Brake pad thickness
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Suwanee, GA
Brake pad thickness
Does anyone know what the standard thickness of a new Z51 rear brake pad is? I'm about to do my second track day and I was inspecting the rear brake pads. They appear to be about 1/4" thick at this point, which seems awfully thin. Unfortunately I can't remember what they were to begin with.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 368
From: Montoursville Pa
Does anyone know what the standard thickness of a new Z51 rear brake pad is? I'm about to do my second track day and I was inspecting the rear brake pads. They appear to be about 1/4" thick at this point, which seems awfully thin. Unfortunately I can't remember what they were to begin with.
About twice that. they should last longer on the rear, so maybe your active handling is working pretty hard. Never the less time for a new set. take the old one to the track with you incase you need them to get home.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 197
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From: Melbourne Florida
Pads
I used up my front standard pads in two track events, driving home from track with metal to metal...not good. One rotor destroyed. Then I bought Hawk+ pads which also were consumed in two events (2 hours driving per day). Now I have PFC01 and hope to get 3-4 events, but we will see.
If you are getting material transfer to the rotors (noisy breaks the next few weeks after the event), it means you are using the pads on the upper temperature range and the pad wear is extensive.
I will keep the stabilization electronic off for the future. When I am trail braking slightly, the electronics continue to break even after I let go off the breaks. And when it does I think it is putting most on the breaking on the outer front wheel, making heat up extra on that rotor/pad.
PeO.
If you are getting material transfer to the rotors (noisy breaks the next few weeks after the event), it means you are using the pads on the upper temperature range and the pad wear is extensive.
I will keep the stabilization electronic off for the future. When I am trail braking slightly, the electronics continue to break even after I let go off the breaks. And when it does I think it is putting most on the breaking on the outer front wheel, making heat up extra on that rotor/pad.
PeO.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Suwanee, GA
Thanks guys.
I went ahead and ordered another set of stockers to use at the event. Afterwards I'll probably put the current set back on to finish them off, but I didn't want to go into the event knowing that I was likely to burn through them. Although technically I take enough stuff with me to be able to swap the brakes, I really don't want to have to do it there.
The reason I looked at the rears first was because with previous cars I used to burn far more rear brake than front. I just looked and the fronts seem to be used roughly the same.
In the past I've had separate track and street pads in order to combat fade, but with the Vette I haven't had any problem with the stock pads. Then again, I'm not really that fast.
I went ahead and ordered another set of stockers to use at the event. Afterwards I'll probably put the current set back on to finish them off, but I didn't want to go into the event knowing that I was likely to burn through them. Although technically I take enough stuff with me to be able to swap the brakes, I really don't want to have to do it there.
The reason I looked at the rears first was because with previous cars I used to burn far more rear brake than front. I just looked and the fronts seem to be used roughly the same.
In the past I've had separate track and street pads in order to combat fade, but with the Vette I haven't had any problem with the stock pads. Then again, I'm not really that fast.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,897
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From: Lewisville TX
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Do you run the car with active handling turned on and like to slide the rear around? If so then I have seen the same thing happen. The car is constantly trying to bring the car straight again by using rear brakes, so yes it will eat up the rears on the track.
