I've run the CarboTech XP10 and XP12 pads on a Miata and E30M3 intermittently for a few seasons (I also run Hawk Blues and HT pads). The Carbotech pads do need to be bedded in and if you have old rotors it may not deposit pad material as well.
IMO, the Carbotech has less initial bite than the hawk blues, or seems to require more pedal force so it feels like it is more progressive than the hawks. In the Miata, too much bite is an issue, especially when you want to brush the brakes to set the nose or get the car loose without killing momentum.
Carbotechs will not last 13 hours at VIR, Hawks will. Also fwiw some racers feel the carbotechs can be unpredictable over time/temp ranges and hate them for that reason; the hawks are pretty consistent from start to finish.
I've heard good things about PF pad, I bought a set several years ago and did not bed them in correctly and had horrible brake chatter and never used them again. I know some racers swear by Pagid. I still prefer Hawk pads (Blues and the HT compounds) - I think its a personal choice. If you know what temps your rotors are seeing on track you can pick a pad that works best in that temp range.
Suggest track brake pads - 1992 Porsche 911
Re: Suggest track brake pads - 1992 Porsche 911
Ive almost run the gambit on brake pads. Carbotechs do leave/deposit material that is generally not compatible with other brands leading to severe chattering if used on old rotors, or if you use different pads on "carboteched" rotors.
fwiw, on a heavy-ish car like the subaru, the xp-10 & 12 both fell apart with heavy use. they each lasted 1 hot day at LCMT a few years back and all of the Subie guys that were on the Carbotechs had the same happen that day. From then on out none of us have gone back to carbotech. Actually that was the same year they were bought out, and not only did their service go through the floor, so did the product. This is purely based on experience at that time.
On the rotor temps suggestion that Fred made, you also need to be aware that different pad compounds will generate different rotor temps purely by the fact that the friction mechanics are different based on pad composition, all else being equal. For example, PF pads generate significantly higher temps than other pads under the same conditions. Im not sure if its because there is a higher metal content vs ceramic or what... perhaps many others are in the same ball park of each other and within the noise of each other that it goes unnoticed usually.
At the end of the day you have to make the assessment of pad performance vs cost. For most of us this is really the ultimate driving factor, hence the variability of preference per car. Unfortunately, the only way to converge on an answer to the often repeated question is to try a variety of them and see what works best for you. I think you have some great starting points.
Joe
fwiw, on a heavy-ish car like the subaru, the xp-10 & 12 both fell apart with heavy use. they each lasted 1 hot day at LCMT a few years back and all of the Subie guys that were on the Carbotechs had the same happen that day. From then on out none of us have gone back to carbotech. Actually that was the same year they were bought out, and not only did their service go through the floor, so did the product. This is purely based on experience at that time.
On the rotor temps suggestion that Fred made, you also need to be aware that different pad compounds will generate different rotor temps purely by the fact that the friction mechanics are different based on pad composition, all else being equal. For example, PF pads generate significantly higher temps than other pads under the same conditions. Im not sure if its because there is a higher metal content vs ceramic or what... perhaps many others are in the same ball park of each other and within the noise of each other that it goes unnoticed usually.
At the end of the day you have to make the assessment of pad performance vs cost. For most of us this is really the ultimate driving factor, hence the variability of preference per car. Unfortunately, the only way to converge on an answer to the often repeated question is to try a variety of them and see what works best for you. I think you have some great starting points.
Joe
Joe Lu
#24 ST1 STi
#24 ST1 STi
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