chevyvette1

I totally agree with you Tadda. I changed them out immediately on all my previous Vettes.... I also use the Z26 pads....

Foosh

Dusting brake pads are generally those suitable for occasional track use. Dusting is one of the ways a pad compound sheds heat to keep brakes from fading during track sessions where a lot of heavy braking occurs on every lap. If you purchased a Z51, you purchased a car equipped for occasional track use, and many almost immediately make their cars no longer track ready by changing to low-dusting pads.

Non-Z51s are OEM equipped with pads that produce minimal dust.

BruceG

Same here. I ceramic coated the wheels and calipers. I don't want to have to switch out the pads for track days.

GolferC8

I assume they still get just as dusty but it cleans easier? Or does the ceramic coat actually not have the dust stick to the wheels and thus they stay cleaner looking longer?

tloon

Hawk Performance Ceramic. Had them on my C6 GS also.
Very clean and no notice of loss of braking in any form.
Very happy with these.

Foosh

I've ceramic coated wheels on a few cars with high-dusting pads, and they get just as dirty as they do with no coating. They may be slightly easier to clean, but quite frankly the difference is negligible. They do not stay looking cleaner longer.

GolferC8

When you swap the pads, do you feel like you are losing stopping power from the ones that come w Z51? Like does it basically go back to the non-Z51 brake feel/performance?

Shoal07

Ditto.

I realize Tadge has ulterior motives, but at the last NCM corvette event he advised against changing the Z51 pads, saying the car's electronic braking system was designed around them.

JerryU

Unless you're Tracking, where operating at higher temps is needed, no.

mnm4ever

This is one of the main reasons I did not want a Z51. I have had the "track pack" on other cars with the Brembo brakes and high dust pads. Its a pain to keep clean all the time. I tried ceramic coating the wheels, it didn't make any difference. Wheels in general are easy to wipe clean, its the hassle of having to wipe them all the time that is the problem. Once you clean them, they stay clean for one drive, then they are dirty again. I eventually gave up on it on the last car... I had matte black wheels and the brake dust was also matte black, so they just stayed dirty in between washes. I only take the car to the track at most a cpl times a year, so why deal with brake dust every day?

With my C8, I have not had to clean any brake dust off the wheels in literally 2 months. They just don't get noticeably dirty. The brake performance is more than enough for the street. If I ever take it to a track day, then maybe I will put on track pads for the day. On my Mustang, the standard brakes were crap, you really needed the big improvement of the Brembos for track use. On the C8, the standard brakes are still Brembos, they are still excellent.

commonduck

do y’all still enjoy your c8 after 1000 miles?

JVi

Armor All Outlast Brake Dust Repellent is supposed to work well but I cannot find it sold anywhere.

GolferC8

I guess the question becomes: worth it to get everything else w Z51 package and just swap out the pads later to avoid the excessive brake dust?

or accept lower-performing brakes, go non-Z51…

COSkier

Do you mean this? https://amzn.to/3GZ687X



It's $14.99, and claims:

• Forms a protective barrier on wheels and rims
• Keeps wheels clean longer
• The invisible barrier lasts up to four weeks

MitchAlsup

Switch/reduce/tolerate/

The pads tolerate the high heat of track use.
The pads in no way reduce the high heat from track use (and may, indeed, increase it.)

MitchAlsup

What a monumentally stupid idea.

JVi

Yes and currently unavailable.

Foosh

I purchased and used it once. I threw it away afterward because it just leaves an ugly haze on the wheels.

COSkier

For me it shows 1 left

JVi

Thanks for the evaluation.
I just put the car up on Quickjacks once in while, clean the wheels and add a fresh ceramic coating. Good enough and good exercise.