How are Carbotech XP8's for AutoX?
 

How are Carbotech XP8's for AutoX? I know they're a light track pad and that's why I got them, am I wrong in assuming that they'd at least be better than stock pads in an AutoX? (I know AX6's would be better but I have a budget, track pads were more important and I can't buy two sets in budget right now). I also need to know how to bed these new pads in since my first AutoX precedes my first track event this year.

I don't know about XP8's for autocross but I have been autocrossing on XP10's. They have been awesome and very much helped in autocross. You should have no problems with XP8's they may squeal and dust way more than stock, but you will notice much better stopping ability.

The fear with some track pads at autocross is that some compounds need to be up to temperature to stop effectively, in an autocross run that may mean that your first 2-3 braking zones are compromised and your runs will be slow because of it and the time between runs means they'll cool down again and you'll be screwed again.

I don't think you'll have that problem on the XP8's, like Shneegle I autox'd my XP10's and they were fantastic. Most entry level track compounds are good from the first stop, it's only when you get into the hardcore endurance compounds that you notice what I mention above.

Thanks guys! Those are exactly the reviews I was hoping for. One more quick question. My first autocross is before my first track day of the season, how should I bed the XP8's in?? (I'm a newbie by many standards and have never bed-in anything more than performance street pads...)
Edit: oh and I'm actually an organizer and club officer for the AutoX's that I attend the most... So I can run basically back to back, for tire and brake temps, if I want too (and I always want to). :D

I've autocrossed the XP10s and DD'ed them. They work fine and have great initial bite even in freezing temps but when it's cold they definitely take a few good stops to get max braking force out of them.

FWIW I think any track pad is overkill for autocross. They make it too easy to over slow the car.

They include bedding instructions, but the short version is "get them hot enough to slightly fade, and then let them cool down, while rolling, for 10 minutes".

It is literally illegal to actually try bed these things on the street....granted we don't have swooping canyon runs up here

Yup! I was a bit naughty with my XP10s and did a few 60-5mph stops and that was it. Worked fine on track (besides slightly overheating them, but that's not a bedding issue) and it killed some of the squeal for a while on the street.

Get them a bit hotter and it'll kill the squeal permanently. If it's going away for a bit, it's a sign that you're close.:thumbsup:

Yeah the included instructions were vague and aimed towards bedding on a track so I was just wondering if anyone had specific street bedding experience with these pads. Anything to make my job a little more simple (and effective) haha
I'd rather ask an odd question and learn something than mess something up because I was too afraid to ask questions and educate myself.

Yeah, the noise was gone for a couple months after the track days, haha

Ooooh then you did have them bedded, but eventually eroded it away :)

Yeah, bedded properly in the first session. Trying to bed them on the street was pointless and a bit unsafe, at least where I live.

I always thought that was a funny thing about carbotech. The instructions are basically "go to the track" regarding bedding them in.