Rear Pads ($55.97) + Shipping ($13.66) = $153.03]
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a couple of threads that might help
with the brake pad installation:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1441293
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1596138
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I installed a set on my buddy's C5; the install was very easy, very straight forward, and they work GREAT. About as good as my Z-51 brakes but the dust is very hard to spot; they still dust, but the dust is almost invisible.
A little FYI though; you should not use ceramic pads on the track.
A little FYI though; you should not use ceramic pads on the track.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 26
From: Miami
I did the brakes one time on my other C6 and they told me that they ALWAYS need to replace the rotor when replacing the pads. They charged me 350. Is this correct or did I get taken for a ride in myfirst vette??
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
San
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Thanks guys for all the reply's and advice... I am definitely going to do it myself. Thanks Gene for your offer on the GM ceramics and I will be ordering them from you if I go with the GM units. Thanks for the links on the DIY's I will read them a few times to assure that I will do it right.
I might consider the hawks or the carbotechs also, since I wont have to pay for labor. I think mostly I will just end up getting the GM pads which in my other thread a while ago seemed to do a good job.
I might consider the hawks or the carbotechs also, since I wont have to pay for labor. I think mostly I will just end up getting the GM pads which in my other thread a while ago seemed to do a good job.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
You dont need to replace the rotors when you change pads. They can cut them if the pads were down to the rivets and put groves into them, but you dont have to replace them everytime you change brakes.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
The track meaning a road course or does that include the 1/4mi. drag strip too? I ask because I been meaning to take my car to the drag strip to see what I can make her do. 
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 2
From: Paris IL
The track meaning a road course or does that include the 1/4mi. drag strip too? I ask because I been meaning to take my car to the drag strip to see what I can make her do.
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
). Carbotech makes a ceramic/kevlar pad that I like for open track. Unlike others they can be used for street also, but do squeal some. They don't dust too bad and unlike other pads it is easy to clean off with water. You will be fine with any pad on the drag strip.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Running a car on open track generates a lot of heat and a pad material that can not handle it will groove the rotors and contribute to boiling the brake fluid (no pedal). Carbotech makes a ceramic/kevlar pad that I like for open track. Unlike others they can be used for street also, but do squeal some. They don't dust too bad and unlike other pads it is easy to clean off with water. You will be fine with any pad on the drag strip.
). Carbotech makes a ceramic/kevlar pad that I like for open track. Unlike others they can be used for street also, but do squeal some. They don't dust too bad and unlike other pads it is easy to clean off with water. You will be fine with any pad on the drag strip.That is probably the fundamental reason why GM didnt put the ceramics on the vette in the first place, incase the customer decided to buy the car for track purposes. They should give us that option, to go ceramic but with a disclaimer that ceramic pads are not for use with road racing.
I think I am going to go with the GM ceramics for now, and when they go I think I am gonna up to the carbotech bobcats.
Gene expect a sale on the ceramics very soon!
Oh 1 more question:
Do I have to torque the bolts (for the calipers) to a certain spec or just make them very snug?
Last edited by pTr73; May 30, 2009 at 12:05 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
The track meaning a road course or does that include the 1/4mi. drag strip too? I ask because I been meaning to take my car to the drag strip to see what I can make her do.
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
I dont road race anyway so I wont mind not taking ceramics to the track. Out of curiousity is there any reason why?
I always forget that you need to be specific on the Corvette forum about what "track" means... Most car forums refer to "track" as road racing, but here I guess here we have an obsession for going straight for very short periods of time...Yes, they are perfectly fine on the drag strip. They overheat on the road course only.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Katy Texas
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
Get the pads from Gene, as recommended, and do it yourself. Simple job. I did mine without trouble and the Ceramics definitely get rid of the dust. I have the Z 51 brakes and my dust problem before the change was horrible. Now, it takes a week or so before anything visible shows, and you have to look for it to find it.