Track Brake Pad Discussion Thread

[diirk]

Brake Pad Manufacturer: Hawk
Compound (F/R): Performance Ceramic
Tires: Hankook Ventus V12 245/40-17

Feedback: At the time of installing the new pads, I also swapped in Motul 5.1 Brake Fluid and Speed Bleeders. I hit a track day the following weekend. The new pads definately have more stopping power then the OEM pads. Dusting is increased slightly but no noticable noise increase. The new pads in conjunction with the larger tire footprint provides very predictable stopping and pedal feel. No noticable brake fade over the course of a day on the track or through a variety of sporty canyon runs.

Pads and fluid purchased through @Mike@CZP on the forums.

[WORKS]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): OEM
Caliper (F/R): OEM
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): OEM
Compound (F/R): OEM
Tires: OEM Primacy

Feedback:
Notes from Leon, one of our Engineers, after a August 24th Laguna Seca track day. For background, Leon has driven our BRZ 3 times on track, twice at Sonoma Raceway and once at Laguna Seca.

"The stock pads finally gave it up on this brake-heavy track. Pedal was soft and there was lots of fade coming into Turn 2 and Turn 5. The stock tires were also overpowered, struggling to stop the car under heavy braking and having trouble finding grip in the high-speed corners at Laguna. Besides not having as much confidence in the brakes as I’d like, the car was very fun to drive!"

The stock pads were put through just over 6 track days. We swapped to our WORKS Blue pads in the second half of the day and Leon noticed "dramatically reduced brake fade." We will wait until more driving have been done on them for a full review.


Scores: Completed by Leon
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 10 (but hard to tell because the wheels are dark)
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 3
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 2
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 8
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 10
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): (estimate/actual) 9
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) No
Brake ducts: (Y/N) No

Photo of the stock pads after they taken out for our pad swap:

[Blizzard]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): Winmax
Caliper (F/R): Stock
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): Stock
Compound (F/R): W3
Tires: Michelin Pilot Super Sports 245/40/17

Feedback: Used in conjunction with Torque brake fluid. Ran the east course at Miller Motorsports Park. Much better than stock, and had close to no fade. Didn't have to worry about running into the back of the car in front of me like the last track day on stock brakes. Thanks to the guys at CounterSpace Garage for the help. They know their stuff.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 5 A lot of dust is to be expected the way I abused the brakes
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 6 Decent cold bite, and they come up to temp really fast
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 8 Once up to temp these work great
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 9 Felt great
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 3 These squeal on the street, but it isn't as bad since my last track session.
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): (estimate/actual) Uncertain as of now
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) ? Not sure yet, as I always clean my wheels after tracking.
Brake ducts: (Y/N) Nope

[DarkSunrise]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): StopTech
Caliper (F/R): Stock
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): Stock
Compound (F/R): Street Performance, ATE Type 200 fluid
Tires: 235 Nitto NT05

Feedback: I've been running StopTech pads for the past track season. I usually get ~2 flat-out laps with these, then start to feel fade. You can see the front pads begin to smear onto the rotors when this happens. Backing off slightly, I can usually run a full 25-30 min. session. These are obviously a hybrid street/track pad, not really intended for heavy track use.

The upshot is these pads are fine on the street. Good cold bite with just minor squealing at times. Very cheap too. I'm really impressed with these pads from a value perspective.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 4
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 8
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 4
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 7
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 8
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): 6/TBD
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) No
Brake ducts: (Y/N) No

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): StopTech
Caliper (F/R): Stock
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): Stock
Compound (F/R): Street Performance, ATE Type 200 fluid
Tires: 235 Nitto NT05

Feedback: I've been running StopTech pads for the past track season. I usually get ~2 flat-out laps with these, then start to feel fade. You can see the front pads begin to smear onto the rotors when this happens. Backing off slightly, I can usually run a full 25-30 min. session. These are obviously a hybrid street/track pad, not really intended for heavy track use.

The upshot is these pads are fine on the street. Good cold bite with just minor squealing at times. Very cheap too. I'm really impressed with these pads from a value perspective.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 4
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 8
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 4
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 7
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 8
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): 6/TBD
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) No
Brake ducts: (Y/N) No

I have the same pads, at first I was really impressed with them especially considering the price, but then I started driving my WRX with Hawk HP+ and I find the initial bite hot and cold on the HP+ just feels so much stronger to me.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

I have the same pads, at first I was really impressed with them especially considering the price, but then I started driving my WRX with Hawk HP+ and I find the initial bite hot and cold on the HP+ just feels so much stronger to me.

Are you going to try HP+ next for your Twin? Half the people I talk to love those pads on the track, the other half hate them lol. Every time I've made up my mind to buy them, somebody convinces me out of it.

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Are you going to try HP+ next for your Twin? Half the people I talk to love those pads on the track, the other half hate them lol. Every time I've made up my mind to buy them, somebody convinces me out of it.

I am not really sure, I haven't had good experiences in the past with Hawk pads on my LGT for lapping, and the WRX came with them so I didn't really choose them. The HP+ is TERRIBLY noisy too, which doesn't bother me but I know it bothers a lot of people. My car sounds like a city bus no matter what.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

I am not really sure, I haven't had good experiences in the past with Hawk pads on my LGT for lapping, and the WRX came with them so I didn't really choose them. The HP+ is TERRIBLY noisy too, which doesn't bother me but I know it bothers a lot of people. My car sounds like a city bus no matter what.

Interesting. They're cheap enough where I might just roll the dice and try them out. I don't mind noise on the street that much, as long as the cold bite is good. Better to sound like a bus than stop like a bus lol.

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Interesting. They're cheap enough where I might just roll the dice and try them out. I don't mind noise on the street that much, as long as the cold bite is good. Better to sound like a bus than stop like a bus lol.

The HP+ are more than double the price than the Stop Techs here.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

The HP+ are more than double the price than the Stop Techs here.

Same here, about double, but still much cheaper than stepping up to DTC-60's or Carbotechs...

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Same here, about double, but still much cheaper than stepping up to DTC-60's or Carbotechs...

I might go with one of the Project Mu offerings next. I've heard good things so far.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by BRZZZZZZZZZZ

I might go with one of the Project Mu offerings next. I've heard good things so far.

Oh yeah that's another brand I forgot about. Post up a review here if you go that route

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Oh yeah that's another brand I forgot about. Post up a review here if you go that route

I certainly will.

[thehapaone]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): Hawk HPS
Caliper (F/R): OEM
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): DBA slotted Rotors
Compound (F/R): Street Performance, ATE Type 200 fluid
Tires: 235 Federal 595SS

Feedback: DO NOT RUN THESE AT THE TRACK!!! I leaned the hard way that these are complete crap at the track. Checked my pads the day before and had about 80% left on all the fronts by the end of 5 sessions my front pads were all below 5% left and I had to retire early. They also dust more than I ever expected covering my wheels in dust even while daily driving. They are however above average stopping power and got the job done while they lasted.

With the venting done they are however good DD pads as they have an OEM like sound but provide much better stopping power. Never noticed any brake fade until the pads were toasted so they should last fairly long if you do the occasional spirited driving.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 1
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 7
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 7
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 7
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 9
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): 1 (Lasted 5 months DD with 1 track day)
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) No
Brake ducts: (Y/N) No