Hawk Performance Brakes for the Buick Regal: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

For the 2012-2013 Buick Regal, the Hawk Performance part we carry is the Hawk Talon HTC4415 drilled and slotted front rotor set, and it fits only cars with the Brembo four-piston front calipers and the 355mm (13.9 inch) front rotors, which is the GS setup. If your Regal has the standard single-piston front calipers, this rotor will not fit, and you should shop by your exact rotor size instead.

This guide explains how to tell which front brake your Regal has, what the Talon rotor actually is, how it compares with an OE-style replacement kit, and what to do at the same time as the rotor swap.

Which 2012-2013 Regal Has the Brembo Brakes

GM launched the 2012 Regal GS as the performance version of the car. Its launch announcement lists a 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, HiPerStrut front suspension, and a four-wheel disc brake system with big four-piston Brembo front calipers, plus a standard four-channel anti-lock brake system and StabiliTrak stability control. The GS rolled on 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels optional, and those large wheels are what make room for the bigger front brake.

Hawk's own catalog lists HTC4415 for the 2012-2013 Buick Regal with the 2.0L four-cylinder, specifically the version with 355mm (13.9 inch) front rotors. That qualifier matters, because a 2.0L turbo Regal is not automatically a GS. Use these checks before you order:

• Look through the front wheel. The Brembo caliper is a large fixed caliper with pistons on both sides of the rotor and Brembo lettering on it. A standard Regal caliper is a smaller sliding caliper with the piston on the inboard side only.
• Check the badging and trim. GS badges point to the Brembo package, but confirm with the caliper, not the badge, if the car has been modified.
• Measure the rotor. A front rotor that measures about 13.9 inches across is the Brembo-caliper size that HTC4415 is built for.

If you are still unsure, a VIN lookup at a GM dealer will confirm the brake option the car was built with.

What the Hawk Talon HTC4415 Is

Talon is Hawk Performance's rotor line. Hawk's product page for HTC4415 describes it as a vented front rotor, 13.99 inches in diameter and 1.95 inches in height, in a cross-drilled and slotted design aimed at street use. It is sold as a front pair.

The same rotor number is shared across several GM performance cars that use a similar Brembo front brake. Hawk lists HTC4415 for the Chevrolet Camaro SS with the 6.2L V8, the Chevrolet SS, the 2009 Pontiac G8 with the 6.2L V8, and the 2012-2013 Buick Regal. That shared fitment is a good sign of a well-supported size, but always match the listing to your exact car.

According to Hawk, Talon rotors use:

• High carbon iron in G3000 metallurgy, a common automotive casting grade.
• Hawk's DTC curved slot design, precision milled to reduce harmonic resonance, keep the pad surface clean, and push debris out of the pad contact area.
• Cross-drilling on the HTC version for heat dissipation. Hawk also sells a slotted-only Talon version for harder use.
• Magni coating for corrosion resistance and an easier bed-in. Hawk states the rotors are salt-spray tested per ISO-9227, exceeding a 240-hour requirement.
• OE-matched construction, built to OE specifications and weights, so no modification is needed to fit.

Hawk Talon vs an OE-Style Brembo Kit

We also carry the Brembo OE front disc brake kit for the 2012-2013 Buick Regal, which pairs coated rotors with ceramic pads. The right choice depends on how you drive the car.

For a daily-driven GS that sees mostly highway commuting, the OE-style kit is the simpler answer. For an owner who drives the car hard on back roads or wants the look of a drilled and slotted rotor behind the wheels, the Talon set makes sense. Both install on the factory Brembo calipers, so no caliper change is needed either way. You can compare more options in our brake rotors collection.

Symptoms That Mean the Front Rotors Are Due

The Regal GS is a heavy, powerful front-drive sedan, and the front brakes do most of the work. Look for these signs:

• Steering wheel shake or pedal pulsation when braking from highway speed, which usually points to uneven rotor thickness or uneven pad material deposits.
• A lip on the rotor's outer edge you can feel with a fingertip, which shows real wear.
• Deep grooves or a blue tint on the rotor face from heat or worn-through pads.
• Grinding, which means the pad backing plate may be touching the rotor. Stop driving and inspect right away.
• Rotor thickness at or below the minimum stamped on the rotor. Measure with a micrometer, and never machine a rotor below that mark.

