C5 front brakes..... What pads?

[jdpolzin]

Hello guys, I'm in the middle of doing the C5 brakes on my Grand National. I have the ATS spindles and am buying all the brake parts to complete the kit. I have ACDelcos drilled and slotted rotors. I'm just curious what brake pads are the best bang for the buck? Just get a set of ceramic pads from Oreilly's or get ACDelco or what? This is a Street/Strip car if that matters. I know there are the Hawk brand pads but is it really worth the $$$??? Thanks for the advice! ------Jeremy

[eville]

I went with the Hawk HPS. I like 'em.
You'll need the pad retainer clips unless you get GM pads.
The springs are available from NAPA.
Just make sure the guy gets you the per axle set and not the per caliper set. Way cheaper for the pair.

[jdpolzin]

Ok, can you explain the springs and retainer clips? Are the springs the outer pieces that hold the pad in place? Or are these the retainer clips? As of now, I have the caliper and thats it. I need all the hardware and brackets, etc. I did have Oreilly's order me 2 sets of caliper hardware kits but I'm not sure what all comes with it. Maybe I should post a picture of what I have? Could you be of assistance in letting me know what other parts I may need? The rotors are on order right now.

[eville]

Mine are on the car or I'd post pics.
Sorry no springs involved, only clips.
I think 3 per caliper if memory serves correct. I figured it out pretty easy once I had them in my hands.

[jdpolzin]

OK cool! I found a diagram showing the pieces of the brakes so hopefuly I can use this to help guide me! Any other ideas on brake pads? Best bang for the buck?

[Apogee]

Best bang for the buck sort of depends on what you intend to do with the car. I would probably choose to run a ceramic pad with the drilled & slotted rotors for plain Jane street/strip use, nothing more aggressive than the occasional autocross and street driving where you aren't going to be arrested if caught. The ceramics should generate less dust and noise and will be gentler on the rotors. If noise and dust are less of a concern than initial pad-bite, then I would run semi-metallics for a little more spirited use. The ACDelco's work well considering what they cost and come with abutment shims and anti-rattle springs, as do the Raybestos and a few other OE replacement brands.

I've always wanted to try Satisfied Brake's offerings, but haven't had the chance to yet. I believe CSK Auto carries their street ceramic pads under their own label, but none of their higher performance pads comparable to the Hawk HPS & HP+. I'm not familiar with what O'Reillys has to offer.

[68sixspeed]

I'm a big fan of the Hawk HPS and a good dot4 fluid (ATE super blue for the money is great, Castrol SRF is good but expensive)... I've abused the brakes on my vette to the point where the zinc plating on the hat of the rotor burned and is now orange without brake fade. They are also great on the street and don't need pre-heating like the HP+ or blue pads.

[dipren443]

Best bang for the buck sort of depends on what you intend to do with the car. I would probably choose to run a ceramic pad with the drilled & slotted rotors for plain Jane street/strip use, nothing more aggressive than the occasional autocross and street driving where you aren't going to be arrested if caught. The ceramics should generate less dust and noise and will be gentler on the rotors. If noise and dust are less of a concern than initial pad-bite, then I would run semi-metallics for a little more spirited use. The ACDelco's work well considering what they cost and come with abutment shims and anti-rattle springs, as do the Raybestos and a few other OE replacement brands.

I've always wanted to try Satisfied Brake's offerings, but haven't had the chance to yet. I believe CSK Auto carries their street ceramic pads under their own label, but none of their higher performance pads comparable to the Hawk HPS & HP+. I'm not familiar with what O'Reillys has to offer.

I have to disagree with the recommendation of the ceramic pads. I find full ceramics to be far too soft after several repeated stops. I have tried several ceramic compounds and nothing has compared to a decent semi metallic. Dust isn't even that bad on a mild semi metallic.

My top two recommendations for pads are the aforementioned Hawk HPS. GREAT PAD. Very reasonably priced also. Second recommendation is the Porterfield R4S. These are a bit on the pricy side though.

Also, not to start an argument, but I would stay away from the drilled and slotted rotors as well. Stick with a good quality solid rotor (I like Brembo's OEM replacement rotors). The benefits of slotting and cross drilling are neglible and 9 times out of 10 they will cause you more trouble than they are worth.

[1FstChevy]

I could go into detail but HAWK HPS is by far the best for the dollar, high fricton, low wear on rotors, no excessive brake dust, official pad of SCCA.

Pickup a set of the shims and rubber boots you need from your local NAPA, approx $20.00 they usually don't stock them but can have them in a day or two.

Stay away from Ceramic pads as they don't have the "bite" that your traditional pads do, and to answer your other question, YES the HAWK HPS pads are more than worth the money, especially if you've bothered to buy spindles and new calipers don't cheap out and go for AC Delco pads.

Look up Rolling Start Auto Parts on eBay or the internet, his prices are the best around especially when you throw in free shipping and can be bought cheaper on their website since they don't have to cover the eBay fees. They allow for best offers and if you email him he'll let you know the best deal he can do, I and all my buddies now buy our HPS pads from him.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HAWK-HPS-BRAKE-PADS-FRONT-97-05-CHEVY-CORVETTE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33567QQihZ011Q QitemZ320198265769QQtcZphoto

[Apogee]

...Also, not to start an argument, but I would stay away from the drilled and slotted rotors as well.

Disagree all you want, you're welcome to your opinion. If you read the original post in this thread, he already has drilled and slotted rotors, hence my recommendation for a slightly lower coefficient of friction pad like a ceramic. Lower friction coefficient means less heat will be put into the rotors and they're more likely to last past bedding them in. Will they have less initial bite? Absolutely. Will some of that be offset by the fact that drilled & slotted rotors exhibit slightly higher initial bite characteristics versus a plain rotor? Yes.

