semi-metalic pads?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 3
From: Van Wert Ohio
semi-metalic pads?
I just changed out my organic pads for semi metalic and was surprised that it seems to take more pedal pressure but also seems to stop better. Is that pretty normal?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by vett79
I just changed out my organic pads for semi metalic and was surprised that it seems to take more pedal pressure but also seems to stop better. Is that pretty normal?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Originally Posted by NHvette
They also eat rotors much faster than organics.
The only time to use anything other than organics is if you're autocrossing (or similar usage).
I'd rather have the slight extra pedal pressure of organics than have to remove and turn (or replace) my rotors in a few years. Organics are cheap and effective. They stop my car extremely well.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
I used them autocrossing in the eighties...after two seasons,they hot spotted my rotors..had to replace them..also learned from experience that stock pads were actually adequate,even on the longer courses...
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
I like the organics too. I ran semi-metallic for a while, but the noise drove me nuts. It was embarrassing. I always drive with the top down, too, which only makes it worse. I've found the performance of the organics adequate for street driving (I've never had the car on a track).
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by Jughead
I had SM's but switched back to organic. Too much dust and noisy.
, cept I went with ceramic, not on the vette - pads are still good - but on my wife's car. That noise almost drove me nuts with her complaining about it 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by NHvette
They also eat rotors much faster than organics.
I tried performance friction metal pads but noticed the rotors were being destroyed so I went back to Wagner organic pads. I also found my metalic pads worked better once they got some heat into them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Got mine at ZIP - on sale (Corvette Forum price) ... $20 to do the whole car.
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...=false&GiftID=
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...=false&GiftID=
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Brake pads are "good enough" until you run into something because you couldn't stop in time. New rotors every few years probably costs less than full coverage insurance. (Especially if you're 21.)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Des Allemands LA
Originally Posted by NHvette
Got mine at ZIP - on sale (Corvette Forum price) ... $20 to do the whole car.
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...=false&GiftID=
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...=false&GiftID=
Thanks for the heads-up on ZIP, I will be ordering a set for mine shortly. It's good to try and do business with those that help us.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Originally Posted by LiveandLetDrive
Brake pads are "good enough" until you run into something because you couldn't stop in time.
The fancy brake pads are only needed in situations of repeated braking (i.e., autocrossing), where heat becomes a serious issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Originally Posted by page62
Nonsense. The organics stop the car as well (if not better than) the semi-metallics I had before. And living where I do, panic stops are a daily occurrence. VBP recommends organics for street driving -- would they do that if they considered them "inferior"?
The fancy brake pads are only needed in situations of repeated braking (i.e., autocrossing), where heat becomes a serious issue.
The fancy brake pads are only needed in situations of repeated braking (i.e., autocrossing), where heat becomes a serious issue.
I can always tell who the show and shine guys are. They are the ones using organic pads. Being from Texas i guess you have never done any mountain driving in the vette. (Quite the shame because its a ton of fun, but very hard on the car and tires.) The organics will go away quickly and you will have NO brakes.
Even someone who does spirited driving will find organics inadequate. Yes the organics will stop the car great once, twice maybe 3 times from speed but when you play on the curves multiply that by 50.
Its simple, do you want to save a 35 dollar rotor or do you want good brakes?
The performance friction carbon metallics are very easy on rotors but create that nasty black dust that will cost you points at the show and shine event.