Brake Pad Reviews

SPOHN · 09-28-2011, 01:26 PM

I just ran at the track on the HP+ and I was happy with them this time around. But the track was not that brake intensive. I took them off Monday and they looked great. But I could see where they will eventually eat the rotors. But about to get some Carbotech XP8's. No worries then.

Jordo! · 10-21-2011, 12:58 AM

I just read through as well and here are my impressions:

The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors.

Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed).

EBC pads are okay.

The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust.

The Nismo pads are not worth the money.

The Project Mu pads are well liked.

I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust.

Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones.

wstar · 10-21-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

I just read through as well and here are my impressions:

The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors.

Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed).

EBC pads are okay.

The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust.

The Nismo pads are not worth the money.

The Project Mu pads are well liked.

I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust.

Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones.

The truth is if you ask 1,000 people, you'll get 1,000 different answers. Some people claim Hawks eat rotors, some people love the Hawks and don't see rotor problems. Some people love EBCs, some people say they have horrible quality and fall apart. etc, etc...

Some of this is explainable via insufficient data: e.g. EBC went through a management and manufacturing changeup a few years back, and it seems like most of the bad rep came from before the change and they're better now. Hawk makes several different street and light-track compatible pads that are vastly different from each other: probably the problems are on one type and not the other. Then there's user variations: some people are just a lot harder on brake pads than others, whether it's street or track driving.

It's a minefield, good luck making a rational decision

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 08:58 AM

So I'm not in a Z anymore but I thought I'd share some thoughts and touch up on some things I said about the Hawk HPS pads earlier in this thread when I still had my Z.

I felt like they lacked in inital bite but still had good stopping power and heat properties for a street car. I drove them hard on The Dragon and they did fine. They didn't dust much and seemed to have a fairly long life and treated the rotors well. The main takeaway for me was that they are a good street pad but just lacked in initial bite.

Now, recently I just changed my brakes on the 5.0... it comes stock with a Ferodo street and light-track compound pad that performs great but dusts like a motherf*cker (can't keep my wheels clean for more than 2 days), eats the rotor, and wears too quickly for a street driven car. I wore the rear pads down to the backing plates at 21k... all street driving!

So I decided to try the HPS again since I liked everything about them on the Z but the initial bite, only this time I mated them to Stillen's slotted rotors. It definitely feels better than when I had them on the Z's blank rotors in terms of the initial pad bite. I'm definitely happy with them as a street setup. If/when I need higher temp properties I will just swap in the Carbotechs, but so far I am really happy with this HPS and Stillen combo on the street.

Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon.

djpathfinder · 10-21-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon.

It'll look good dropped AND with a set of Nismo rims.

ChrisSlicks · 10-21-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

The truth is if you ask 1,000 people, you'll get 1,000 different answers. Some people claim Hawks eat rotors, some people love the Hawks and don't see rotor problems. Some people love EBCs, some people say they have horrible quality and fall apart. etc, etc...

Some of this is explainable via insufficient data: e.g. EBC went through a management and manufacturing changeup a few years back, and it seems like most of the bad rep came from before the change and they're better now. Hawk makes several different street and light-track compatible pads that are vastly different from each other: probably the problems are on one type and not the other. Then there's user variations: some people are just a lot harder on brake pads than others, whether it's street or track driving.

It's a minefield, good luck making a rational decision

As far as I know it is just the HP+ pads that eat rotors, shouldn't be any problem with their street pads such as HPS.

SeattleLion · 10-28-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

The truth is if you ask 1,000 people, you'll get 1,000 different answers. Some people claim Hawks eat rotors, some people love the Hawks and don't see rotor problems. Some people love EBCs, some people say they have horrible quality and fall apart. etc, etc...

Some of this is explainable via insufficient data: e.g. EBC went through a management and manufacturing changeup a few years back, and it seems like most of the bad rep came from before the change and they're better now. Hawk makes several different street and light-track compatible pads that are vastly different from each other: probably the problems are on one type and not the other. Then there's user variations: some people are just a lot harder on brake pads than others, whether it's street or track driving.

It's a minefield, good luck making a rational decision

I've read as deeply into this thread as I can stand. The confusion just keeps growing. Based on what I read I am getting Project Mu B-Force pads for street/light track. I ordered them from Upgrade Motoring. Great phone help and nice prices 148 front/138 rear. It will be a while before I will need more aggressive race pads. Well, maybe never.

