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So I have a 2023 C8 non Z51 that I am tracking. Yeah I know should have got a z51 but honestly I have met and read several z51 owners who had brake problems as well.
Some background first- I took my stock c8 to MSR Houston in the heat of June with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 AS (stock) and stock brake pads. In the end I smoked all the pads and had to replace all 4 brake rotors and all 4 tires. Replaced them with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S. I also bought Hawk brake pads one set for track one for road.
I went back to MSR Houston in September and did great with the new pads and stock rotors- did 4 sessions a day with no issues despite 100ish temps outside.
So I swap out pads for a track event his weekend and I got distracted and may have mixed up the sets (don't ask!). Looking at them there is not any significant difference in appearance of the sets so not sure how to tell them apart. Anyway my c8 threw out brake failure messages at the end of my first speed session this weekend and I had to drive from Angleton to Aggieland at 43 mph. On a positive note I got 30.5 MPG on the way home!
Then I tried a cheap set of slotted/drilled rotors with the Hawk DTC 70 front 60 rear track pads. This worked better but still tossed a brake failure on the next to last run of the 2 day track weekend. When I got home the rear pads were not too bad but the cheap rotors had cracks in them. The front pads were TOTALLY gone just a tiny piece of metal left. The pistons on the calipers were overextended and the gaskets were broken and I couldn't get them to retract with my caliper tool. I finally got a piston out and got a brake fluid leak and managed to get the caliper & tire back on and had it towed to nearby Navasota for repairs.
They fixed the calipers and flushed the brake lines out (x3) but it is still throwing brake errors. So now I'm waiting on a master brake cylinder to get in. Hitting a bit over $6,000 in costs so far yuck!
So my plan for next track day, which isn't until December 2024, is to have the cooling ducts, fresh Hawk DTC 70 front 60 rear, and Powerstop rotors. Anyone have experience with this weird setup? I'm about done with this although I love the tracking experience it is just costing so much and such a hassle.
Thanks for reading the long post just trying to figure out this tracking brake thing!
Here is a youtube of my best runs - tips appreciated!
Yikes,, $6k?? I'm curious, what's wrong with the master cylinder?? I'm no expert, but have you looked at upgrading your brakes?? You can get a used Z51 system pretty cheap ($1600ish) but to your earlier point they are not without issues based on my research. New Z06 brakes can be had for $5Kish and of course aftermarket AP setups.
Yikes,, $6k?? I'm curious, what's wrong with the master cylinder?? I'm no expert, but have you looked at upgrading your brakes?? You can get a used Z51 system pretty cheap ($1600ish) but to your earlier point they are not without issues based on my research. New Z06 brakes can be had for $5Kish and of course aftermarket AP setups.
Chevy thinks it has a bad gasket due to sitting without brake fluid for 2 weeks while waiting on parts.
Tracking fast cars is expensive, we all know this but it hits different when you're the one shelling out the cash.
Base or z51, my experience has been the car doesn't like hot weather. It's significantly slower, easier to fade, overheats easily, etc when temps are 80+.
Do you daily drive your c8? or plan to drive it often before your next track day?
Tracking fast cars is expensive, we all know this but it hits different when you're the one shelling out the cash.
Base or z51, my experience has been the car doesn't like hot weather. It's significantly slower, easier to fade, overheats easily, etc when temps are 80+.
Do you daily drive your c8? or plan to drive it often before your next track day?
I totally agree with your heat comment. When I ran in the Texas summer it also started to give transmission heat warnings. No problems with that when running with 70-80 outside.
It is my only car and daily driver. However my work commute is only 2.1 miles so i usually bike it when the westher is ok. My wife has a 2024 Bronco that I can use when needed.
Have you installed the brake ducts that are stock on the Z51? If not, you'll have issues no matter what rotors and pads you put on it (Except maybe true carbon / carbon disks and pads, which need a lot of heat to work.) That should have been step 1.
On researching my purchase history it looks like I had Corvette World in Tomball TX do it while they were doing the race alignment so not sure what brand they used.
Have you installed the brake ducts that are stock on the Z51? If not, you'll have issues no matter what rotors and pads you put on it (Except maybe true carbon / carbon disks and pads, which need a lot of heat to work.) That should have been step 1.
I have had the rears as they are easy to find.
I've struggled to find the front ones but I finally found some through this forum and they are being shipped in shortly.
I've struggled to find the front ones but I finally found some through this forum and they are being shipped in shortly.
There are ducts that are installed at the factory that direct air from the front grill past the splitter and ducts that are installed during PDI. You need both sets of ducts. In fact, the front duct openings may be covered on the non-Z51 (I can't remember).
