Hawk HPS HB453F.585 high-performance front brake pad set

FITS: 2014 Corvette, 2015 Corvette, 2016 Corvette, 2017 Corvette, 2018 Corvette, 2019 Corvette; ONLY Stingray C7 models with base JL9 (non-Z51) brakes

Calling the Stingray's JL9 brake system 'base' doesn't feel quite accurate. These 2014-2019 Corvette C7 brakes will out-perform just about any car's high-performance brake option. But Chevrolet offered so many brake upgrade paths for the C7 Corvette, 'base' is what JL9 gets called. And, when it's time to replace your C7's front brake pads, you can improve upon stock Stingray pads without upgrading to an expensive big brake kit. You also don't have to put up with increased rotor wear, brake dust or brake noise. That's where Hawk HPS brake pads come in.

You've probably heard of Hawk brake pads from friends who race or autocross their Corvettes. And it's true -- Hawk makes some ultimate performance brake pads for extreme driving. But since they realize not every Corvette owner plans frequent track days, they also offer their HPS line of brake pads. HPS stands for High Performance Street, and that’s what these Hawk disc brake pads deliver for the C7 Corvette owner: You'll see improved stopping power over factory brakes without the characteristics that make aggressive brake pad compounds more suitable for the track: Mainly increased dust, noise (especially when the pads are cold) and increased brake rotor wear. And if you're mostly driving your 2014-2019 Corvette on the street, heavier duty pads are overkill anyway. Because racing brake pads need heat to operate their best, if you choose too aggressive a pad it may not even work as well in daily driving as a Hawk HPS brake pad.

Hawk HPS pads are a common upgrade request here at Vette Lab. The Street HPS braking compound does a great job of combining improved stopping performance with good street manners. The net result is between 20-40% more stopping power and higher resistance to brake fade than stock replacement pads. That last part is critical -- the fade reduction means you can still take these pads out for a high-performance driving event or a good canyon run and have plenty of pedal left when you're ready for a cool-down lap. According to Hawk, the key features on HPS Corvette brake pads include:

• Smooth braking feel
• Excellent for spirited driving
• Gentle on rotors and extended pad life
• Consistent brake release characteristics
• Increased stopping power
• For use with iron/steel rotors only

Finally, if you're in the Metro Detroit area and you need a set of Hawk HPS disc brake pads installed, Vette Lab can help. We maintain a full installation and engineering facility in Clawson, Michigan, and we'd be happy to help you get your Corvette, whether C5, C6 or C7, performing the way you want it to. Just drop us a line and tell us what you want to do!