CT5-V Catalytic Converter and Brake work

[jrhammer]

CT5 BW 2023 Manual
The car is great. Wonderful to drive without drawing attention.

At about 20,000 miles, there are two problems:
I had three catalytic converters replaced
Brakes already worn thin — other than dealers, replacement brake pads are challenging

First catalytic converter replaced was defective.
Second and third were the result of the first replacement not being "broken in" correctly — which sounds fishy since a catalytic converter is a passive component.
It cost nothing as by law (according to the Internet), the dealer is responsible for all catalytic converters up to 8 years or 80,000 miles.

Has anyone else had catalytic converter problems?

Brake replacement seems a bit too soon. I have another heavy car, 2000 Jaguar S V8, that needed new brake pads at 74,000 miles. It was very challenging getting CT5 brake pads as it seems Brembo had some sort of development contract with GM that stipulated that only GM sold after market parts. So far, I found six caliper (if that is the right term) replacement at O'Reilly (house brand) for a reasonable price. However, only GM makes the wear sensors so that was pricey but there os only one for front and one fo rear.

The dealer wanted about $1,000 for parts front and rear claiming the original parts last longer than aftermarket. He shut up pretty fast when I told him the miliage. I do not brake hard and the car has never beepn on a track. I found the rear pads at a brake specialty site for less.

When have others replaced brake pads?

 

[sonny200]

Brakes: I had a bunch of track days on my 5BW & replaced the brake pads at 25k miles. KNS Brakes has many brake pad options for both front & rear. I recommend talking to them for your needs. (Disclaimer: I have no financial ties to KNS brakes other than giving them my $ for many brake parts over many, many years.)

 

[hawk02]

I just received front and back Carbotech 1521 low-dust brake pads. The pads come with the slot for the wear sensors. I have them going on June 4th. I'll let you know how that goes.

So far I've been very impressed with the company. I ordered the pads off the Carbotech website. Got a call from the company the next business day. Paid for the pads via credit card and had them in two days. Cost was $548 which included $20 for shipping.

 

[DCV]

I just received front and back Carbotech 1521 low-dust brake pads. The pads come with the slot for the wear sensors. I have them going on June 4th. I'll let you know how that goes.

So far I've been very impressed with the company. I ordered the pads off the Carbotech website. Got a call from the company the next business day. Paid for the pads via credit card and had them in two days. Cost was $548 which included $20 for shipping.

Carbotech pads are great. They make all kinds of variations too. I used them on an Alcon big brake kit that I put on a B6 S4 I had.

 

[nordique14]

I assume the options mentioned above are for the steel rotors. What are the options for CCB? I have not found any brake pads that are specific for the J57 (CCB) rotors other than the GM ones.

 

[hawk02]

Carbotech pads are great. They make all kinds of variations too. I used them on an Alcon big brake kit that I put on a B6 S4 I had.

If they reduce the brake dust by 50%, it will be well worth the switch.

 

[DCV]

Their pad selections can very for producing dust and what temp they need to work. I think I had 1400s on my Alcon kit and when they were cold not much bite. Plus a bit of squeal when cold. So I had to warm them up some to get them up to temp.

 

[marcmac]

Brakes: I had a bunch of track days on my 5BW & replaced the brake pads at 25k miles. KNS Brakes has many brake pad options for both front & rear. I recommend talking to them for your needs. (Disclaimer: I have no financial ties to KNS brakes other than giving them my $ for many brake parts over many, many years.)

I agree with this post. Got low duat pads from kns, but there are many pads listed on kns that fit the bw for for anyone's needs.

 

[poor-sha]

I assume the options mentioned above are for the steel rotors. What are the options for CCB? I have not found any brake pads that are specific for the J57 (CCB) rotors other than the GM ones.

Stick with the stock pads. They work great for track and street. I wouldn’t want to risk a pad compound that accelerates wear on the very expensive CCB rotors.

