General CTS Vsport Thread

[Bob]

I assume yes, because the pressure disparity existed from the time I picked the car up.

[Bob]

I am shopping for rotors and pads now. I can't take the pulsation from the brakes any longer. What's the best place to get GM OEM parts at a discount? Is it still GMPartsDirect? Should I consider non-OEM pads? I have two options from GM: regular and performance lining. Both are around $150 for the front set.

[kevm14]

I would give the GM "performance" pads a shot. I assume they are Brembo?

Barring that, I would not have an issue recommending the Hawk HPS.

I think these are the fronts: http://www.hawkperformance.com/performa ... /hb726f582
I think these are the rears: http://www.hawkperformance.com/performa ... /hb746f645

Would want to do more research before ordering...

There is also a newer HPS 5.0. I don't know what this is but it sounds good, as well.

What is the difference between the GM pad offerings? My guess is performance is basically the Brembo compound delivering the performance the car was designed for. "Regular" is probably the compound they have for the idiots that buy a high performance car and then complain about occasional squeal or brake dust.

[kevm14]

What is the difference between the GM pad offerings? My guess is performance is basically the Brembo compound delivering the performance the car was designed for. "Regular" is probably the compound they have for the idiots that buy a high performance car and then complain about occasional squeal or brake dust.

Look! I know things.

The High Performance pads are a $100 option, available only on the V Sport. It is a true track-ready pad, euphemistically described in a footnote on the options list as follows:

"Vehicles equipped with these linings will experience faster accumulation of brake dust on wheel surfaces and may produce more noise than with standard linings."

These brake linings provide:
Increased performance and fade resistance under extreme driving conditions (non-public roads, race conditions).

That said, maybe you don't need the high performance ones. This is GM, not Nissan or Audi or Subaru anyone else that ships with garbage pads. In GM land, the regular ones are probably pretty good. In Hawk-terms, the regular may be like an HPS and the "track-ready" may be more like an HP+ or even more aggressive. In those terms, the HPS would be fine. Needs more research. Did you car come with this option? Not sure what the RPO is but I'm sure it would use the term "brake linings" or something like that.

[kevm14]

I don't know if I got "lucky" or not, but mine came with the high performance pads. It definitely stops quick, and there is no joking about the accumulation of brake dust. I can wash the wheels on a Monday and they look like PVD carbon painted rims by Friday, and that's with typical commute use.

So yeah it's looking like regular is the one you want. I had to recalibrate myself.

[kevm14]

For rotors, I don't really have a good source for GM. Shop around the various online GM parts houses I guess.

our cars come with rotors that go through a oven hardening process in nitrogen that creates a layer on them that greatly improves brake life . Re-surfacing these rotors scrape off this layer and you are left with conventional rotors......

Reason number 87 why resurfacing brake rotors is the biggest waste of time and money ever. Maybe it worked well back in the day. Today, absolutely not.

I am looking up Rockauto options for comparison.

[kevm14]

Did you car come with this option? Not sure what the RPO is but I'm sure it would use the term "brake linings" or something like that.

Rockauto says:

PERFORMANCE BRAKE LINING(JE2)

[Bob]

The front Hawk pads are the same part number as the 2010 - 2015 Camaro SS. Interesting. It looks like they are also in the same price range as the GM OEM pads on some discount website (~$150 for the fronts).

[Bob]

I'm almost certain my car came with the regular pads, or at least has them now. For the type of driving I do, they're probably fine. I don't intend to do any track days or crazy mountain runs with the car.

[kevm14]

I wonder if the rotors are directionally vented.

ACDELCO 1771170 GM Original Equipment Info
Front; Vsport Premium; Heavy Duty Antilock Brakes (J56); Except Performance Brake Lining (JE2)
$65.79

ACDELCO 1771159 {#13578082} GM Original Equipment Info One of our most popular parts
Front; PERFORMANCE BRAKE LINING(JE2), Heavy Duty Antilock Brakes (J56)
$66.79

ACDELCO 1771158 {#13578074} GM Original Equipment Info
FRONT RIGHT; Heavy Duty Brakes
$74.89

ACDELCO 1771151 {#13578196} GM Original Equipment Info
FitsRear Left; ELEC POSITRACTION LIMITED SLIP AXLE(G96), PERFORMANCE BRAKE LINING(JE2), Heavy Duty Antilock Brakes (J56)
OrRear Left; Heavy Duty Brakes, Heavy Duty Antilock Brakes (J56); EXCEPT ELEC POSITRACTION LIMITED SLIP AXLE(G96)
OrRear Left; Vsport Premium; ELEC POSITRACTION LIMITED SLIP AXLE(G96), Heavy Duty Antilock Brakes (J56); Except Performance Brake Lining (JE2)
$76.79

It is very odd that they even list the JE2 with rotors. Why would it even matter? The last listing makes it seem like it doesn't and the third listing doesn't mention it at all. But the left/right description suggests directional venting. Anyway, this is confusing. GM may offer more than 1 rotor for the car so use care when browsing a GM parts place.