Brake rotor option
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: ca were the dodgers play!
Brake rotor option
So my car is due for brakes. 08 z51 package. The car has never seen a track day but is driven hard. Currently have stock rotors with ac delco ceramic pads. I hate the performance these pads offer. What are my options for rotors? I was thinking about the dba t3 but don't know if I can justify the price difference over $70 ac delco drilled rotors on amazon. I know drilled are prone to cracking and uneven wear. I was also looking at the stoptech slotted. For pads I was thinking hawk plus or carbotech ax6. Any suggestions guys?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 199
From: TX
OEM Rotors are good, OEM pads are trash. The cross drilled rotors are fine for street use but under heavy track use are going to start cracking.
Rotors I would go with Centric (Stoptech) rotors (or OEM) and the Stoptech Z26 ceramic pads. If you aren't on a race track they will work well. If you want to go Carbotech the 1521 is probably a better idea than the AX6. The AX6 is going to give you dust and noise.
Rotors I would go with Centric (Stoptech) rotors (or OEM) and the Stoptech Z26 ceramic pads. If you aren't on a race track they will work well. If you want to go Carbotech the 1521 is probably a better idea than the AX6. The AX6 is going to give you dust and noise.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
If this is just a street car I would get some Centric premium rotors plain face and Carbotech 1521 pads. The AX6 is going to be dirty on the street along with heavy brake noise. If you don't mind noise and dust than yes the AX6 is great on the street. When your ready for pads give me a call at 216-780-88825 I will be happy to set you up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,999
Likes: 242
From: Surprise, Az
I use the DBA 4k's, slotted (curved) and the 1521's for street, the 10's for track use. The rotors have held up really well and the curved slots help distribute the heat stresses that allow the stress cracks to form. The 4k's may be overkill for what you are doing though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 792
Likes: 127
From: Dallas Texas
I second this.
I got my Centric (owned by StopTech) slotted rotors from Tire Racks website with the Cabotech 1521 "Bobcats" and loved them. Stopping power is so much more precise and smoother than stock. I still have these sitting in my garage with only 1000 miles on them before I swapped them out if you're interested.
I swapped them out for track use recently for Centric blanks and Carbotech XP8s / XP10s.
I got my Centric (owned by StopTech) slotted rotors from Tire Racks website with the Cabotech 1521 "Bobcats" and loved them. Stopping power is so much more precise and smoother than stock. I still have these sitting in my garage with only 1000 miles on them before I swapped them out if you're interested.
I swapped them out for track use recently for Centric blanks and Carbotech XP8s / XP10s.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,444
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
How many miles on the car,
On my z51 option, got 30K on the oem HD pads, and still had enough meat on the rotors to turn them for a second set of HD pads to get me to the 60K mark.
As for the Carbotech 1521 pad, about the same feed back and initial bite as the OEM HD pads, but do not have the higher working heat range as the HD pad instead.
As for drilled or slotted and even pads, really need to think of the heat range the rotors and pads are going to be run. The drilled rotors do well with off gassing from the pads and cooling flow through the rotors surfaces, but have the stress cracking if you doing a lot of High speed track kind of use. As for pads, they do have a heat range to them, so too high of a heat range before they come on line, and may have ***** for stopping power during DD driving. To low of a working heat range on the pad, and you just burn them up quickly instead.
To bottom line it, short of the dusting and shorter life of the HD pads, the do very well for the heat ranges they where designed to run. Hence good for stock cold to about 1000*.
On my z51 option, got 30K on the oem HD pads, and still had enough meat on the rotors to turn them for a second set of HD pads to get me to the 60K mark.
As for the Carbotech 1521 pad, about the same feed back and initial bite as the OEM HD pads, but do not have the higher working heat range as the HD pad instead.
As for drilled or slotted and even pads, really need to think of the heat range the rotors and pads are going to be run. The drilled rotors do well with off gassing from the pads and cooling flow through the rotors surfaces, but have the stress cracking if you doing a lot of High speed track kind of use. As for pads, they do have a heat range to them, so too high of a heat range before they come on line, and may have ***** for stopping power during DD driving. To low of a working heat range on the pad, and you just burn them up quickly instead.
To bottom line it, short of the dusting and shorter life of the HD pads, the do very well for the heat ranges they where designed to run. Hence good for stock cold to about 1000*.
Last edited by Dano523; Jul 2, 2017 at 12:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: ca were the dodgers play!
Still haven't decided. Will do the 1521 pad for sure. Can't decide between the factory drilled rotors or the stoptech slotted. Can't do the plain face because i got new wheels and it must look nice. The factory pads the car came with had good bite but would dust heavily. These delco ceramic I bought years ago that I thought were factory are trash. The car is not tracked. Has never been tracked but does do canyon runs frequently
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,999
Likes: 242
From: Surprise, Az
You will like the 1521's, If you haven't had any heat stress cracks on ONE rotors and they are less expensive and you like how they look, there is certainly nothing wrong with using them. Just be sure to do a proper bedding with the new pads.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: ca were the dodgers play!
Ugh.... can't seem to make up my mind. Maryland speed has what seems like a decent deal. They the the dba 4000 t3 front and rear with. Hps ceramics for 759? Sounds pretty good. What do yu guys think? Might be overkill but doesn't seem like much over over front and rear delco rotors with pads
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,820
Likes: 411
From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
I run DBA slotted 5000 in front and 4000 in rear, because KNS had a deal at the time I couldn't refuse.
The 5000 are now expensive but the 4000's work great and last well.
Running 1521 pads with these and it's a great combo that works well.
Wouldn't do the drilled. They look great but crack to easily.
The 5000 are now expensive but the 4000's work great and last well.
Running 1521 pads with these and it's a great combo that works well.
Wouldn't do the drilled. They look great but crack to easily.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: ca were the dodgers play!
Well I took advantage of the the deal and promo code Maryland speed had on their dba brake package. Really wanted to try the carbotech 1521 due the great reviews and advise I received from you guys. Sadly they don't offer them so I opted for the hawk ceramic. Thanks for great advise guys
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Well I took advantage of the the deal and promo code Maryland speed had on their dba brake package. Really wanted to try the carbotech 1521 due the great reviews and advise I received from you guys. Sadly they don't offer them so I opted for the hawk ceramic. Thanks for great advise guys
Front CT731 1521 $140.60
Rear CT732 1521 $121.60
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 34
Had I known better or without the great half price deal I had on the Hawk Pads - I might have gone with the other brand.
Since the install few years ago, I experienced no negatives. However, I did sealed wheels with RejeX as well as painting rotors prior to install. I seldom use or pampered my C6, only time my OEM polish Gumby clear coated wheel barrel gets cleaned is when I got caught in an occasional messy Trade shower and if showers are light, I let it go without cleaning.
So...between an occasional Street driven pleasure and minimum care, my combos are great!
Might be an entirely different scenario if not taking protective shielding precautions along with total neglect overtime.
Since the install few years ago, I experienced no negatives. However, I did sealed wheels with RejeX as well as painting rotors prior to install. I seldom use or pampered my C6, only time my OEM polish Gumby clear coated wheel barrel gets cleaned is when I got caught in an occasional messy Trade shower and if showers are light, I let it go without cleaning.
So...between an occasional Street driven pleasure and minimum care, my combos are great!
Might be an entirely different scenario if not taking protective shielding precautions along with total neglect overtime.