Z51 break setup recommendation
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 752
Likes: 281
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Z51 break setup recommendation
Looking to upgrade brakes on my 2020 C8 Z51. I daily drive, with some spirited driving and 1–3 track days a year.
Considering:
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Considering:
- Hawk HPS 5.0 pads
- DBA T3 4000 slotted rotors
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 1,120
From: Western Mass
Looking to upgrade brakes on my 2020 C8 Z51. I daily drive, with some spirited driving and 1–3 track days a year.
Considering:
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Considering:
- Hawk HPS 5.0 pads
- DBA T3 4000 slotted rotors
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 752
Likes: 281
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Although I don't have personal experience I've been told that the dust from Hawk pads is "corrosive". Not sure that that really means or how it manifests itself. I run Girodisc with stock OEM pads for the time being (I bought a lot of take-offs for track use). I'll most likely go Carbotech XP12 in the front for mainly track purposes. I've heard the Carbotech street pads work well and may use those when not on the track.
The Girodisc was my second choice, i dont track that much
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 209
Likes: 150
Looking to upgrade brakes on my 2020 C8 Z51. I daily drive, with some spirited driving and 1–3 track days a year.
Considering:
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Considering:
- Hawk HPS 5.0 pads
- DBA T3 4000 slotted rotors
Goal: Better than OEM, quiet, low dust, strong stopping, no squeal.
Is this a solid setup for performance + comfort? Or is there a better option in this price range
Don't use hawk 5.0 for the track you will cook them. I tried them in a pinch and they did not last a whole session at cota.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 353
Likes: 180
From: Michigan
Plenty of brands out there that can handle the expected temperate range (what is your temp range on track, have you use thermal paint to see what temp your rotors get?)... so IMO it comes down to some personal preferences.
I prefer Carbotech as I like their initial bite and the modulation I get. I can also get pads from them for track, autocross, and street and they are all compatible with each other. Meaning, I can swap pads and no need to clean the rotors (which isn't the case if you use say a track pad and the stock OEM pads for street).
What speed ranges do you see (max speed to corner entry -> 130 to 60MPH for example)?
I prefer Carbotech as I like their initial bite and the modulation I get. I can also get pads from them for track, autocross, and street and they are all compatible with each other. Meaning, I can swap pads and no need to clean the rotors (which isn't the case if you use say a track pad and the stock OEM pads for street).
What speed ranges do you see (max speed to corner entry -> 130 to 60MPH for example)?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 752
Likes: 281
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Plenty of brands out there that can handle the expected temperate range (what is your temp range on track, have you use thermal paint to see what temp your rotors get?)... so IMO it comes down to some personal preferences.
I prefer Carbotech as I like their initial bite and the modulation I get. I can also get pads from them for track, autocross, and street and they are all compatible with each other. Meaning, I can swap pads and no need to clean the rotors (which isn't the case if you use say a track pad and the stock OEM pads for street).
What speed ranges do you see (max speed to corner entry -> 130 to 60MPH for example)?
I prefer Carbotech as I like their initial bite and the modulation I get. I can also get pads from them for track, autocross, and street and they are all compatible with each other. Meaning, I can swap pads and no need to clean the rotors (which isn't the case if you use say a track pad and the stock OEM pads for street).
What speed ranges do you see (max speed to corner entry -> 130 to 60MPH for example)?
Speed-wise, I’m seeing more like 100-110 MPH down to 40-50 MPH in the braking zones nothing crazy like COTA, but definitely enough to generate heat and push the limits of my OEM pad. That’s part of why I’m rethinking Hawk HPS 5.0 or better, they seem perfect for spirited street use, but I’m not trying to cook them on my first or second session.
Your point about Carbotech’s compatibility across compounds is actually huge, I didn’t realize you could swap between their track and street pads (like XP12 and 1521) without cleaning or resurfacing the rotors. That’s a big deal for someone like me who wants to keep it simple and not spend a weekend doing rotor prep every time.
Do you usually run XP12 front only, or all around? And do you daily on 1521 or something else?
