brake pads
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
brake pads
I did a search, but didn't really find a great answer to my question. I'm currently running Powerstop Z23 drilled and slotted rotors (with stock calipers). I have also been using the matching power stop carbon ceramic pads that came with the kit. Lately, I haven't been satisfied with this. Although they don't dust very badly, I notice SIGNIFICANT brake fade after braking from 100mph+. I will be changing my brake fluid soon, and figured it would be good time to swap pads. I'm looking for a set of pads that can handle the heat, and won't fade under spirited driving, but at the same time won't dust so badly that I have to wipe down my rims every time I drive. What pads do you guys suggest?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 242
From: NW Chicago
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15
In my opinion, if you really want to stop well, you have to deal with dust, ceramic won't do it. A couple posts away, KNS Brakes might be able to help you. A lot of different brands offer semi-metallic pads, which is what you may need to get you what you want.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 17
I've always been a fan of Carbotech pads. Pick the compound for the app, I.e. Street or track? On the track I use XP12 on front and XP10 in the rear. No fade. On the street XP10 front and XP8 rear should be more than sufficient.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I run PBR SRT pads as my daily use pad. They dust, but it's manageable, and they are vastly superior to the ceramics that came in the brakemotive kit I put on the car when I first bought it. They don't squeal when cold like many aggressive compounds, but they work quite well.
You can ceramic coat your wheels to help make the dust clean up easier, too. My cleaning regimen is easy. Pre-rinse. Spray with wheel acid. Scrub. Rinse immediately. Dry. Never damaged a set of wheels with it, whether chrome or clear coated aluminum.
You can ceramic coat your wheels to help make the dust clean up easier, too. My cleaning regimen is easy. Pre-rinse. Spray with wheel acid. Scrub. Rinse immediately. Dry. Never damaged a set of wheels with it, whether chrome or clear coated aluminum.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
If you want good braking authority with HOT brakes, you have to use pads that also make dust.
For me, a typical track day session involves driving a 2+ mile track with 11 to as many as 16 turns, slowing from as low as 70 down to 35 and as high as 110 down to 35, elven to sixteen times a lap every two minutes for ten laps. After a 20 minute track session AND AFTER the cool down lap and parking in the paddock, front brake rotor temperature on my car is typically 550 degrees F.
From my perspective and after eleven years of running on the track, one good pad that will give you great, both street (Cool) and track (Hot) braking authority are Hawk HP Plus pads. Yes they dust but don't squeal much and are a compromise between pure racing, squealing pads and dust free street pads that have little braking authority when hot.
You should consider using brake fluid that has higher wet boiling point since you will be changing (flushing?) anyway. Wilwood 600, ATE Typ 200 or equal- many others.
For me, a typical track day session involves driving a 2+ mile track with 11 to as many as 16 turns, slowing from as low as 70 down to 35 and as high as 110 down to 35, elven to sixteen times a lap every two minutes for ten laps. After a 20 minute track session AND AFTER the cool down lap and parking in the paddock, front brake rotor temperature on my car is typically 550 degrees F.
From my perspective and after eleven years of running on the track, one good pad that will give you great, both street (Cool) and track (Hot) braking authority are Hawk HP Plus pads. Yes they dust but don't squeal much and are a compromise between pure racing, squealing pads and dust free street pads that have little braking authority when hot.
You should consider using brake fluid that has higher wet boiling point since you will be changing (flushing?) anyway. Wilwood 600, ATE Typ 200 or equal- many others.
Last edited by jim993; Apr 28, 2021 at 08:52 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
^ ATE Typ200 is the best value for sure for. Sold in liter bottles, not pints, and for the same price as some fluids that are only a few degrees better in wet/dry boiling point.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I did a search, but didn't really find a great answer to my question. I'm currently running Powerstop Z23 drilled and slotted rotors (with stock calipers). I have also been using the matching power stop carbon ceramic pads that came with the kit. Lately, I haven't been satisfied with this. Although they don't dust very badly, I notice SIGNIFICANT brake fade after braking from 100mph+. I will be changing my brake fluid soon, and figured it would be good time to swap pads. I'm looking for a set of pads that can handle the heat, and won't fade under spirited driving, but at the same time won't dust so badly that I have to wipe down my rims every time I drive. What pads do you guys suggest?
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
500RWHP. The car is driven primarily on the street, so I'm not a big fan of noise. I'm certainly interested in your recommendation, thanks. The car is driven at normal street speeds as a cruiser most of the time. For that, my current pads work fine. However, I do occasionally ask more of it. The other day in Mexico, I went from 122mph down to 35mph, and the brakes were basically gone after that. As I said, I'm wiling to deal with some dust, I just don't want to have to clean the wheels every time I drive the car. However, knowing that my brakes will work when I need them is certainly the #1 priority.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
If you want good braking authority with HOT brakes, you have to use pads that also make dust.
For me, a typical track day session involves driving a 2+ mile track with 11 to as many as 16 turns, slowing from as low as 70 down to 35 and as high as 110 down to 35, elven to sixteen times a lap every two minutes for ten laps. After a 20 minute track session AND AFTER the cool down lap and parking in the paddock, front brake rotor temperature on my car is typically 550 degrees F.
From my perspective and after eleven years of running on the track, one good pad that will give you great, both street (Cool) and track (Hot) braking authority are Hawk HP Plus pads. Yes they dust but don't squeal much and are a compromise between pure racing, squealing pads and dust free street pads that have little braking authority when hot.
You should consider using brake fluid that has higher wet boiling point since you will be changing (flushing?) anyway. Wilwood 600, ATE Typ 200 or equal- many others.
