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I used GM ceramics on my C5 Coupe. VERY little dust, but they didn't stop near as well and warped my rotors.
I would STRONGLY recommend HAWK HPS pads, they dust little and stop GREAT, as good (if not better than) as your ZO6 pads.
Gene is right on "scuffing"up rotors and don't forget to bed in the new pads (HAWK HPS come with bed in directions and antisqueal grease for back of pads).
I installed new rotors and the GM ceramic pads this spring. I have had no issues with them on my Z06. They produce minimal dust, are quiet, and perform well. I would recommend the GM pads.
Ceramics will be fine if you drive your vette like a normal car. If you drive it like a sports car you will warp the rotors. If that makes any sence Ceramics are hard for low dust but because of that they don't bite into the rotors to stop you well. They glide on top creating excess heat. I have had very good results with hps (minimal dust) and hp+ (lots of dust) and I assume hawk ceramics would be good too
The rotors must be free of the residue from regular pads when you install ceramic pads. Since the Hawk pads run around $200, I installed new rotors. I got them on the auction site- drilled and slotted and powder coated red! The outside edge and center are coated. Looks awesome and no dust! Did this back in 2007 and I can't telll you how nice it is to not have that brake dust on the wheels!
I use the GM Durastop ceramics, and the rotors are the +2 Baer. I'm very happy with the lack of dusting, and braking performance. I wish they made them for my HHR SS. The factory wheels look crappy after only 100 miles after washing.
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, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. 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. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
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, and has won multiple SCCA Solo 2 and Prosolo National Championships. 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. Bobcat 1521™ compound has also been found to extend the life of your rotors 2-3 times. That’s one of the beauties of Carbotech Ceramic brake compounds. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.
For scuffing up the rotors, are we talking taking the palm sander with 100 grit?
That could work. I have those circular discs that you can put on the end of your drill, and use to scuff the rotors. They can be purchased in various levels, of fine, medium, and coarse surface.
I switched to the GM Performance ceramic pads, and drilled/slotted rortors..a year or so ago... . virtually no dust at all, no rotor warp, seems to take a bit more pedal pressure than the stock soft pads, but they work great, and feel like they could put you right through the windshield! I beat on it pretty hard a few times with some road course type driving with no issues or fade/dust...
I'd probably use them again, or may try the Hawks next time.. lost of good reviews for them too..
Got my pads/rotors form GM Parts Direct btw.. best price I could find at the time
I switched to the GM Performance ceramic pads, and drilled/slotted rortors..a year or so ago... . virtually no dust at all, no rotor warp, seems to take a bit more pedal pressure than the stock soft pads, but they work great, and feel like they could put you right through the windshield! I beat on it pretty hard a few times with some road course type driving with no issues or fade/dust...
I'd probably use them again, or may try the Hawks next time.. lost of good reviews for them too..
Got my pads/rotors form GM Parts Direct btw.. best price I could find at the time
This spring I replaced my rotors and pads on my C5. I used Satisfied Pro Ceramic pads with ATE slotted rotors.They are an awesome combination; great stopping performance with VERY minimal dust. I ran up and down Mt. Equinox in Vermont with my club ( 2.5 mi. closed road ,4000elev.) with no fade. The rotors are coated so the vanes and the hats wont rust.Look great!
Ceramics will be fine if you drive your vette like a normal car.
exactly. You'll alawys get one good stop out of ceramics... and if allowed to cool down you'll get another good stop. But repeated brake applications - well... the ceramics will fade quickly.
I run ceramics on every vehicle I own; solely to reduce the dusting. But I don't roadcourse or autocross; so the fading concerns are a moot point to me.
This weekend at Bloomington I asked Muskegon Brake what they recommended. They said Akebono Proact Ceramic were the best. They said they use them in all their cars and they are as good or better stopping than OEM semis and don't warp the rotors. For what it's worth.
06-23-2009, 11:43 PM
Ceramic Pads for 2003 c5 z06
Ceramics are hard for low dust but because of that they don't bite into the rotors to stop you well. They glide on top creating excess heat. I have had very good results with hps (minimal dust) and hp+ (lots of dust
) and I assume hawk ceramics would be good too
