+1 to what was said earlier. The Ferodo Racing DS1.11 Brake Pads are honestly legendary for heavy cars, but if youre trying to save some cash, I highkey recommend checking out the G-LOC R12 Compound Brake Pads for the front and G-LOC R10 Compound Brake Pads for the rear.

In my experience, they're way more budget-friendly than Ferodo but still handle the heat perfectly. Just a quick tip: definitely swap your fluid to something like Castrol SRF React Racing Brake Fluid too. It costs more upfront but lasts way longer, so it's actually cheaper over the season cuz u wont be bleeding it every single weekend lol. gl out there!

Seconding the recommendation above regarding the fluid—that's basically step one. Ngl, I've spent years tracking heavy GM builds and while the Ferodos are solid, you should also look into Pagid RST 3 Brake Pads for the front. They're GREAT for market availability right now and offer way more bite than stock without being as harsh as some Hawk compounds. Honestly, they handle the heat soak from the 5-V's weight like a champ. Dust is gonna be brutal tho, so be ready to wash those wheels ASAP after the drive home!! 👍

yo, honestly i was in the same boat last month! i was sooo worried about the weight of my Blackwing destroying the stock pads. i switched to Ferodo for my first day and i was literally so satisfied with how they felt. no fading at all!! basically just go with Ferodo, you cant go wrong. the dust is kinda crazy tho lol, but it's worth the confidence. good luck!

Honestly, after tracking heavy GM platforms for years, I've learned that the Blackwing's weight is its biggest enemy on technical tracks. For your situation, I'd highkey recommend the Ferodo DS1.11 over the Hawk options. In my experience, the Ferodos offer a way more consistent pedal feel when things get hot, whereas some Hawk compounds can feel a bit 'wooden' once you're deep into a session.

Here is the technical reality you're looking at:
- Heat Management: The DS1.11 is a true endurance compound. It handles the 4,000lb+ mass of the CT5-V way better than the stock pads.
- Rotor Wear: They're actually surprisingly kind to iron rotors compared to aggressive race pads from other brands.
- Daily Use: Be prepared... they're gonna squeal like a school bus on the drive home and the dust is basically permanent if you don't wash it off fast lol.

But yeah, definitely swap your fluid to a high-temp racing brand too or the pads won't even matter when the pedal goes to the floor! gl out there!

> heavy this beast is and the speeds it can reach

Check out the Cadillac V-Series Academy guides. Warning: if you dont swap for high-temp fluid too, those pads wont matter cuz the pedal will go soft. Safety first, honestly.

Yo, jumping in here since I just finished a DIY swap in my garage earlier today! I am obsessed with the technical data on these heavy V-Series cars. While the guys mentioned some solid brands, an amazing experience with a slightly different combo came to mind. I love the sheer stopping power you get when you dial in the friction coefficient specifically for this car's mass. Logging a ton of data on my sessions led me to this setup:

• Carbotech XP12 Brake Pads for the front calipers
• Carbotech XP10 Brake Pads on the rear to keep the car balanced
• Motul RBF 660 Factory Line Brake Fluid as a high-temp alternative Doing the swap yourself is actually super satisfying on this platform. The XP12s have fantastic modulation which really helps when you're trying not to trigger the ABS constantly. Just keep in mind that the squeal is pretty intense during the drive home... it basically sounds like a city bus! Totally worth it for that rock-solid pedal feel tho.

Like someone mentioned, the weight of this car is no joke once you start pushing the limits! I remember my first real outing at the track where I thought I could get away with the factory pads for just one day. Big mistake. By the third session, I had so much brake smear and vibration that I had to pack it up early. It was super frustrating but a massive learning experience! Now I run a much more aggressive track-only setup that I swap in the night before. Here is what I have noticed over the years:

• The initial bite is way more intense, which is exactly what you need for those heavy braking zones.
• I can stay out for the full 20 minutes now without the pedal getting long or weird on me.
• The squealing on the street is pretty loud, but I actually love it because it reminds me of the performance. Basically, finding a pad that handles those extreme temps is the best thing I ever did for my lap times. It is just night and day compared to trying to make a street-friendly pad work for track duty. Just make sure you have a good cleaner for the wheels because the dust is absolutely insane!