Pads/ Fluids Question

[wbradley]

I use DOT 4 fluid (any brand) and Project Mu 800+ pads. They are street/track use pads.

Stopping power is excellent, never experienced fade. I hear Ferodo makes something comparable as well.

Unfortunately though, they squeak on the street as they cannot heat up enough and since I only did one track day since installing its a bit of a pain, but tolerable. Also, pads for track use typically give off a lot of dust so you need to clean the wheels more often if you care to. I have a pressure washer so it's a breeze hands free.

[JGalp]

yea i heard project mu does dust a bit..was hoping for something that didnt squeak and dust alot..Winmax W2 or W3? Stoptech? how do they compare to project mu or hawk?

[Ashikabi]

Winmax pads are kinda pricey and hard to get(mine shipped from Japan, took 8weeks, no joke) so I'd suggest a different brand like Hawk or Stoptech that are more available. Also my W2s squeak when I brake gently. Everyone says they shouldn't but sure as shit they do... dunno why... bedded in wrong? Bad batch of pads? They stop good though

[smg1138]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Winmax pads are kinda pricey and hard to get(mine shipped from Japan, took 8weeks, no joke) so I'd suggest a different brand like Hawk or Stoptech that are more available. Also my W2s squeak when I brake gently. Everyone says they shouldn't but sure as shit they do... dunno why... bedded in wrong? Bad batch of pads? They stop good though

Where did you order them from? I was looking at ordering some W3's soon.

[Ashikabi]

Originally Posted by smg1138

Where did you order them from? I was looking at ordering some W3's soon.

Frsport I think. I ordered them around Christmas I think so maybe they just happened to be out of stock

[JazzleSAURUS]

For just having fun driving, grab the HPS or Stoptech Street performance. I like the stoptechs but that's just me. I am happy to run ATE, Motul, or PMU fluid in my BRZ and FXT for daily driving and autox.

If you want a Winmax pad, hit up @CSG_Mike

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by JGalp

yea i heard project mu does dust a bit..was hoping for something that didnt squeak and dust alot..Winmax W2 or W3? Stoptech? how do they compare to project mu or hawk?

All of the brands and models mentioned produce more dust than factory. Out of the more "streetable" ones i've tried on this car the stoptech is the closest to a OE replacement pad in terms of wear and noise, even if it does stop better, and would be my go-to for a street pad. I'm not sure how the W2 compares but I've only heard good things from people that have used it.

The PMU HC+800 I really like the amount of cold bite it offers but find it barely sufficient for track purpose and seems to wear quickly. Also noisier than the stoptech. If you dont mind a bit of noise I think you'll like the bite it offers without having to warm up the brakes.

Hawk HP+ does not have very good initial bite but will hang in there under track duty for me. For a hybrid pad it really seems to eat up the rotors and very abrasive when not up to temp. Very noisy and dusty. Not very streetable considering it's a hybrid pad. I remember reading somewhere they changed the formula for this compound but not 100% on that.

If I were in your position I'd go for the stoptech sport pads. no squeal, little more dusty than OE, stops better and probably cheaper than OE pads.

[kch]

Originally Posted by JGalp

Hey all, I've looked at the brake guide sticky, and a few other threads on here but just wanted to get your opinion on a few options I'm looking at. I'm at around 20k miles now and still on stock brake pads and fluids.

My mods are as follows, 17x9 RPF1 with 245/40 Hankook v12s,Tein Flex Z, SPL Lower Control arms, Edelbrock S/C on Carb tune and an MXP SP exhaust

Most of what i do is daily driving and spirited street driving, maybe when i gain more experience driving my car i will head up to the canyons and have some fun up there but I'm pretty mild in terms of how i drive my car.

I have been looking at a few brake pad upgrades (i was told rotors don't really matter too much) and have been looking at Hawk, project Mu, Stoptech, and Winmax W2 and W3.

not sure on what y'all could recommend to me as a good fluid to use.

I dont wanna cheap out on anything especially with brakes so i don't mind spending more money i just want something that fits what i need without too much hassle, hopefully something that doesn't squeal a lot and not too much brake dust but performance comes first (relative to my DD/"spirited" driving needs)

Thanks!

Honestly, for your use I'd stay with stock. If you've never faded them and don't go to the track, there's no need to change pads. You won't get any more stopping power, and will probably get more dust and noise in the process.

[ryoma]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Frsport I think. I ordered them around Christmas I think so maybe they just happened to be out of stock

I ordered my W5's from CSG and they shipped it the next day I believe. if the OP wants Winmax, you should probably look into CSG and they are in CA as well so fast shipping, or you could even pick them up if you're local I believe.

[wbradley]

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, in other words it mixes readily with water. With heat cycles and over time you will accumulate some water in the brake fluid which is why you are supposed to do a brake flush every few years on stock brakes. Water has a lower boiling point and/or might be more compressible than brake fluid therefore the brakes will under perform as the water content increases. The pedal becomes mushy as the water content increases.

Switching to DOT 4 fluid will provide better resistance to boiling but also requires more frequent flushing as apparently if is even more vulnerable to accumulated water over time.

Street/performance brakes usually give off more dust (dirty wheels), are harder to bed with regular driving and therefore are far more likely to squeak.

These are the trade offs you might experience.

Aside from that for track days or other very aggressive frequent and heat generating braking the upgraded pads will not fade until they are much much hotter than stock.

I have yet to do a track day since swapping brakes/fluid but it's not so bad that I'd switch back.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

Winmax pads are kinda pricey and hard to get(mine shipped from Japan, took 8weeks, no joke) so I'd suggest a different brand like Hawk or Stoptech that are more available. Also my W2s squeak when I brake gently. Everyone says they shouldn't but sure as shit they do... dunno why... bedded in wrong? Bad batch of pads? They stop good though

CSG stocks Winmax.

When I stopped by last week, they had something like 120 sets or so of Winmax in various compounds for the FRS on the shelf. Most pads ship same day if you order early enough.

[JGalp]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

CSG stocks Winmax.

When I stopped by last week, they had something like 120 sets or so of Winmax in various compounds for the FRS on the shelf. Most pads ship same day if you order early enough.

any comment about my concerns relative to the W2/W3 pads and the rest of the pads or any other ones you can think of?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by JGalp

any comment about my concerns relative to the W2/W3 pads and the rest of the pads or any other ones you can think of?

In what regard? More bite/performance = more dust. Unfortunately nothing will change that, short of going to carbon ceramics.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by kch

Honestly, for your use I'd stay with stock. If you've never faded them and don't go to the track, there's no need to change pads. You won't get any more stopping power, and will probably get more dust and noise in the process.

100% this. If you aren't fading the stock system at all, and don't have a specific deficiency you're trying to address, just stick with stock.

If you absolutely have to buy something, get the Stoptech street pads.