What to Replace at the Same Time

New rotors should always get new pads. Old pads are worn to the shape of the old rotors and will not seat properly on a fresh surface. If you buy the Talon rotors, choose front pads made for the Brembo four-piston caliper on this car; browse our brake pads or ceramic brake pads and confirm the pad shape against your caliper.

• Pad hardware and anti-rattle clips if the old ones are corroded or bent. See our brake hardware kits.
• Brake fluid if it is dark or has not been changed in years. Use the fluid type printed on the master cylinder cap and in the owner's manual.
• Rear pads and rotors if they are also worn. The Regal uses disc brakes at all four corners, so check the rears while the car is up.

How Hard Is the Job

A front rotor swap on a Brembo-equipped Regal is a moderate DIY job for someone with basic hand tools, a torque wrench, and jack stands. Because the Brembo caliper is a fixed caliper, the pads usually come out without removing the whole caliper, but the caliper must come off its mounting bolts to remove the rotor. Support the caliper with a hook or wire, never by the brake hose. Torque the caliper bolts and wheel lug nuts to the values in the factory service manual.

When reusing rotors that do not need resurfacing, Hawk recommends sanding the rotor face with 130-grit sandpaper and cleaning it with soap and water so no old pad material, oil or brake fluid remains. New Talon rotors only need a clean, oil-free surface. Then bed the pads in. Hawk's street bed-in procedure is 6 to 10 stops from about 30 to 35 mph with moderate pressure, then 2 to 3 harder stops from about 40 to 45 mph, without dragging the brakes, followed by 15 minutes of cool-down. This lays down an even layer of pad material on the rotor, which is what prevents the vibration many owners blame on warped rotors.

Done right, this brake is strong: MotorWeek's road test of the 2012 Regal GS recorded a 110-foot stop and called the pedal firm and sporty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Hawk Talon HTC4415 fit a non-GS Buick Regal?

Only if the car has the Brembo four-piston front calipers and 355mm (13.9 inch) front rotors. Standard Regals with the smaller single-piston front brake need a different rotor.

Does HTC4415 come with brake pads?

No. It is a front rotor pair only. Buy front pads made for the Brembo caliper on your Regal, or choose the Brembo OE kit, which includes ceramic pads.

Are drilled and slotted rotors good for a daily driver?

Yes, for street use. Hawk designs the cross-drilled and slotted Talon for street driving and offers a slotted-only version for harder use. Expect slightly more pad noise than with a plain rotor, depending on the pad you pair it with.

Is the Regal GS Brembo rotor the same as the Camaro SS rotor?

Hawk lists the same HTC4415 part for the 2012-2013 Regal and for the Camaro SS, Chevrolet SS, and 2009 Pontiac G8 front brakes, so the rotor matches in Hawk's catalog. Confirm your exact car before ordering.

Do I need to bed in new Hawk rotors?

Yes. Follow Hawk's bed-in procedure: several moderate stops from about 30 to 35 mph, a few firmer stops from about 40 to 45 mph, no dragging, then let the brakes cool for 15 minutes.

Sources

1. Hawk Performance - HTC4415 product page - rotor diameter, height, drilled and slotted design, and fitment including the 2012-2013 Regal with 355mm rotors
2. Hawk Performance - Talon rotors - G3000 high carbon iron, DTC slot design, Magni coating, ISO-9227 salt-spray testing
3. Hawk Performance - How To - rotor prep and street pad bed-in procedure
4. Buick Regal GS launch release via PR Newswire - engine output, four-piston Brembo front calipers, four-wheel discs, ABS, HiPerStrut, 19 and 20 inch wheels
5. MotorWeek - 2012 Buick Regal GS road test - 110-foot stopping distance and pedal feel