Ceramic brakes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 118
Likes: 28
From: TN
Ceramic brakes
I have a 2016 Z51 and I am getting tired of cleaning the tires all the time. I asked my dealer about changing out to ceramic and he gave me a quick guess/estimate of about $1500.00 I am sure that I could get it cheaper elsewhere but I am not knowledgeable enough to make sure someone else would do it correctly. Is the dealer price way out of normal?
Thanks
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,884
From: Toronto
That's ridiculous. What you want are ceramic brake pads. Powerstops are very popular on the forum:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...treme-z26.html
They are a few hundred bucks and install shouldn't be more than $150 by a mechanic.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...treme-z26.html
They are a few hundred bucks and install shouldn't be more than $150 by a mechanic.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 389
Likes: 128
From: Santa Maria CA
I just installed Powerstops on all four corners. In less than a week I would have cleaned my wheels 3 or 4 times by now with the stock Brembo pads. So far the dust is negligible. At $90 shipped, it is my best mod yet. It's a very, very simple job, the hardest part being taking the wheels on and off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 381
From: Southeastern PA
I have a 2015 Z51 and finally had enough of cleaning the brake dust after every drive. Changed the stock pads to Powerstop Z26's. Cost about $110 from Amazon. Took me about two hours to change the pads. There are a few good "how to" videos on this forum. The pads work great - very little dust and no squealing. Best investment so far!
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,228
Likes: 4,355
From: Chirper Island
I bought Carbotech front pads for $170. My brake/oil change/tire guys did this for $99 labor.
I think $269 is quite reasonable. They also said that if I had changed the rotors out at the same time, that it would have been covered under the same $99 for labor.
I love my independent shop.
I think $269 is quite reasonable. They also said that if I had changed the rotors out at the same time, that it would have been covered under the same $99 for labor.
I love my independent shop.
Last edited by owc6; Apr 20, 2017 at 02:48 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I have a 2016 Z51 and I am getting tired of cleaning the tires all the time. I asked my dealer about changing out to ceramic and he gave me a quick guess/estimate of about $1500.00 I am sure that I could get it cheaper elsewhere but I am not knowledgeable enough to make sure someone else would do it correctly. Is the dealer price way out of normal?
Thanks
Thanks
http://netwelding.com/Ceramic_Pads.pdf
Carbotech™ Bobcat 1521™ 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. 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. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 54
From: Trail BC
Has anyone used the Hawk pads? Just wondering how they are for dust. When I was at the Ron Fellows school, they said that was really the only modification they did to the cars. Stopping power was great - not sure about dust.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
Brake pads, like most things in life, involve compromise....
Ceramic pads are great for the street, low dust/noise but on a track, they would fade quickly.
Track pads (like the Hawks they use at Ron Fellows) will, no doubt, dust like crazy (but fade very little).
Pick your poison.
Ceramic pads are great for the street, low dust/noise but on a track, they would fade quickly.
Track pads (like the Hawks they use at Ron Fellows) will, no doubt, dust like crazy (but fade very little).
Pick your poison.
Last edited by jimmyb; Apr 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 716
From: Terrell North Carolina
I went to Hawk pads on my 2016 Z. I got the Yellow box Ceramics. Stopping power is just like OE pads, but the big thing, virtually no dust. The Ron Fellows school is what made me decide on Hawk, & I am well satisfied.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 430
Likes: 173
From: Church Hill, TN
I'm picking up a new GS at the museum in a couple of weeks and want to change out the stock pads for ceramics as soon as possible before starting the drive back to CA. Is there any reason to run the stock pads for a while to break in the rotors or can I do the swap right away?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,982
Likes: 1,039
From: Georgetown CA
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C7 of Year Finalist
With a drive like that the car is going to get dirty (I made the drive recently). I wouldn't be in a huge rush, but you'll be stopping at some point to do your 500 mile oil change (I did mine in Little Rock), might be a good time to do it.
I grew though, you can do it at any time. Won't have an impact.
I grew though, you can do it at any time. Won't have an impact.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,228
Likes: 4,355
From: Chirper Island
No reason to wait, whatsoever.
I wish I did this when I bought the car. I have a couple of thousand miles on the front Carbotechs now, and a couple of panic stops (effing deer), and I have less dust on the new fronts, than the OEM rears, and about the same as my '05 base. I also wish I had done this immediately on my '09 Z06, which was worse than anything.
I wish I did this when I bought the car. I have a couple of thousand miles on the front Carbotechs now, and a couple of panic stops (effing deer), and I have less dust on the new fronts, than the OEM rears, and about the same as my '05 base. I also wish I had done this immediately on my '09 Z06, which was worse than anything.