CT5-V CCBs soon to be available for 5BW! Yes, carbon ceramic rotors for iron-disc cars.

[thefleshrocket]

A while back, I reached out to RacingBrake.com asking about carbon ceramic rotors for iron-disc 5BWs. Their rep responded and confirmed it was something RB could do. We traded a few emails, then last night, I received an email stating that the CCB conversion kit is up for presale. RB-CCB Rotor Kit (400/370) for Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Iron to CCB Conversion Upgrade Fits OE Calipers/Spindles (P/N 2R69 & 2R70) These are rotors that are the same size as the iron discs, and all you should need is a set of CCB-compatible pads. The price is a little steeper than having specced the CCBs from the factory, but definitely better than no option at all. I plan to order a set.

(No I am not affiliated with RB, I'm just a guy who is sad that he didn't buy the dust-free option with his 5BW.)

 

[1Evil55]

Holy crap. Might as well just buy oem parts and keep a factory appearance. I wasn’t expecting that much although I rarely shop them.

 

[MatthewAMEL]

$14k for the kit (with pads) and you still don't get the MRC calibration for the CCB's. Yikes.

 

[thefleshrocket]

$14k for the kit (with pads) and you still don't get the MRC calibration for the CCB's. Yikes.

Do you think that's actually necessary or even beneficial? Guys swap CCBs for iron discs on the C7 Z06 and I don't think I've ever seen anybody say anything about having the MRC updated.

 

[DustinEarnhardt]

Do you think that's actually necessary or even beneficial? Guys swap CCBs for iron discs on the C7 Z06 and I don't think I've ever seen anybody say anything about having the MRC updated.

Admittedly I'm not a Corvette guy, but isn't that a several year/generation older version of MRC?

I think the bigger leap would be assuming that a C7 Z06 (different year, model of car, suspension revision, etc...) would react similarly to a BW, more so than @MatthewAMEL 's suggestion that one *would* need an MRC recalibration.

 

[MatthewAMEL]

Do you think that's actually necessary or even beneficial? Guys swap CCBs for iron discs on the C7 Z06 and I don't think I've ever seen anybody say anything about having the MRC updated.

Gen3 vs Gen4 Magride. Gen4 is an order of magnitude better than the C7/6th Gen MRC.

So much of this car is dependent on the computers. Brake-by-wire, the MRC, the eDiff, etc. Making such a substantial change to one of the key aspects and not telling the computer what's up seems...bad. Especially if you are spending that kind of money just to swap to CCBs.

 

[hawk02]

The C7 Corvettes do not have eBoost brakes or "brake by wire". Brake by Wire is part of the Global B platform (C8 Corvettes and Blackwings). It makes sense that changes in software tuning need to occur if switching from iron rotors and pads to CCBs. There has to be an adjustment of pedal feel and pressure between the two braking systems.

 

[Champale]

I have exactly zero interest in this upgrade. However, to play Devil's Advocate, using the logic of "these cars are so complicated that swapping out any component will cause problems", shouldn't upgrading OE rotors to Girodiscs etc and swapping out pads for G Locs and such cause the ECUs to freak out and spin cars off tracks all over the place? And yet that doesn't seem to be happening. I have a feeling there is a lot of adaptability built into the BW computers but I would enjoy hearing from someone who knows the actual engineering.

 

[MatthewAMEL]

I have exactly zero interest in this upgrade. However, to play Devil's Advocate, using the logic of "these cars are so complicated that swapping out any component will cause problems", shouldn't upgrading OE rotors to Girodiscs etc and swapping out pads for G Locs and such cause the ECUs to freak out and spin cars off tracks all over the place? And yet that doesn't seem to be happening. I have a feeling there is a lot of adaptability built into the BW computers but I would enjoy hearing from someone who knows the actual engineering.

Swapping iron for iron isn’t nearly as dramatic as iron for carbon.

Can’t speak for the BW, but it has been a problem for YEARS on the 6th Gen and C7 where swapping parts/tires leads to the dreaded ‘ice mode’. You push the brake pedal to the floor as hard as you can and nothing happens.

Been sporadic reports of it happening to AutoX guys in the C8. I think we will start to hear more about it as more C8s enter competition.

 

[Champale]

Swapping iron for iron isn’t nearly as dramatic as iron for carbon.

Can’t speak for the BW, but it has been a problem for YEARS on the 6th Gen and C7 where swapping parts/tires leads to the dreaded ‘ice mode’. You push the brake pedal to the floor as hard as you can and nothing happens.

Been sporadic reports of it happening to AutoX guys in the C8. I think we will start to hear more about it as more C8s enter competition.

Interesting about the other GM cars having these issues.

My 5BW has the standard iron rotors with Ferodo 2500 pads up front but I did Spring Mountain in a car with the carbon rotors. I was fastest in my class and would be hard pressed to say the carbons were much better in terms of ultimate stopping distances. I am sure the carbons can take a lot more abuse lap after lap but in terms of actual stopping distances, I would be curious to know if there is much difference. The pedal felt a little firmer than mine but the braking power wasn't miles different.

I am sure there are differences in tuning the computers for the 2 types of rotors but I just wonder if the computers don't figure it out and make everything work on the BWs. Oh well, sorry for the tangent - carry on!