Brakepadz

[Stormwalker]

Well, the cheap brake pads I threw on my car just to haul itself around to various places to get torn apart last summer really suck. I figure I will be doing the 5 lug/brake upgrade project soon, but maybe not until next fall. So in the meantime, I figure throwing a good set of pads on the stock brakes will help at least a little. I was just wondering what people have been using and what kind of experience they have with them (good, bad, etc). I was thinking of either Hawk or EBC red stuff, kind of on the fence between the two of those. Input?

[KickAssFlash]

My Red Stuff compound fades at the very end of an all day autocross.

[Outrun]

Green Stuff EBC is what to get.

You will notice a drastic loss in brake power when the pads/rotors are cold. Red are for race and not for the street.

[HAULNSS]

I've had good luck with Performance Friction for street / track use (In the stock calipers). Stop good and low dust, low noise.

I think I have some Hawk's in the Wilwoods now, with some new Wilwood street pads still in the box.

Randy

[Stormwalker]

Well, I could give a rat's ass about brake dust or even squealing. The things I can't deal with are little braking power, and fade. When I drive it on the street, there are miles between stops, so I do suppose it would be cold braking most of the time on the street.

[ScotWithOne_t]

I have some NAPA run of the mill pads in my car, and they work a whole hell of a lot better when they are hot. I see very little dust from them too, and no noise at all.

[Stormwalker]

What's really weird is I had the same set of pads on the car I bought it with up until last spring. That was what...bought the car in August of 2000 I think? So let's say about 5 years. Last spring I decided to change them simply because I found it odd that they had not gone bad yet, and to avoid the possibility of unholy undead brakepads being on my car, the only explanation of surviving far beyond their proper lifespan, I threw on a set of pads from champion or napa or something, and now my brakes work worse. So that is why I am so gung-ho about throwing pads on brakes that will only remain on the car for another year if that. I'd at least like the same braking power I had the summer before last with the old pads.

[ScotWithOne_t]

My Red Stuff compound fades at the very end of an all day autocross.

AutoX should be the least likely place for brakes to fade, since oyu have so long between runs...and the runs are only ~1 minute long.

[Steve]

AutoX should be the least likely place for brakes to fade, since oyu have so long between runs...and the runs are only ~1 minute long.

And don't forget the low speed thing, too.

I think Nate was just getting tired at the end of the day and experiencing "Leg Fade".



Look into performance friction Z pads. They seem to be quite popular with people doing a few open track events a year on street tires.

Normally I would just suggest Hawk HPS+'s but if you only need the pads for a year of autoX. It doesn't make sense to buy real nice pads. I honestly think anything will work for autoX, especially on street tires. Keep your fluid bled and fresh. AutoX doesn't create much braking heat (compared to OT).

[Stormwalker]

Eh, you're probably right. I'll just keep the pads in there, just disappointing that they don't work as well as the ones I took out. I should really change the brake fluid though. It's black and for all I know has never been changed. 2 person job, I need to con someone into coming up and helping me out with that one.


I still want to know for my next brake upgrade though, I have heard great stuff about both EBC and Hawk, just trying to figure out which brand to get.

[ScotWithOne_t]

I think Nate was just getting tired at the end of the day and experiencing "Leg Fade".

[Steve]

Eh, you're probably right. I'll just keep the pads in there, just disappointing that they don't work as well as the ones I took out. I should really change the brake fluid though. It's black and for all I know has never been changed. 2 person job, I need to con someone into coming up and helping me out with that one.


I still want to know for my next brake upgrade though, I have heard great stuff about both EBC and Hawk, just trying to figure out which brand to get.

What????11!!!!????!!!!1111/

Black brake fluid?????!1!!!!!!???? Pick up a few quarts and I'll come up when the weather is nice. That fluid needs to be flushed until it's clear again.

[ScotWithOne_t]

What????11!!!!????!!!!1111/

Black brake fluid?????!1!!!!!!???? Pick up a few quarts and I'll come up when the weather is nice. That fluid needs to be flushed until it's clear again.

I have never looked at my fliud...so it's probably origina also. I suppose if and when I change out my front calipers I could flush the brake fliud too.

Brake fluid isn't a lubricant really, so how can dirty brake fluid be such a bad thing?

[HAULNSS]

I have never looked at my fliud...so it's probably origina also. I suppose if and when I change out my front calipers I could flush the brake fliud too.

Brake fluid isn't a lubricant really, so how can dirty brake fluid be such a bad thing?

Moisture (the big factor) and contaminants in the fluid greatly reduce the boiling point of the fluid. I didn't flush mine one year and noticed brake fade much sooner then prior events. I do mine once a year, but the serious guys do it monthly or just prior to events.

Randy

[Outrun]

For how cheap it is, it is worth it. Just don’t get it on the paint. I do mine once a year.