For me, a typical track day session involves driving a 2+ mile track with 11 to as many as 16 turns, slowing from as low as 70 down to 35 and as high as 110 down to 35, elven to sixteen times a lap every two minutes for ten laps. After a 20 minute track session AND AFTER the cool down lap and parking in the paddock, front brake rotor temperature on my car is typically 550 degrees F.
From my perspective and after eleven years of running on the track, one good pad that will give you great, both street (Cool) and track (Hot) braking authority are Hawk HP Plus pads. Yes they dust but don't squeal much and are a compromise between pure racing, squealing pads and dust free street pads that have little braking authority when hot.
You should consider using brake fluid that has higher wet boiling point since you will be changing (flushing?) anyway. Wilwood 600, ATE Typ 200 or equal- many others.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
500RWHP. The car is driven primarily on the street, so I'm not a big fan of noise. I'm certainly interested in your recommendation, thanks. The car is driven at normal street speeds as a cruiser most of the time. For that, my current pads work fine. However, I do occasionally ask more of it. The other day in Mexico, I went from 122mph down to 35mph, and the brakes were basically gone after that. As I said, I'm wiling to deal with some dust, I just don't want to have to clean the wheels every time I drive the car. However, knowing that my brakes will work when I need them is certainly the #1 priority.
Amp’D Autosport.com
Internet's largest retailer of Carbotech Performance Brake Pads.
PH:216-780-8825.
Email: sales@ampdautosport.com
Web Site & Direct ordering http://ampdautosport.com/
All major CC and Pay Pal accepted.
Check out Promo code:z28
I usually don't do this but a life is more important than selling a set of brake pads. I only recommend Carbotech brakes but at this time I don't think you will like there options for you. What I would recommend and it pains me to type this but I would look into the Hawk HPS pads. Call Ken at KNS and see what kind of deal he will give you. I would like to say the Carbotech 1521 pads but back to back pulls in Mexico you may have the same issue because of the Ceramic based friction material I'm pretty sure the HPS is not ceramic.If you would like to look at the Carbotech offerings here is a link to all of there compounds https://ampdautosport.com/pages/carb...rake-compounds
Last edited by Carbotech Adam; Apr 28, 2021 at 10:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Adam Adelstein
Amp’D Autosport.com
Internet's largest retailer of Carbotech Performance Brake Pads.
PH:216-780-8825.
Email: sales@ampdautosport.com
Web Site & Direct ordering http://ampdautosport.com/
All major CC and Pay Pal accepted.
Check out Promo code:z28
I usually don't do this but a life is more important than selling a set of brake pads. I only recommend Carbotech brakes but at this time I don't think you will like there options for you. What I would recommend and it pains me to type this but I would look into the Hawk HPS pads. Call Ken at KNS and see what kind of deal he will give you. I would like to say the Carbotech 1521 pads but back to back pulls in Mexico you may have the same issue because of the Ceramic based friction material I'm pretty sure the HPS is not ceramic.If you would like to look at the Carbotech offerings here is a link to all of there compounds https://ampdautosport.com/pages/carb...rake-compounds
Amp’D Autosport.com
Internet's largest retailer of Carbotech Performance Brake Pads.
PH:216-780-8825.
Email: sales@ampdautosport.com
Web Site & Direct ordering http://ampdautosport.com/
All major CC and Pay Pal accepted.
Check out Promo code:z28
I usually don't do this but a life is more important than selling a set of brake pads. I only recommend Carbotech brakes but at this time I don't think you will like there options for you. What I would recommend and it pains me to type this but I would look into the Hawk HPS pads. Call Ken at KNS and see what kind of deal he will give you. I would like to say the Carbotech 1521 pads but back to back pulls in Mexico you may have the same issue because of the Ceramic based friction material I'm pretty sure the HPS is not ceramic.If you would like to look at the Carbotech offerings here is a link to all of there compounds https://ampdautosport.com/pages/carb...rake-compounds
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
HPS are a decent pad. Probably perfect for what you need. They aren't ceramic. More dust, but manageable.
HPS 5.0s are what the cars at the Ron Fellows driving school use.
HPS 5.0s are what the cars at the Ron Fellows driving school use.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Thanks everyone! After all your feedback, and after talking to Coby at KNS, I did some research on the Hawk website. I have ordered a full set of Hawk HPS 5.0. These should offer significantly better performance than what I have. At the same time, they will still be quiet, have moderate dust. and low rotor wear. They should also be able to handle the heat (up to 700 F) on my occasional trips to Mexico. I was also considering the Hawk HP+. These are designed for autoX, and offer excellent performance, but they are noisy, high dust, and have increased rotor wear. I'll have no choice if the HPS 5.0 don't work. However, my hopes are high that they will. Thanks again for all the help!
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 50,281
Likes: 518
From: Cleveland OH
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
Thank you so much! I really really appreciate your honesty in your recommendation. That means a lot! I will take your recommendation, and go with the Hawk pads. I'm very sorry that I am not able to do business with you this time. However, your honesty has made a HUGE impact on me. I will certainly recommend Carbotech in the future to those who have less extreme needs. Also, I'm not sure what you have available, but I will certainly reach out to you in the future when any of my other vehicles need break pads.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Another vote for Hawk pads. I've used them for years, on multiple vehicles. Never had an issue.
On the C5, they are paired with Baer Eradispeeds - another long term success story.
On the C5, they are paired with Baer Eradispeeds - another long term success story.
Last edited by jackthelad; Apr 29, 2021 at 10:34 AM.