Brake Pad Recommendation Non-Sport

[harman.khinda]

So I was driving 36 the other day and my brakes got all mushy and I had to back off to let 'em cool down; it wasn't very brake intensive. Since then I've flushed the brake fluid out. I don't have money for a BBK but as the brake system wears I'll be upgrading it + brake ducts.

I'm looking for a street pad that will handle HIGH temps, has a long life, at least stock bite, is easy on rotors; dust and noise is less of a concern. I'm not going to buy anything outrageously expensive but give me all the options.

[cossie1600]

Just no hawks hps or hp plus

[osbornsm]

Well for HIGH temps i use Carbotech... great pad construction and temp abilities. If you are REALLY flogging the brakes (track day) they will only last a couple of days. But that's to be expected on the track.

Street driving i'm sure you won't get them hot enough to wear them that quick.

And +1 on the Hawks... they'll eat your rotors alive.

[B&W_Evader]

Just installed the Carbotech XP8s and Motul RBF600 this weekend. No noise out of them yet. After bedding them, it looks like they may make a lot of dust. Need to clean the wheels and see how they do under normal driving.

BTW, these brakes are awesome. I'm sure the stock brakes would of failed about half way through the way I bedded them. They grab more than stock so you'll need a lighter foot on them.

Now I can go hot into turns without fear of brake fade.

[harman.khinda]

^ nice. Let us now how they do under normal driving.

[B&W_Evader]

XP8 - Week of daily driving and another drive in the mountain. Not a squeek out of them yet, even coming to a stop gently. Not sure if they're going to glaze over after a couple of weeks of communting and then start making noise but so far so good.

Highly recommend using the brake quiet grease when installing them. I used the little pack for O'Reilly's. I just asked them for the gue you put on the back of brake pads. 1 small pack per axel. Between every shim, on the sides where it touches the calliper and on the tangs that touch the pads on that sheetmetal piece that keeps them tensioned on the 2 pins.

I'll keep you guys posted if it starts making any noise. Tons of dust though. Need to wash them and then watch them for normal daily driving.

[B&W_Evader]

Forgot to mention... These pads are amazing! Really pushed it on the downhill side. Some early braking on the curves with a cliff you could go over but held up solid on a 1hr 45minute session of very spirited driving.

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

Just installed the Carbotech XP8s and Motul RBF600 this weekend. No noise out of them yet. After bedding them, it looks like they may make a lot of dust. Need to clean the wheels and see how they do under normal driving.

BTW, these brakes are awesome. I'm sure the stock brakes would of failed about half way through the way I bedded them. They grab more than stock so you'll need a lighter foot on them.

Now I can go hot into turns without fear of brake fade.

This is wonderful news. I just did the same and can feel more braking.

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

XP8 - Week of daily driving and another drive in the mountain. Not a squeek out of them yet, even coming to a stop gently. Not sure if they're going to glaze over after a couple of weeks of communting and then start making noise but so far so good.

Highly recommend using the brake quiet grease when installing them. I used the little pack for O'Reilly's. I just asked them for the gue you put on the back of brake pads. 1 small pack per axel. Between every shim, on the sides where it touches the calliper and on the tangs that touch the pads on that sheetmetal piece that keeps them tensioned on the 2 pins.

I'll keep you guys posted if it starts making any noise. Tons of dust though. Need to wash them and then watch them for normal daily driving.

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

Forgot to mention... These pads are amazing! Really pushed it on the downhill side. Some early braking on the curves with a cliff you could go over but held up solid on a 1hr 45minute session of very spirited driving.

I'm hoping for the same. Thanks

[B&W_Evader]

1 weeks worth of dust

Includes bedding and Friday's spirited drive.

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by B&W_Evader

1 weeks worth of dust

Includes bedding and Friday's spirited drive.

Maybe you and I will get darker wheels.

As long as the rest of the car looks clean, I'll be fine.

[harman.khinda]

How are the cold stops with the XP8? I'm thinking of going with the AX6 + motul600. I don't want to spend the money to upgrade to stainless steel lines unless I have to. I like to romp on Hwy36 and its a curvy road. I don't have the cash to upgrade to Akebono's. Is there anything I should be concerned about since I have non-sport brakes? I mean can the calipers fail under excessive heat?

[b1adesofcha0s]

Also gonna upgrade to the XP8's in about a month or so. I've got my wheels plasti dipped a dark gunmetal color so hopefully all the brake dust shouldn't be an issue. I'll be using it for mostly DD and will start with some light tracking.

[sixpax]

I dig everything about the XP-8's myself, except the cost. Keep in mind I am very new to all this stuff, but was wondering why some other less expensive choices are not being tried out. For example I think EBC yellow stuff temp wise is only 150 degrees less than XP-8 (950 versus 1100) and I figure the cooling kit from Stillen is supposedly worth 140 degree (or 25%) difference from what I have read ... so they seem a viable option for half the cost. Or am I way off base ?

[harman.khinda]

From what I've read the EBC uses a thin pad that wear out fast. And carbotech's use a different compound than anyone else, that is super rotor-friendly and the pads last for a long time. Just repeating heresy, could be worng.

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by sixpax

I dig everything about the XP-8's myself, except the cost. Keep in mind I am very new to all this stuff, but was wondering why some other less expensive choices are not being tried out. For example I think EBC yellow stuff temp wise is only 150 degrees less than XP-8 (950 versus 1100) and I figure the cooling kit from Stillen is supposedly worth 140 degree (or 25%) difference from what I have read ... so they seem a viable option for half the cost. Or am I way off base ?

Carbotech XP8™ (1108™)
A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range (200°F-1350°F+)

They are even better!

RE: Or am I way off base ? I hope not, I've done the same things for the same reason.



Carbotech Performance Brakes: Frequently Asked Questions