Brake pads

[JohnCh]

What brake pads do folks like for street driving? I currently have Porterfield R4S pads and although they work okay, I’ve never been very happy with the soft initial bite and I rarely get them hot enough on the street to really grab. Of course I’d also prefer a replacement pad that’s quiet, dust free, makes my teeth whiter, my breath fresher, and makes me more attractive to women, but I’m willing to forgo some of those things if the pad’s cold feel and performance is strong enough. Recommendations?

 

Thanks,

John

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Give Porterfield a call. I'm guessing the R4-1 may be better for your application. It's supposed to be better for lower temps, I'm not sure about dust though.

 

There are also a few options here:

 

http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.asp

 

Bobcat 1521 or the 913 kelated metallic look like reasonable options.

[supersportsp]

I was looking at the Caterham site to see what they offer for uprated pads. Not totally clear, but it looks like they are Pagid RS-14s. However, after checking out the Pagid UK site, these looked interesting and fitting for what you are after.

 

http://www.pagid-brake-pads.co.uk/products/rs15-grey-ceramic-based.php

 

"RS15 also offers a very high level of cold bite, something that is uncommon with high friction level compounds."

[slomove]

I use Hawk HP+ for the last 2 years. Admittedly the only comparison is the ACB Greenstuff pads that I used for may years but which did not grip well when cold for road driving (and never wore out in 20k miles).

 

The Hawk bite pretty good but are somewhat noisy and dusty. I did not see any difference in my attractiveness to women, though

[JohnCh]

I was leaning towards Pagids, but I learned today they don't offer a fitment for my front calipers (Outlaw M16), so they're out.

 

I'll research the Hawk HP+. Any other contenders?

 

Thanks,

John

[HOTTTCAR]

 

Has any one tried any other series of these EBC pads beside the green stuff?

I tried the green stuff on a Stalker after removing stock pads and it was like adding power brakes to the car. So now i am wondering how yellow stuff will affect street braking.

 

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/selector.shtml

[supersportsp]

I just put the Hawk HPS pads on the Saabaru. Not totally enamored with them yet, but they are still kind of seasoning in. Initial bite seems to be good. I ran Greenstuff's on my old GTI and liked them.

 

I would wait for some experienced AutoX guys to chime in. Since they don't really get to warm up the brakes before a run, there is probably some good solutions they have come up with.

[scannon]

I have EBC Greenstuff pads on Wilwood four pot calipers on my Miata for street use. I tried them on the track and with the heavier Miata they were smoking in a lap or two and fading in less than five. Before I retired it from the track I found EBC Redstuff pads to work best for me.

 

My Caterham came with street pads on the smaller 2 pot brakes which did OK on the track. I talked to Ben at CatUSA about upgrades and he carries two levels of pads beyond the street pads. I opted for the intermediate pads and to be honest I cannot tell much difference between them. It still doesn't have the initial bite that I would like to have and like all disk brake systems that don't have a vacuum booster they take a lot of leg. I've never yet locked them up in spite of a number of panic stops. Never felt any fade either.

[bsimon]

Ferodo DS3000.

 

Pros: Excellent cold bite and very little change when hot. Low pedal effort, low pedal travel, yet still easy to modulate. Less disk wear than RS-14s. Cheaper than RS-14s as well.

 

Cons: Noisy as hell! Sounds like a sow caught in a fence after the third stop or so. Spectacular fireworks show after dark when the pads are hot.

 

If the rears are locking up, you can downgrade them to DS 2500 for better balance. DS2500s will need to be warmed up a bit though.

[pi7ot]

I also use Hawk HP Plus on the front. They are somewhat dusty, but I have 5 spoke TSWs.

I don't know what Birkin put on the back axle but they are due for replacement as soon as the engine is fettled and reinstalled.

I use the car on the road and track.

 

m

[erioshi]

...

 

There are also a few options here:

 

http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.asp

 

Bobcat 1521 or the 913 kelated metallic look like reasonable options.