 

[poor-sha]

CT5 BW 2023 Manual
The car is great. Wonderful to drive without drawing attention.

At about 20,000 miles, there are two problems:
I had three catalytic converters replaced
Brakes already worn thin — other than dealers, replacement brake pads are challenging

First catalytic converter replaced was defective.
Second and third were the result of the first replacement not being "broken in" correctly — which sounds fishy since a catalytic converter is a passive component.
It cost nothing as by law (according to the Internet), the dealer is responsible for all catalytic converters up to 8 years or 80,000 miles.

Has anyone else had catalytic converter problems?

Brake replacement seems a bit too soon. I have another heavy car, 2000 Jaguar S V8, that needed new brake pads at 74,000 miles. It was very challenging getting CT5 brake pads as it seems Brembo had some sort of development contract with GM that stipulated that only GM sold after market parts. So far, I found six caliper (if that is the right term) replacement at O'Reilly (house brand) for a reasonable price. However, only GM makes the wear sensors so that was pricey but there os only one for front and one fo rear.

The dealer wanted about $1,000 for parts front and rear claiming the original parts last longer than aftermarket. He shut up pretty fast when I told him the miliage. I do not brake hard and the car has never beepn on a track. I found the rear pads at a brake specialty site for less.

When have others replaced brake pads?

Do you track the car? Is it the same side cat that is failing? How is it failing (internals breaking apart, clogged, cracked)?

I went through multiple cats on my C7 Z06 and C7 ZR1 with track use. They would crack at the welded seam. I wonder if you have some engine issue causing one bank to run hot or rich?

 

[nordique14]

Stick with the stock pads. They work great for track and street. I wouldn’t want to risk a pad compound that accelerates wear on the very expensive CCB rotors.

Thank you. I searched for options and could not find any. So good to know the stock pads are up to track day abuse. I just bought a set of fronts as a spare. I assume the front pads will wear out before the rears.

 

[Smoke]

I haven't really posted but been looking for posts on 5BW CCB posts and replacement pads for track. Long story short my issues are:

• 4600 Miles
• Factory ceramic pads – not yet replaced
• Pads have about ¼ of life left
• Tracked twice at CoTA – about 200 miles
• Second tracking event put Cup2’s so got better handling and speed
• Brake temps reached 450 degrees
• Flushed brake fluid twice with the second round of Motul 660 before 2nd tracking event
• The brake is soft compared to how the car was before I tracked it

After both rounds, the rotors have a glaze on the outer sides of both fronts, but it wears off with normal street wear. The pads are stressed, with a ½ of the pad glazed and cracked. The rears are normal. I have uploaded photos for review and comment. I called Brembo USA and they were not much help, but to say the factory pads are for low dust and street, not track. They stated that track use is not what they were designed for, but they do not have any replacement pads. Further, I cannot find anyone who sells replacement pads for CCB.

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? I also thought about going to steels but struggling to get a complete purchase list, and if there are any codes that will need to be reset. Any help is appreciated, as I plan to track again-the car is so fun on the track.

 

[vagabond]

Several track days on my car. It eventually had misfire and cat codes. First, the bank 1 catalytic converter was replaced. Then, soon after, the same misfire and cat codes came back. This time it was troubleshot to to a bad spark plug on bank 1. All bank 1 spark plugs were replaced. 5k+ miles later and it runs like a raped ape (knock on wood).

I have CCBs and 21k miles. I have ~1/4 pads left. Cadillac engineers and Brembo reps recommended pad replacement once the wear indicator comes on. The risk there is it may trigger after the first lap of a track day which is not ideal.. I also don't want to risk scoring the carbon rotor so will probably change them out before my next track day. I'm bracing myself for CCB rotor replacement ~40-50k miles. My CCB pads are wearing evenly. Others have reported their rear pads go first due to traction control kicking in and out. I experience ignition cutout more often than TCS.

I agree with @poor-sha use stock on brakes. We bought these cars for a reason - they perform incredibly well out of the box.