Carbon ceramic brakes are a $9,000 option on the 2026 Corvette Z06. Yet Porsche still offers cast-iron discs even on its 911 GT3 RS.
The short answer
Carbon ceramic discs weigh about half as much as cast iron, resist fade better in steady high heat and can last a very long time on the road. They also cost a lot more, can be noisier and like some warmth to work their best. The upside shows most in long track sessions, though hard track use wears them too.
What are they made of?
Carbon fiber set in a matrix of silicon carbide and silicon, Brembo says. Porsche describes the recipe: the shaped carbon disc soaks up liquid silicon, then it is fired at 1,400 °C.
How much lighter are they?
About 50 % lighter, say Porsche, Brembo and SGL Carbon. The 911 GT3 shows it even with bigger discs:
| 911 GT3 discs | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Cast iron | 408 mm | 380 mm |
| Carbon ceramic (PCCB) | 410 mm | 390 mm |
Porsche says the PCCB discs weigh about half as much as comparable iron ones. For the previous M3 and M4, BMW quoted 30.6 lb for the standard front rotors and 17.1 lb for the carbon ceramics, Motor1 reports.
Why does brake weight matter?
Discs are unsprung, rotating mass, so they hit ride and handling harder than weight in the body. Porsche says the lower unsprung mass significantly improves the GT3's driving dynamics.
Do they fade less?
Yes. Brembo says its discs work flawlessly at 600 to 750 °C and take peaks near 1,000 °C. BMW says its discs are better in steady high heat, like a racetrack.
How long do they last?
On the road, a long time: Porsche has said up to 300,000 km. On track, Motor1 notes that heavy braking eventually burns out the carbon fibers.
What are the catches?
- Price: about $9,000 on the Corvette Z06 and the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.
- Noise: BMW warns of more noise, for example in the wet just before a stop.
- Cold: Jalopnik notes they take a bit longer to warm up in frigid weather.
- Club track days: Porsche Australia has said it would always recommend iron discs there.
On the street
Porsche's PSCB is the middle step: a cast-iron disc with a tungsten carbide surface. Porsche says it makes 90 % less dust than gray iron, lasts 30 % longer and costs a third as much as PCCB.
FAQ
When did carbon ceramic brakes reach road cars?
Porsche says the 2001 911 GT2 was the first car with PCCB. Brembo dates its own carbon ceramic discs to 2002, starting with the Ferrari Enzo.
Do carbon ceramic discs rust?
SGL Carbon lists corrosion resistance among the reasons they last so long.
What does Chevrolet call the option?
On the 2026 Corvette Z06 it is RPO code J57, GM Authority reports.
Sources
- Carbon ceramic disc (Brembo), read 2026-11-07
- Innovation: the carbon ceramic disc (Brembo), read 2026-11-07
- Brake technology (SGL Carbon), read 2026-11-07
- New lightness (Porsche Newsroom), read 2026-11-07
- 911 GT3: chassis and dynamics (Porsche Newsroom), read 2026-11-07
- 60 years of the 911: fifth generation (Porsche Newsroom), read 2026-11-07
- Hard like diamond (Porsche Christophorus), read 2026-11-07
- Original brakes (Porsche USA), read 2026-11-07
- BMW M3 and M4 brakes (BMW M), read 2026-11-07
- Carbon-ceramic brakes explained (Motor1), read 2026-11-07
- 2026 Corvette performance package price increases (GM Authority), read 2026-11-07
- Why carbon ceramic brakes perform worse in the cold (Jalopnik), read 2026-11-07
- Carbon ceramic brakes best for track use? Think again, says Porsche (Motor Authority), read 2026-11-07