I've been Carbotech brake addict for quite a while both on & off the track. I tend to prefer the XP-8 compound for both street & track use unless you find that a more aggressive pad is essential. I also wouldn't bother with anything below the XP-8 compound. I tried a set of bobcats once, but managed to fade them in my Evo. I've lost count of the number of sets of XP-8 pads we've put through about half a dozen different track cars.

 

The XP-8s will squeak a bit at stop lights (although enough brake anti-squeal compound will keep that to a minimum), and when used aggressively on the track, will cook all the afore mentioned anti-squeal off the pads. Plan on re-gooping after every track day.

 

That said, they are the easiest to modulate brake pad I've ever driven. Great initial bite (both cold & hot), fantastic resistance to fade (as long as you don't tend to drag them), and they still work well even when they are worn thin and smoking as you pull off the track .. I've run one set down to about 1/8" thick on the front of my Evo at a track day. And they last a long time for a track oriented pad. Downside is cost; they are definitely not the cheapest brake option.

Edited July 6, 2011 by erioshi

[shiva]

I second the Carbotech praises...

 

I've been running those since my miata days. Now I run a set of XP-8 on my Track seven. I normally do between 10-12 track day a year.

 

They bite great, don't squeal that much and are VERY rotor friendly. My last set laster 2 years and I worn them to less than 1/8 on the seven and were still "adequate".

 

My beast has over 300hp and the brakes are very in demand, never had any fade with them.

 

Carbotech will mold any brake for you if then don`t have it yet. Just send them a worn out set and they will made the mold.

[Klasik-69]

I run Carbotechs in my C6Z06 (XP12's & XP8's) while on the track in conjunction with DBA4000 rotors. They are absolutely fantastic in wear, brake modulation and consistent fade free performance lap after lap. At Daytona, coming off the straight and going into turn 1 of the infield course, we were hitting almost 175 mph and having to come down to 75 for the turn-in and never missed a controlled braking action.

 

I also run the Carbotechs in my Miata but that thing has so little power standard AutoZone pads would work as well. My Caterham is fitted with AP pads now as set up by the prior owner and they seem to work well although the modulation doesn't seem as precise as the Carbotechs. When these wear out, the Carbotechs are going in.

[JohnCh]

Corbotechs certainly seem popular. How to the XP8s work in daily driving? I want something with good bite and stopping power when the brakes are cold. Fade isn't really a concern since I don’t use the brakes that hard on the road (at least not that I’ll admit to on a public forum ) and can swap out for dedicated track pads if/when occasions warrant. But having strong stopping power when the latte sipping, cell phone yakking SUV driver pulls out in front of me, or when I brake for that handful of corners on the way to the store, is a must.

 

Thanks,

John

[erioshi]

The XP8 is fine cold. I run them on my Evo 24/7/365 and have used them year round on other cars as well. Even after sitting at -30 F all day in a parking ramp, the brakes are easy to modulate and have great bite.

 

I think the best compliment I can offer is that I don't have to think about my braking at all, other than checking the rear view mirror to make sure I'm not about to be rear-ended. They are easy to get used to, and once I developed a feel for them, my foot always seems to be able to find threshold (at will) without any conscious thought. Street or track doesn't seem to matter (Ok, a tiny bit); they are very consistent and very easy to drive.

[maurice1]

Hi all,

I am using Hawk HPS on my Birkin. They have only been on for a month but have very good cold bite and feel compared to the Hawk Black pads that were fitted standard to my Birkin. Very little dust and no more squealing. The Black pads looked like they had not worn in the 10,000km of road use and 4 trackdays over the previous year. The discs had to have 1.5mm ground off to get rid of the lip. Guys are using DS3000 over here also.

Cheers

Maurice

[mca]

Does anyone have experience with the Hawk DTC-60? Compound is supposed to be similar to Carbotech XP8, as both are competitive in the Spec Miata class. I need to install better pads (currently have Autozone pads on 1996 Miata rotors) and have a fresh set of the DTC-60 in the garage.

 

Aaron