2015 SS 1LE Track Prep - Brakes

[THE_1LE]

Getting my car ready for my first track day and brakes are my key focus going into it.

I thought I had a great setup until the rear DBA rotors went out of stock...

I am upgrading my fluid to a racing brake fluid.
Upgrading my lines to stainless steel line.
EBC Yellow stuff pads front and rear.

I need recommendations on a good rotor for the front and rear. I do more street driving but looking to increase my track days and even some auto crossing and test and tune days on the drag strip. With that being said, I want something that can handle more pressure than the street and I am seeing TONS of options with mixed reviews.

Any help appreciated.

Ive looked at KVR, StopTech, EBC, Powerslot, etc..

[CamaroDreams76]

Theres tons of options. Stock brakes work extremely well but will boil the OE brake fluid so SRF or Motul is a must. A step above that is adding something along the lines of quantum cooling ducts. As far as rotors go, stock rotors are ample.

Above that would be upgrading to the ZL1/CTS-V 6 pot front brakes with the ZL1 rotors.

Above that would be the C6 Z06 or C7 Z06 (non carbon ceramic) due to the vented pistons, again ZL1 rotors.

I think the next option is the AP racing brakes. That's basically the end all. That replaces both caliper and rotor.

[Tomsusername]

If you look into the press launch for the 5th gen 1LE, I think GM had 6 of these lined up at the Milfor Proving Grounds. Journalists hammered on them for about 5 hours straight. Apparently, all GM did was bleed the cars with better brake fluid, and the 6 of them ran like tops.

CamaroDreams76 outlined it very well!

If you've never been on a track before, the stock brakes are plenty stoute. Good fluid is the only "necessary" upgrade. The stock Brembo pads and rotors hold up very well to double duty on the street and the track. I still use them, and haven't had any issues.

If you need to change your rotors, the stock ones are a higher benchmark than most would think. But if you want to go aftermarket, I'd study what race cars and track rats run.

If I had to upgrade, I'd be looking at DBA, too. As far as other brands go, Stoptech makes excellent stuff, and I've heard good things about RB Performance Brakes and Frozen Rotors. Though personally, I can't vouch for if the cryo rotor thing makes any difference.

[wakespeak]

The 6-piston CTS-V/Z06 front calipers and rotors were noticeably better for me, but only on the track. It also depends on the track, ie how long the straights are. At COTA, there are 2 long straights into hairpins. Most mid-adv group cars get the brakes hot enough for the rotors to glow. I use the stock Ferodo "high performance" pads.

[Jayjellyfish212]

Go with Morris light weight rotors on the front. They are true 2 piece front racing rotors and the rings can be replaced. They make these rotors specific for the 1LE and the SS with Brembo’s. I bought the light weight ones designed the lightest of the 2 they offer as they are great for street and drag racing. 8 lbs lighter weight each rotor than stock sheading a total 16lbs off of rotation mass. If you plan to road course then you’ll want their thicker rotors designed specially for that but they are 3 lbs each lighter than stock each.

[Jayjellyfish212]

Morris Engineering



Stock front and Morris light weight rotors side by side view.

Stock is 25 lbs
Morris street and drag version are 17.2 lbs

[Jayjellyfish212]

[Jayjellyfish212]

[Jayjellyfish212]

[vladtheimpala]

Aftermarket brake rotors and pads are a waste of money, if you're doing a track day here and there. Our cars' stock brakes are good. Just replace the fluid with Willwood EXP 600 plus, make sure pads and rotors are not worn out, and go for it. At the track- take care of them. No riding the brakes, cool-down lap with no brake use is a must (I also do a few slow laps through the paddock), no handbrake when parked. When you get 2/3rds of the way through the straightaway- tap brakes to make sure they're there.

[bruceffect]

I just did my first track day with my 15 1LE that I bought a few weeks ago. I flushed the brake fluid with RS683 fluid, and that's it. Car was amazing. No brake fade at all, and the pedal stayed firm through 20 minute sessions. I'll go to a more aggressive pad on my next trip, but I figured I would give the stock pads a go. They were fine. Since I don't have ducts yet, I made sure to do a good cool down lap at the end of each session (3rd gear cruise, don't touch the brake pedal).

My oil temp hit 266, so I've got a cooler ordered.

[olblue75]

I did 30 minutes sessions at NCM with Z06 calipers with OEM pads, and Caddy rotors and didn't have a issue all day long.
I don't agree better brakes are a waste just not the highest priority list maybe middle of the list.

[Pete G]

Are the OEM Pads Brembo?
I got drilled / slotted rotors so is there any reason I would not want to go back to OEM pads? I currently have Hawk HPS 5.0 pads and just found out I need to change now and not a little later so I am a bit rushed right now. The car did not stop nearly as well as stock at very high speed and just finally got my ABS bled since full fluid flush and was hoping to give the Hawks a chance after this bleeding and hate to make two changes ( ABS and pads) at once but don't have a choice.
As far as aftermarket goes, I appreciate suggestions on a good streetable road course pad. Thanks guys

[bruceffect]

I've been running Pagid Yellow RS29 on my street/track cars for a while. They're an endurance racing pad which means they last a really long time, and they're made to operate at different temp ranges. They're pricy, but they perform really well on the track, and they're also just fine at lower temps on the street, which is not the case for a lot of track pads. I like them because I'm not constantly swapping pads back and forth. For a dedicated, trailered race car where I was chasing time, I might run something different, but I'm out of that game for now.

I just got a set for my 15 1LE. Hope to get to the track this Friday for a test, but my previous experience tells me that they'll be awesome. I think grassroots motorsport put these exact pads on their camaro build if memory serves.

You can get them here: https://www.northstarmotorsports.com/