Hawk ceramic pads. Track?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
Hawk ceramic pads. Track?
I have one piece Hawk street ceramic pads on my 13 Grand Sport. Why can't they be used at track day on the tack? Do they overheat? Hawk tells you not to track them but doesnt say why. So why?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 954
Likes: 21
From: White Oak, GA
Yes, they will fade and wear very quickly. They may be suitable for your first day or 2 on track, but as your speed picks up you will run out of brake.
You will eventually upgrade pads, but then you'll soon have more brake than tire so you'll have to upgrade to a tire w/ more grip. After finding the right balance you will then start looking for better ducting or ss brake lines and high temp fluid.
All of these changes can take time and experimentation, and years of enjoying your Corvette in ways you can't approach on the street.
You will eventually upgrade pads, but then you'll soon have more brake than tire so you'll have to upgrade to a tire w/ more grip. After finding the right balance you will then start looking for better ducting or ss brake lines and high temp fluid.
All of these changes can take time and experimentation, and years of enjoying your Corvette in ways you can't approach on the street.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA.
This is what I mean. Guys say this with no explanation. So I guess fade is the answer. I've done many track days here in So Cal with my C5 and 2 with my GS on stock pads. The ceramics were for the dust. So fade it is. They fade until you can't stop.....
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
I didn't realize an explanation was in order. Ceramic pads are very hard and great for low dust and street use but simply cannot hold up to extreme heat under constant heavy breaking as fade without a doubt will occur.
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Simply put- metallic pads transfer heat much better then ceramic pads, which helps them stay cooler - which equates to less fade. For normal street driving the use of ceramic pads are the way to go because of much less brake dust and longer rotor life. For repeated HEAVY braking go with metallic.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
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From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
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From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is the same advice I was given 7 years ago when I installed Z06 brakes and Hawk ceramic pads.
Experienced C6 road racers all share this opinion and it's well documented with many posts.
Try a Forum Search, if you still need further confirmation.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I have Hawk ceramics on my wife's C5 convertible. The first time I did a HPDE with it I was fine until midway thru the second session (when I was getting comfortable with the higher speeds) then things went downhill fast. Serious fade at nearly every corner until I dialed it WAY back. The first thing I did to my GS was replace the pads with HAWK HP+. Not the very best pads out there but ideal for my combination of track worthiness and street noise.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
I have Hawk ceramics on my wife's C5 convertible. The first time I did a HPDE with it I was fine until midway thru the second session (when I was getting comfortable with the higher speeds) then things went downhill fast. Serious fade at nearly every corner until I dialed it WAY back. The first thing I did to my GS was replace the pads with HAWK HP+. Not the very best pads out there but ideal for my combination of track worthiness and street noise.