Hawk HPS vs ceramic
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 196
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From: Bradenton FL
Hawk HPS vs ceramic
Correct if I'm wrong. It is to my understanding that the Hawk's HPS pads have better stopping power that their ceramics line. Ceramics offer less dust. Am I right? I want more stopping over less dust, for street use that is. I see that many are using ceramics and Gene has a great price for a set.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Hawk pads
Hawk HPS pads are typically used for street/track but not fully track pads, and they generate dust. The ceramics are chosen for their low-dust qualities. When purchasing pads, first know what your intended use is to be. Secondly, depending on the intensity of use, higher friction pads also are harder on your rotors than ceramics. If you plan on tracking your car, you may want to match the pads of your choosing with rotors that are designed to be used with higher friction compounds. 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Bradenton FL
Hawk HPS pads are typically used for street/track but not fully track pads, and they generate dust. The ceramics are chosen for their low-dust qualities. When purchasing pads, first know what your intended use is to be. Secondly, depending on the intensity of use, higher friction pads also are harder on your rotors than ceramics. If you plan on tracking your car, you may want to match the pads of your choosing with rotors that are designed to be used with higher friction compounds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 2
From: Houston 06 C6 Ysi SC 402 fgd TX
Z51 option wheels
Hawk HPS for street are better than stock pads.
I use Cobalt XR carbon ceramic for track. they clamp with alot more friction and you can hear and feel the difference. If the very loud squeaking on every stop on the street doesnt bother you these are very good on stock rotors. I have to take them off and use Hawk HPS cause the squeak is too annoying.
Hawk HPS for street are better than stock pads.
I use Cobalt XR carbon ceramic for track. they clamp with alot more friction and you can hear and feel the difference. If the very loud squeaking on every stop on the street doesnt bother you these are very good on stock rotors. I have to take them off and use Hawk HPS cause the squeak is too annoying.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
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From: Opelika Alabama
Correct if I'm wrong. It is to my understanding that the Hawk's HPS pads have better stopping power that their ceramics line. Ceramics offer less dust. Am I right? I want more stopping over less dust, for street use that is. I see that many are using ceramics and Gene has a great price for a set.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Bedding your brakes
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Instructor
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From: orlando florida
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
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From: San Francisco CA
What are the factory pads made of on the base Corvette?
Which pads would be better for that one initial stop for a shorter distance before hitting something? (Not for track use where constant high speed braking but for street where you want the shortest stopping distance).
Which pads would be better for that one initial stop for a shorter distance before hitting something? (Not for track use where constant high speed braking but for street where you want the shortest stopping distance).
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
I have used Hawk Performance Ceramic pads with stock Z51 rotors, and Hawk Performance Ceramic pads with DBA 5000/4000 Z06 rotor combo and have never had an issue with poor stopping ability. I DO NOT track my car, however. But the point you make about bedding the brakes is absolutely true regardless of what pad/rotor combo you're using and should be a ritual to follow whenever a swap takes place.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
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From: Saint Albans, WV
Sounds like you had break in or installation problem. No way will ceramics not perform as well or better than factory pads on the street. My Hawk ceramic Z pads have been on for 2 years and while a little noisy they stop on a dime and most of all my wheels are clean!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
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From: Chandler Arizona
I just put on ceramics and was also very apprehensive. The first few stops were terrible, but once I completed the bedding in procedure they worked great. Now I can't tell the difference from the original Z51 pads other than they do not dust nearly as badly.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
You guys need to check out this pad. It stops better than stock is low dust ,low noise and is ceramic.
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 196
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From: Bradenton FL
That's an option too. Since I modded my car, my mind would more at ease with better brakes. I was under the impression that aftermarket pads were better than stock, maybe I'm wrong. I still have my stock on and I don't do hard breaking that often. I have 22k miles for an 05 car that's pretty low cause it's my play car. I do need to change pads before its too late. I don't know what stock pads are made of. I'm going to compare prices on stock and and aftermarket.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
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From: San Francisco CA
That's an option too. Since I modded my car, my mind would more at ease with better brakes. I was under the impression that aftermarket pads were better than stock, maybe I'm wrong. I still have my stock on and I don't do hard breaking that often. I have 22k miles for an 05 car that's pretty low cause it's my play car. I do need to change pads before its too late. I don't know what stock pads are made of. I'm going to compare prices on stock and and aftermarket.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Keep me posted on your findings and results. I have 33,000 miles on 2005 with no changing of brake pads or brake fluid yet. Better brakes to me would be the ones that last long, don't give off tons of brake dust, and provide shorter stops. Don't need the type of brakes they use on tracks where there is constant braking. It is just that initial stop I am concerned about in stopping short of hitting another object on road.