This OEM brakes will not hold up for track duties. Especially the more you do. If you are good enough these brakes will not last a session once you learn the car. If someone says they get more than 2-4 days out of pads from any brake kit. They are not fast..... yet. So issues will be less and further out.
The OEM rotors, calipers, and pads are bad. Just is. The car is built form a engineering aspect on a tight budget across the board. Risk on both sides. Even ducts will not help much. Both ducts really only splash air into the area. I first used to see uneven wear from it or scattered hot spots. It's a heavy car and true braking will tell on it. For sure hands down use great brake fluid before all. Hardly any car comes off the press ready to roll hard. Especially brakes on most all models. Upgrade is the only way to go.
It is my only car and daily driver. However my work commute is only 2.1 miles so i usually bike it when the westher is ok. My wife has a 2024 Bronco that I can use when needed.
Since this is the case then i'd say stick with tracking in cooler temps and get castrol srf and stick with stock. Take tracking your C8 as a luxury and be prepared to do hotlaps/cool laps. Stick with the stock tires too, anything faster is asking for trouble.
@NoMatter is right. i never understood why MotoIQ put a
out titled 'why the c8 braking sucks on track' until i started having issues. Getting faster (even till now) led to issues most notably with the braking system. I still have issues today since i only have stock rears and ap fronts but it is evident i need ap rears as well. was on track recently with a c7 gs with stock brakes and there was over a 160F difference in caliper temps between both our cars. My ap fronts were HOTTER than his stock fronts. That's what we're dealing with here. Same tires, same laps/session/times, parked right beside each other.
If you want to get serious about tracking your c8 (and i promise you don't have to get serious about it, it's not cost efficient trust us). then you'd want to skip straight to AP brakes. Don't be like me who did not listen (well mostly money anxiety) and instead tried a litany or pads, rotors all to end up in ap camp. But don't forget if you value your car as a daily just keep it as such, it's not easy/fun dailying a car setup for track.
Since this is the case then i'd say stick with tracking in cooler temps and get castrol srf and stick with stock. Take tracking your C8 as a luxury and be prepared to do hotlaps/cool laps. Stick with the stock tires too, anything faster is asking for trouble.
@NoMatter is right. i never understood why MotoIQ put a video out titled 'why the c8 braking sucks on track' until i started having issues. Getting faster (even till now) led to issues most notably with the braking system. I still have issues today since i only have stock rears and ap fronts but it is evident i need ap rears as well. was on track recently with a c7 gs with stock brakes and there was over a 160F difference in caliper temps between both our cars. My ap fronts were HOTTER than his stock fronts. That's what we're dealing with here. Same tires, same laps/session/times, parked right beside each other.
If you want to get serious about tracking your c8 (and i promise you don't have to get serious about it, it's not cost efficient trust us). then you'd want to skip straight to AP brakes. Don't be like me who did not listen (well mostly money anxiety) and instead tried a litany or pads, rotors all to end up in ap camp. But don't forget if you value your car as a daily just keep it as such, it's not easy/fun dailying a car setup for track.
Great advice! I'm thinking the hot/cool lap approach will likely go a long way to preserving my expendables.
I currently plan to try with Powerstop rotors and Hawk DTC 70 (front) DTC 60 (rear) pads. I can swap out rotors/pads by myself so not cost prohibitive.
Last edited by Jdsaoijc%!; May 7, 2024 at 09:48 AM.
The brakes in general on the C8, Z51 (mine) or otherwise are trash. I went through Cobalt front pads in 4 track days and had the same issue with the piston extended as you mention, brake code, outer boots completely melted - though I was able to get it to retract after replacing the outer seal. I am pushing the car running competitive TT times and similar to 991 GT3s.
Even expensive Girodisc rotors will probably only last 8 days based on the heat checking so far. The way to seemingly drive the car is to do 3-4 push laps, cooldown lap, repeat - keeps the temps under control. The only real solve is the AP kit on the fronts which I plan to do at end of year after a couple more track days on the OEM setup $$.
When you guys are talking about AP brake set it is something like this right? That is expensive ouch and I am not comfortable replacing the calipers myself due to the complexity of the C8 brake fluid system.
Yes that's the one. It is very expensive but the stock system even with new pads/rotors/lines cannot handle more than 5 or so hot laps.
The system is a pain, i rebuilt the front calipers, flushed the fluid and all that. Even with the battery disconnected I had to use a scan tool and perform the self test seven times and bleed it twice to get all the codes to go away, but it is doable.
Base C8 brake struggles on the track
