which brake pads?

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

Thanks.
RC5+ seem to be about as dusty as ds2500 from reports I've seen (although the post on the previous page here says they are less dusty). If there was a rear pad from CL, I'd get them just to try'em.

I forget how much Carbotech Bobcats dust, but there's that option too.

[Element Tuning]

For road racing i would never give up ABS if you have a decent system and most late 2000 cars do. There are some tracks where i didn't miss it and others i was hating life without the ABS. If you are an ultra late braker and trail brake the ABS can really help and help save your tires. There really is no other place on the track to make up the kind of time you can in the braking zones.

Now different front to rear compounds have been recommended for years and on late model cars ignore this. Run the same front and rear friction. Front bias is typically built into cars so you'll want more rear braking if you've modified your suspension or you've added downforce. For instance i cannot get enough rear brake out of our unlimited STi. I've removed the bias valve for driver adjustable Tilton valves and just run full rear....could have saved the money and just pulled the oem bias valve. My only choice now is increase leverage in the rear with a larger rotor but i don't want to give up the ebrake. If you've ever lost your brakes its a godsend.

Now on my FRS with the ABS off it will lock up the front first but my pads are not 100% matched since the highest friction rear was to have custom Carbotech XP12 but i have Hawk DTC 7070 up front. Unless you need to lock up your wheels for drift or rally keep your ABS on the FRS. Its not at all obtrusive and it never feels like it releases brake force like some older abs systems (02 wrx was terrible).

[Sam Strano]

I have DS2500 front, HPS rear on mine. Ran a track day today on them. Blue rotors, brake smells and enough heat that wheel weights were starting to peel off.. Held up great.

I love DS2500's, which is why I have them on my car, and why I recommend them. They work cold, have great pedal feel and modulation (yes even with ABS you need to modulate brakes). They have a very linear torque curve, which makes them very driveable. They are one of the very few pads I've ever run that are truly street friendly and able to do a good bit of track work. They won't work for everyone, on every car, on every track mind you.

[JRitt]

Hi Guys...just an update FYI:
We've been working with the Ferodo folks on the BRZ/FR-S application, and DS2500 rear shape is in development (along with the DS1.11 endurance compound. We should have them available for purchase around the end of summer/early fall.

On the CL's (formerly Carbone Lorraine), we will have the rears a little sooner than that, in both the RC5+ and RC6 compounds. We sent them some stock pads, and they've completed the technical drawings and assigned part numbers. We are actually hoping to have samples to test on our project BRZ within the next few weeks!

I'll keep everyone updated, and I'm glad people are finding the DS2500 so effective on the front. Thanks.

[949 Racing]

We're now stocking all compounds of Carbotech and Centric Premium rotors for the FR-S / BRZ. We use and recommend Motul RBF600.

We have been running Carbotech on all our NASA Endurance National Championship winning cars for 7 years now and can help you get the right compound for your track set up.

[Matt Andrews]

not to mention 949 has on track experience with a FR-S in multiple configurations with carbotechs. With 10s and 8s, my car has more brake than it does tire right now. Pretty sure 949 now has rotors in stock too.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Sam Strano

I have DS2500 front, HPS rear on mine.

I ran HPS pads once. ONCE...
They were the suckiest pads I've ever experienced, from the time they first clamped the rotors on my S2000 on the street to the end of their very short life at the track. Soft pedal, very poor bite and low c.f., couldn't stand up to even a warmup lap at the track before the pedal got soft and I lost over 50% of braking capacity. The pedal would start to go to the floor, so I suspected air in the lines or fluid in need of changing, but no change after flushing the old out with fresh DOT4. Lo and behold, it was the pads themselves. After three very short sessions, the HPSs were dust, and I threw the OEM S2k pads on (no other option), no other changes, and got HUGELY improved braking. And stock S2k pads are not track pads by any stretch of the imagination. But totally manageable by taking it easy on them (unlike the HPS, which simply gave up no matter how easy I tried to take it on them).

Honestly, I'd run the stock FR-S/BRZ pads on this car at the track before HPS.

HP+, on the other hand, I've had very good experience with on the stock S, on street tires.

[ultra]

Originally Posted by 949 Racing

We're now stocking all compounds of Carbotech and Centric Premium rotors for the FR-S / BRZ. We use and recommend Motul RBF600.

We have been running Carbotech on all our NASA Endurance National Championship winning cars for 7 years now and can help you get the right compound for your track set up.

Do you really need to resurface/sand/swap rotors when swapping to Carbotechs? Wouldn't they just gradually scrape away the precious layer on their own, or during bedding in?

[ultra]

Finding pads for my car, which comes with the smaller, non ventilated brakes, is a HUGE PITA!

Also notice that most vendors are only selling fronts. Wai?

[jamal]

It should be easier. 08-12 WRX.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by ultra

Finding pads for my car, which comes with the smaller, non ventilated brakes, is a HUGE PITA!

Also notice that most vendors are only selling fronts. Wai?

Initial confusion over the rears probably. CT sells both, as does Hawk. Anyone that makes 2010+ LGT Rear pads sells both whether they know it or not.

My Carbotechs should arrive today

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Anyone that makes 09+ LGT Rear pads

Should be "10+".

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

Should be "10+".

Doh, you are correct. Thanks! Fixed my post.

[ultra]

Still having a headache trying to decide on pads for my car, which is a mid spec GT 86 M/T that uses e smaller brakes.

Huge thanks to Jamal for the tip on the 08WRX. After a whole bunch of photographing and googling calipers I'm pretty sure that my car uses 08 WRX calipers and pads front and rear.

Problem is the iffy choice of pads available, especially rear pads.

My first choice would be Ferodo DS 2500s front and rear but can't find a full set available for sale online.

So I'm debating between:

- Ferodo DS 2500 fronts and Hawk HPS rears (a la Sam Strano)
- DS 2500 fronts and stock rears
- Hawk HP+ front and rear
- Sacrifice small animals or virgins in hopes of digging up a full set of Ferodos.

Carbotechs would be nice but I don't really want to skim my brand new rotors and shipping new ones in would be hella expensive given my location.

Mostly aggressive street driving but I do AutoX and these WILL see the track more than a few times in the coming months.

Any advice appreciated!