They should be arriving next week and I will get them mounted when they arrive. The B-force pads are one level above the base Project Mu street pads. I am hoping they will not drive me nuts on the street. Here is the spec sheet for the B-Force http://www.project-mu.com.au/en/products/pad_bspec.php

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 09:14 AM

We have the same bolt pattern.

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

As far as I know it is just the HP+ pads that eat rotors, shouldn't be any problem with their street pads such as HPS.

That's what I have read.

Jordo! · 10-21-2011, 10:37 AM

Ah, okay -- thanks for clarifying on the Hawks guys

Any more reviews on the Mu street sports?

SeattleLion · 10-28-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Ah, okay -- thanks for clarifying on the Hawks guys

Any more reviews on the Mu street sports?

I can't find a Project Mu street sport listed anywhere. I called and no one heard of that model. The B-Force is the Project Mu high performance street/light track pad.

Jordo! · 10-29-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleLion

I can't find a Project Mu street sport listed anywhere. I called and no one heard of that model. The B-Force is the Project Mu high performance street/light track pad.

One of the sponsors here allegedly has them...

Hawk brake pads and Project Mu brake pads! All @ IIR!********************************

I'll probably order from them when the time comes as the prices look to be a bit cheaper than others I've found thus far via google search.

EDIT: Oh, duh, they're one and the same

Let me know how you like them in terms of bite, noise, and dust

SPOHN · 10-21-2011, 12:13 PM

Awesome review. Should be picking up my XP8's tomorrow. I'm going to run them all the time. I wont mind the noise at all. I seem to be the opposite of everyone else when it comes to my car.

FL 4Motion · 10-21-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

Awesome review. Should be picking up my XP8's tomorrow. I'm going to run them all the time. I wont mind the noise at all. I seem to be the opposite of everyone else when it comes to my car.

wilsonp · 10-29-2011, 10:59 PM

No one has tried AX6? I liked Panther Plus a lot on the NSX and I don't HPDE (though I may do VIR charity laps again someday), though the 370Z seems a bit overweight and HP for track use of them.

09-28-2011, 01:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 222	I just ran at the track on the HP+ and I was happy with them this time around. But the track was not that brake intensive. I took them off Monday and they looked great. But I could see where they will eventually eat the rotors. But about to get some Carbotech XP8's. No worries then. __________________

10-21-2011, 12:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	I just read through as well and here are my impressions: The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors. Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed). EBC pads are okay. The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust. The Nismo pads are not worth the money. The Project Mu pads are well liked. I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust. Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

10-21-2011, 08:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	So I'm not in a Z anymore but I thought I'd share some thoughts and touch up on some things I said about the Hawk HPS pads earlier in this thread when I still had my Z. I felt like they lacked in inital bite but still had good stopping power and heat properties for a street car. I drove them hard on The Dragon and they did fine. They didn't dust much and seemed to have a fairly long life and treated the rotors well. The main takeaway for me was that they are a good street pad but just lacked in initial bite. Now, recently I just changed my brakes on the 5.0... it comes stock with a Ferodo street and light-track compound pad that performs great but dusts like a motherfcker (can't keep my wheels clean for more than 2 days), eats the rotor, and wears too quickly for a street driven car. I wore the rear pads down to the backing plates at 21k... all street driving! So I decided to try the HPS again since I liked everything about them on the Z but the initial bite, only this time I mated them to Stillen's slotted rotors. It definitely feels better than when I had them on the Z's blank rotors in terms of the initial pad bite. I'm definitely happy with them as a street setup. If/when I need higher temp properties I will just swap in the Carbotechs, but so far I am really happy with this HPS and Stillen combo on the street. Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon. __________________ - Steve* Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-21-2011, 09:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	We have the same bolt pattern. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-21-2011, 10:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 419	Ah, okay -- thanks for clarifying on the Hawks guys Any more reviews on the Mu street sports? __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

10-21-2011, 12:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 222	Awesome review. Should be picking up my XP8's tomorrow. I'm going to run them all the time. I wont mind the noise at all. I seem to be the opposite of everyone else when it comes to my car. __________________

10-29-2011, 10:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 18	No one has tried AX6? I liked Panther Plus a lot on the NSX and I don't HPDE (though I may do VIR charity laps again someday), though the 370Z seems a bit overweight and HP for track use of them. __________________ 2014 Cayman S PDK Sport Chrono White/Black Was 2009 370Z Touring Sport+Nav 7AT Metallic Black/Persimmon Was 1991 NSX Auto Black/Black

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