EBC RED brake pad advice
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I hope to get to the track at some point. I havent yet gotten out there, but I have glazed my rotors and created hot spots with some spirited driving. That being said, I'd like something that can handle some light track work so I don't have to worry about fade on the backroads here in GA.
Carbotech™ XP8™
A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range of 200°F-1250°F+ (93°C to 676°C+). Carbotech™ XP8™ is the first of our racing compounds. Good initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. Extremely high fade resistance and very rotor friendly. Perfect for track day use with any tire and can still be driven safely to and from the track. Carbotech™ does NOT recommended XP8™ as a daily driven street pad due to elevated levels of dust and noise. Carbotech™ XP8™ is a great compound on the front & rear of most open wheel and sports racers.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
Likes: 166
From: United States
I will say I went through the C5 upgrade on my 93. J55 and OEM brakes sucked with any fun driving whatsoever.
I did ceramics for the low dust, something like Borg Warner or whatever NAPA sold. Sucked.
Then I went Hawk HPS. They arent very good at cold temps, but a few spirited stops and they are awesome. Dust real bad, but, I have had ABS come on at 120mph..
One little thing to consider before you go to the track. Brake Fluid.. When was the last time you had your brakes flushed? Its a scary feeling when pedal falls to the floor at speed because your DOT3 has water in it..Some of these cars fluids rarely get changed...
I did ceramics for the low dust, something like Borg Warner or whatever NAPA sold. Sucked.
Then I went Hawk HPS. They arent very good at cold temps, but a few spirited stops and they are awesome. Dust real bad, but, I have had ABS come on at 120mph..
One little thing to consider before you go to the track. Brake Fluid.. When was the last time you had your brakes flushed? Its a scary feeling when pedal falls to the floor at speed because your DOT3 has water in it..Some of these cars fluids rarely get changed...
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,682
Likes: 753
From: NEwhere Ohio
I will say I went through the C5 upgrade on my 93. J55 and OEM brakes sucked with any fun driving whatsoever.
I did ceramics for the low dust, something like Borg Warner or whatever NAPA sold. Sucked.
Then I went Hawk HPS. They arent very good at cold temps, but a few spirited stops and they are awesome. Dust real bad, but, I have had ABS come on at 120mph..
One little thing to consider before you go to the track. Brake Fluid.. When was the last time you had your brakes flushed? Its a scary feeling when pedal falls to the floor at speed because your DOT3 has water in it..Some of these cars fluids rarely get changed...
I did ceramics for the low dust, something like Borg Warner or whatever NAPA sold. Sucked.
Then I went Hawk HPS. They arent very good at cold temps, but a few spirited stops and they are awesome. Dust real bad, but, I have had ABS come on at 120mph..
One little thing to consider before you go to the track. Brake Fluid.. When was the last time you had your brakes flushed? Its a scary feeling when pedal falls to the floor at speed because your DOT3 has water in it..Some of these cars fluids rarely get changed...
(ex. Water in your fluid or the wrong pads- like my experience with putting ebc greenstuff on a vette)
the c5 brakes arent that much better than c4 j55 and arguably arent any better at all.
he11 the c5 brake rotor diameter isnt even a true 13” , like the c4 j55 is
Last edited by dizwiz24; Oct 16, 2020 at 01:43 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
Likes: 166
From: United States
if j55 brakes didnt work but c5 brakes did work for you had something wrong with the setup
(ex. Water in your fluid or the wrong pads- like my experience with putting ebc greenstuff on a vette)
the c5 brakes arent that much better than c4 j55 and arguably arent any better at all.
he11 the c5 brake rotor diameter isnt even a true 13” , like the c4 j55 is
(ex. Water in your fluid or the wrong pads- like my experience with putting ebc greenstuff on a vette)
the c5 brakes arent that much better than c4 j55 and arguably arent any better at all.
he11 the c5 brake rotor diameter isnt even a true 13” , like the c4 j55 is
The C4 brakes I used were the OEM rotors, Grand Sport black calipers. I kept warping rotors ( thats a touchy subject), and in both set ups I had new fluid and DRM bias spring..
I did not have Hawk HPS pads on the Grand Sport set up.. Maybe that was it..
So, I am confused. What did I do wrong?
ps, C5 calipers look better anyways....lol
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,682
Likes: 753
From: NEwhere Ohio
The C5 rotor is thicker and, in my opinion, takes allot more heat. The C5 pads are a little bigger and calipers are stronger.
The C4 brakes I used were the OEM rotors, Grand Sport black calipers. I kept warping rotors ( thats a touchy subject), and in both set ups I had new fluid and DRM bias spring..
I did not have Hawk HPS pads on the Grand Sport set up.. Maybe that was it..
So, I am confused. What did I do wrong?
ps, C5 calipers look better anyways....lol
The C4 brakes I used were the OEM rotors, Grand Sport black calipers. I kept warping rotors ( thats a touchy subject), and in both set ups I had new fluid and DRM bias spring..
I did not have Hawk HPS pads on the Grand Sport set up.. Maybe that was it..
So, I am confused. What did I do wrong?
ps, C5 calipers look better anyways....lol
i just wanted to hear how c5 setup worked when c4 j55 didnt
i know im a broken record, but it was like i put whole new brakes on when i got rid off the ebc green stuff pads and went to hawk hp+
the fade became non existent. Even at the road course track (at fhe level of ‘amateur’ racing i was doing)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,062
Likes: 166
From: United States
ok fair.
i just wanted to hear how c5 setup worked when c4 j55 didnt
i know im a broken record, but it was like i put whole new brakes on when i got rid off the ebc green stuff pads and went to hawk hp+
the fade became non existent. Even at the road course track (at fhe level of ‘amateur’ racing i was doing)
i just wanted to hear how c5 setup worked when c4 j55 didnt
i know im a broken record, but it was like i put whole new brakes on when i got rid off the ebc green stuff pads and went to hawk hp+
the fade became non existent. Even at the road course track (at fhe level of ‘amateur’ racing i was doing)
To be honest, it was trial and error. If someone would have explained brakes to me, I probably will still have Grand Sports.
