Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: New pads.....

How about Ferodo 2500, or Hawk HP+? A Hawk HT-10 is probably too aggressive for daily driving, but may not be unreasonable for a track/fast-street option.

 

Maybe try the Carbotech AX pad or the Porterfield R4. Lots of dust, but better fade resistance and braking power.

 

R4 is more of a track pad and they are not rotor friendly when cold. The R4S is street compound. Frankly I've not been enamored with either on the front, I do run the R4 all the time on the rear.

 

The Carbotech AX6 is a hella pad for the twisties - what I use for my mountain and Dragon runs. But as Ben said - VERY dusty, and also noisy. Not what most folks would want to run for a daily driver pad. But if your noise and dust tolerance is high, you'll probably love them. I put mine on before mountain weekends and take the off when back home.

 

I have used the Hawk HP+'s on the track in a pinch. They were not that great on the track (they basically started crumbling under the heat) but they would probably be fine for twisty street driving. If you have a descent tolerance for noise, you might also try the Carbotech XP8's. They were pretty good on the track, and should hold up to any type of street driving you will be doing.

 

So SB, what are you gonna go with? I am thinking about the HP+ myself for some occasional track duty with my JCW brakes, they have got to be better than the ceramics I have run.

See the other thread on JCW brakes. There weer some recommendations of CarboTech, but they aint cheap, it does seem like a good product though. And being able to trust/depend on your brakes is kind of important.

 

The HP+ are NOT a track pad. I would suggest moving to a dedicated track pad like the HT-10.

 

Thanks Brian, dedicated is what I am looking for, I am fine to swap pads for the track. I just checked out the Hawk site and the HT10s are three notches higher than the HP+, that is significant. I know you have some experience with the HP+ and will use them in a pinch, do you have any better experiences with the HT10s?

While I am sure the HP+ would be better than the Hawk ceramics I have risked my life with in the past, going a few notches even better can't be bad.

 

I have not personally used the HT-10's as they are not available for the R56. Scott uses the HT-10's as his track pads with good success, (hence my recommendation). I have personally used the Carbotech XP10's in the front and they are a pretty good track pad. If you contact Dustin at AutoXCooper.com, he will be able to give you a better price than the list price.

I have used the HP+'s in a pinch, I don't know that I would do it again. After just a single day of use, the pads were crumbling. I would be afraid that after 2 days of use, the pad might separate from the backing plate, resulting in catastrophic brake failure.

Note: I seem to be particularly hard on brakes, so YMMV. Having lost brakes while on the track, I also take a pretty serious outlook on ensuring my brakes function properly. Things like "Just don't use your brakes" are funny, and I have been know to say them. But when you are heading into a hairpin at 100+, brakes become serious business fast. Threshold braking leaves zero room for mistakes/issues.

 

Thanks for the great info. I will give Scott a yell. And I here ya on the importance of the brake system, I am sure those ducts will make a difference for you. Keep 'em cool, or at least cooler!

 

We are also Carbotech dealers and MA site sponsers. FYI

 

Anyone recommending Hawk Ht-10s for the street is nuts. I run them on my RX7 for balls out track driving. I couldn't get enough heat in them for street usage, they are noisy buggers when cold and will eat your rotors driving them cold on the street. I've run the R4 and R4E on the RX7 for track usage also. Good track pad not a street pad.

The HP+ might be an option but they do dust like crazy and are usually noisy. Lots of autocrossers use those pads. Its definitely an older technology brake pad formulation like the Blues.

I'd personally try the Carbotechs. I know a lot of people that love their pads and will be trying them myself on the Mini when the times comes. I was actually speaking with Way Motor Works on the phone a couple of days ago about the Carbotechs. Good, helpful people.

 

I have Hawk HP Plus pads, they have a very aggressive initial bite, you have to be very smooth with brake application. Like others have mentioned it is not a track pad, that being said I took it to 3 DEs this year and there was some significant fade by 3rd and 4th session, but like someone else mentioned they were smoking hot, I mean they really looked like I stuck smoke bombs on calipers. On the street they are great, if you don't mind the screeching sound at moderate application like stop signs or at lights, especially in cold weather or mornings. They do dust, but I have black wheels and don't really notice that type of stuff.

Edit: Forgot to mention I got JCW R53 Brakes.

 

What would you guys recommend for street driving. I can't believe the dust on the OEM pads

 

If you don't like dust, and like stopping power, Carbotech Bobcats.
If you don't want to spend that much, Hawk Ceramics (but they eat rotors faster).

 

Thanks Paul, I've heard a number of good things about those pads. I think I'll give 'em a try when my OEMs are done