Copper-Free ZLE
 

After searching through Camaro6 I just updated my ZLE order to include the BCD code “Copper-Free performance brake system ZL1”. Originally I thought it was just a revised pad compound but I understand it’s larger front rotors and calipers as well. (Blackwing bits possibly?). I’m still unsure if it’s a waste of $500 but there seems to be some future benefit.

I had read that all they changed was the pad material to adhere to California and Washington's laws. I cant imagine them redesigning the caliper and rotors to adhere to a material change.

It seems on the ZL1’s the rear setup is just a pad change but the front is a larger caliper and rotor from the Caddy parts bin to offset the lack of heat dissipation from the loss of copper. I still haven’t found any performance comparison between the stock setup and copper free. Bigger deal on the SS’s but not sure about the ZL1’s.

I'm pretty sure the ZL1 and 1LE package have the exact same brake system. Pads were just changed to non copper ones die to liberal California and Washington, as stated before.

The discs and calipers are indeed bigger in the front, when selecting the BCD option versus without, on any ZL1s (1LE or otherwise).

:happy0180:
Geoff

As long as you're not registering it in CA or WA, you don't need that "option."

That’s where it’s getting confusing. Some other threads seem to point to different GM part numbers for the front rotors and calipers on the copper free. On the zl1 it’s a 398mm rotor compared to a 390mm

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...php?p=11128284

Looks like it's the new non-CC option brakes developed for the CT5-V BW, both the non-CC and CC use copper free pads only on the CT5-V BW. Presumably for the entire country not just WA and CA, so they're reusing these brakes to keep SS and ZL1 legal in 50 states.

Oh crap, I had no idea. Must be that they wanted slightly larger rotors to get the same braking performance due to the less-grippy copper pads?

I'm betting that's exactly what happened. Needed bigger components to compensate for the lower copper-free brake output.

IMO, getting this package is 100% worth it. The pads for the 390mm setup will still fit on the fronts but leave a few mm of unused rotor surface on the ID, meaning there's lots of higher-output pads that can be bought off the shelf that fit as long as you don't go back to OE pad shape for the life of the rotor. Going forward, I'd wager aftermarket companies will pick them up and start offering higher output pads in the larger size, in which case you get even more brake capability than the 390 setup can get with aftermarket pads.

Here's the front OE ZL1 Ferodo HP1000 pad (171-1192/23399101)compared to the OE BCD Copper Free Brembo BRM0023 pad (85158659). The backing plates are similar but not the same. The material shape is quite different. But the BCD material shape transitions to a shape similar to the Ferodo shape when the pads are almost worn out. The Ferodo HP 1000 still fits in the new BCD caliper but there is a small area near the hat that will not be used compared to the BCD pad.

The friction code on the Ferodo HP 1000 is "FF" and the BCD Brembo is "GG".

On Rockauto, the copper free front pads ($281) are more expensive than the Ferodo HP1000 ($235).

Copper Free at bottom of both pictures

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Thanks for that side to side post and the clarification. The order is in and I feel better about it. Now, like everyone else, there is just the wait for the General to pick it up.

cdb95z28, thanks for posting that pic. Nice to see they increased the mu on the BCD pad.


Has anyone reached out to Hawk or Carbotech or any of the others to see if a pad is coming for that caliper? I would imagine it's gonna be a low-volume part since it's only on a few Camaros and all Blackwings.

Word is that the front pad shape is 8091 which is shared by many GM and other manufacturer CCM optioned cars. I have found some sites that offer a Pagid RSL1 in the 8091. Essex has a "non CCM" DS 1.11 replacement for the Gen5 Z/28 but the part # is the same as what is offered on the Gen6 ZL1/E. Using the HP1000 ZL1 pad shape results in a cold ring on the rotor vs the BCD pad. The pad shape differences between the BCD and the HP1000 ZL1 pad are subtle but that resulting cold ring may or may not be an issue. On the SS 1LE, the rears are essentially the ZL1 brakes, so that's an easy find.


https://www.paragon-products.com/Pag...91-p/u8091.htm

https://www.northstarmotorsports.com...productID/8219

https://www.pagidracing.com/en/produ...hape-8091.html


The BCD front pad (8091) has just a bit more radial depth. This equates to a difference of about 3.6mm at the rotor face (see attached pics). The orange reference is the BCD pad sweep edge and the green is the HP1000 sweep edge.


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