It's pretty tough to go wrong with a reputable pad company on a street driven car IMHO. Also keep in mind that "Ceramic" means very little from one manufacturer to another since there are no industry standards as to friction material composition and associated characteristics. The part that matters most is the material science, the rest is just marketing.

[dipren443]

Double post, sorry...

[dipren443]

Disagree all you want, you're welcome to your opinion. If you read the original post in this thread, he already has drilled and slotted rotors, hence my recommendation for a slightly lower coefficient of friction pad like a ceramic. Lower friction coefficient means less heat will be put into the rotors and they're more likely to last past bedding them in. Will they have less initial bite? Absolutely. Will some of that be offset by the fact that drilled & slotted rotors exhibit slightly higher initial bite characteristics versus a plain rotor? Yes.

It's pretty tough to go wrong with a reputable pad company on a street driven car IMHO. Also keep in mind that "Ceramic" means very little from one manufacturer to another since there are no industry standards as to friction material composition and associated characteristics. The part that matters most is the material science, the rest is just marketing.
The material science behind it is critical as you say. And of course the same reason why one semi-metallic differs from the next. I missed the part in his post about the drilled and slotted rotors. I apologize. I have tried the AC Delco/Akebono pads and have also run EBC Green Stuff pads. No cheap stuff here. The bottom line is every car I have driven with Ceramics has had a pedal that tends toward the softer side. As far as straying from the slotted/drilled rotors, like I said, I apologize, that was my mistake.

I wouldn't be too concerned with running the Hawk HPS pads with the AC Delco drilled/slotted rotors, especially if the car will not see a ton of miles. The problem with the rotors as mentioned above is that they will prematurely tear up your pads. :cool: I honestly don't know how the AC Delco rotors are manufactured, but I would imagine the rotor material is not an issue. Is the cross drilling cast in? Are the holes chamfered to remove the stress riser at the discs surface? Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that the added outgassing benefits of the drilled/slotted rotor are neglible on a street/strip car. But I think you are already know this. I will work on my reading skills in the future as well. :bananna2:

[jdpolzin]

Ok guys! Thanks for the input for sure! I talked to the company that has the rotors on order and told them to wait. Should I not run drilled and slotted rotors? Just go with the plain jane solid ones and a set of Howk HPS pads? Do you guys have a picture of the shims and rubber boots? Thanks for the help! ------Jeremy


PS. What about a good quality rotor like Bear replacements??

[jdpolzin]

Do any of you have the part number for the HAWK HPS pads?? I keep coming up with their ceramic pad number. Thanks!

[dipren443]

Do any of you have the part number for the HAWK HPS pads?? I keep coming up with their ceramic pad number. Thanks!

HB247F.575

http://catalog.hawkperformance.com/h_productdisplay.php?sku=1003105&hdwt=31101&loc=101&dealer=no&company_id=10028147

[dipren443]

Ok guys! Thanks for the input for sure! I talked to the company that has the rotors on order and told them to wait. Should I not run drilled and slotted rotors? Just go with the plain jane solid ones and a set of Howk HPS pads? Do you guys have a picture of the shims and rubber boots? Thanks for the help! ------Jeremy


PS. What about a good quality rotor like Bear replacements??

There is nothing wrong with running the plain rotors on the street. If you were cycling the brakes alot, i.e. open track days, autocross, etc., then the additional cooling and outgassing capabilities of the slotted/drilled MAY help. In all honesty though, a high quality plain rotor will do you just fine. I almost forgot, I have a set of plain rotors that were dealer take offs. I am not using them. Are you interested?

[jdpolzin]

Man today is just not my lucky day! I would love to have your rotors but I just had Oreilly's order a set of Wagner's today! Kind of wierd, I just bought a 70mmBB turbo today as well. Needless to say, 2 hours later, my buddy calls me and leaves a messege saying he can get me one for $1300. I paid $1890!:hand: All in all, today hit the pocket book hard! I bought, rotors, cam, cam kit, aluminum heads, intake, roller rockers, timing chain, front oil cover, turbo, and oil pump for a total of $5935. What would you be asking for yours? Maybe I can cancel!

Oh yeah, ad another $83 for these Hawk pads!

[dipren443]

Man today is just not my lucky day! I would love to have your rotors but I just had Oreilly's order a set of Wagner's today! Kind of wierd, I just bought a 70mmBB turbo today as well. Needless to say, 2 hours later, my buddy calls me and leaves a messege saying he can get me one for $1300. I paid $1890!:hand: All in all, today hit the pocket book hard! I bought, rotors, cam, cam kit, aluminum heads, intake, roller rockers, timing chain, front oil cover, turbo, and oil pump for a total of $5935. What would you be asking for yours? Maybe I can cancel!

Oh yeah, ad another $83 for these Hawk pads!

I paid $50 plus shipping for the pair. I can go snap some photos. I was going to do C5 brakes on mine, but have decided to get a little more in depth and build my own brackets to mount Brembos. I already sold my calipers and carriers, but forgot I still had these in the garage. They are OEM and measure at 1.25 inches, so they essentially have no wear. Let me know. I would just like to break even on them.

Nick

[jdpolzin]

Hey Nick, Thank you very much for the offer and I would have definately purchased yours from you but I am just going to go through with my other Wagners. The guy at Oreilly's has helped me out a lot with parts so I dont want to ditch out on him!

[dipren443]

Hey Nick, Thank you very much for the offer and I would have definately purchased yours from you but I am just going to go through with my other Wagners. The guy at Oreilly's has helped me out a lot with parts so I dont want to ditch out on him!

No problem. Now that I remember I have them, I am going to throw them up in the classifieds. I will be doing custom two piece rotors for my brake setup as I will need a custom offset.