Brake pad recommendations- heavy car, small brakes

[WillM]

Matt's track car is a SE-R.

Explains the temper. :-k :whip:

[dinoracer]

I went thru a couple different Carbotechs, then on to Porterfield R4s then settled on R-4. Carbotech XP stopped OK but wore out quickly. R4 seems to give me best braking and lasts 3-4 events.

I'd try some of those others, but there's not enough market out there to justify Hawk et al tooling up to make pads for calipers that were last installed new in 1967...

3100 lb car with me and fuel, factory disks in front barely 11" rotors, 10" drums in back....

[skivittlerjimb]

Lots of good info. out there. After reading this discussion as well as some more input from folks that have tracked these heavy mitsus, I'm back to Porterfield R4E (~$190) vs. Hawk Blues (~$155).

Hawks are harder on rotors when they're cold, I get that, but appear to be a well-proven track pads with great bite and good modulation. The R4Es sound like they might last a bit longer and be a bit more rotor-friendly and cold temps. friendly, so I'll likely spring the extra coin for the R4Es. I doubt my newbie skills could extract any extra benefit from the greater bite and torque of the Blues, anyway.

Any COMSCC-friendly folks distribute Porterfields? I've purchased directly from them twice and been quite happy with the service, but I'm always willing to keep it local.

[brucesallen]

I have always loved my Hawks for street-based cars. Blue under 3,000 lbs, Black over.

[RJ]

Jim, you're a lucky man...you have brake options LOL!

My '89 SHO came from th efactory with 10.9" rotors all around. I'm currently running the 12" setup from a '96 SHO up front, but none the less, my pad selection is VERY limited. In fact I may be going to Mustang cobra calipers just for the single reason of getting Hawk Blues and blacks...currently I can only get HPS for the front and nothing out back!

[JackFFR1846]

I'll defer to Bruce, but just from personal experience with a 98 Audi A4 2.8Q, I ran Hawk Blues that were custom built for the TAP racing team, but I'm sure that stock hawk blues will be similar. I used stock rotors cryo treated. I ONLY used those rotors on the track with these pads and swapped the pads out for street use along with the rotors. They were fine for a season till I sold the car. I still have the rotors.

jack

[skivittlerjimb]

Thanks for all the recommendations. The Porterfield R4Es worked out incredibly well at Calabogie. No fade even after :30 minute sessions. Maybe not quite as much initial bite as the Ferodos I tried last year, but very consistent, very quick to come up to temperature (1, maybe 2 hard stops and they were fine), and NO fade.

That and some more confidence and maybe a dash of extra skill helped me drop my time from last year by more than 10 seconds.

Now to put that car on a diet...

[chaos4NH]

The wagon did well on my formula of Carbotechs - XP8 front, AX6 rear. They appear to be more rotor friendly than XP10's, but I know I am stretching them to their design limits for heat rating. I have come to the conclusion that braided lines and Motul fluid will be my next step. Will has some video attesting to the flat corning of the wagon, but suggested I brake too early, and not hard enough. (I brake early cause I scare the crap out of myself! ) So, my next step will be the lines and fluid. This was an interesting thread, what a huge range of pads work for some and not for others.

[Stynger]

Thanks for all the recommendations. The Porterfield R4Es worked out incredibly well at Calabogie. No fade even after :30 minute sessions. Maybe not quite as much initial bite as the Ferodos I tried last year, but very consistent, very quick to come up to temperature (1, maybe 2 hard stops and they were fine), and NO fade.

That and some more confidence and maybe a dash of extra skill helped me drop my time from last year by more than 10 seconds.

Now to put that car on a diet...

Hey, don't forget your awesome instructor risking life and limb.

New rotors would help.

[skivittlerjimb]

Hey, don't forget your awesome instructor risking life and limb. Shocked

You're quite right. Many thanks for all the instruction and of course for not freaking out. The ride along in your Miata was one the highlights of the weekend for me, though.

Internal Mental Dialogue: "It's not going to stick, he's in too hot, what's he thinking... oh, it stuck... that was awesome."

New rotors would help. Wink

Um, those were new rotors... it's a long story. Dave G. can add to it if he wants, but... well, it's a long story.