Brake pads for AP racing

[hyunsoo1803]

Looking for brake pads for ap racing bbk application

I have previously used mintex pads that came with ap racing.

Now that it's almost done, I'm looking for new pads

What I want
- Low to no noise
- No to less fade
- Minimal brake dusts
- Performs well on track

I'm looking for street/track pads and some options I found were:

Ferodo DS2500, Project Mu HC+, and Mintex Xtreme (the one I'm currently using)

What would you choose?

What are other options?

[wstar]

IMHO, what I've found over the course of many brake pad experiments is that there are two universal rules:

1) Good track pads will make dust and noise that you won't enjoy on a street car.
2) Brake pads that are sufficiently clean and quiet on the street won't hold up to hard-core track stresses. Something will give, if nothing else they'll put deposits all over your rotor and then destroy them

Just don't believe the hype when a pad mfg tells you they have a universal pad that solves everything. They don't!

That being said, I'm running Carbon-Lorraine's RC-6E at all 4 corners in the AP kit on my track car, and I really like them, and I think they're about as good as it gets on most of these factors. They will squeak, especially if you drive them cold on the street, but it's not that bad. The on-track performance is awesome, the pedal feel (ability to modulate) is awesome, and perhaps most importantly they're basically self-bedding. No need to worry about hardcore break-in/cool-down on pad swap and trying to figure out whether you broke them in hard enough, or hit them too hard and cooked stuff.

The only real downside is they're very pricey and there's only one distributor in the US to order from. For RC-6E at all 4 corners on the AP/Stillen kit, you're looking at $850 in pads. They do seem to last a long time, though. Pad links from my last order:

Front: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads
Rear: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads

Next time around (whenever these are finally significantly worn down) I'm planning to upgrade the front to RC6 while leaving the rear at RC6E, but RC6E all-around is still a very good setup, and probably more streetable than the RC6 anyways.

[Sh0velMan]

Soooo you want:

Good on the Track
No noise
No fade
No dust


So you want magical brake pads?

Seriously, there's no pad in the world that can fulfill all of those requirements.

[Sh0velMan]

Originally Posted by wstar

IMHO, what I've found over the course of many brake pad experiments is that there are two universal rules:

1) Good track pads will make dust and noise that you won't enjoy on a street car.
2) Brake pads that are sufficiently clean and quiet on the street won't hold up to hard-core track stresses. Something will give, if nothing else they'll put deposits all over your rotor and then destroy them

That being said, I'm running Carbon-Lorraine's RC-6E at all 4 corners in the AP kit on my track car, and I really like them, and I think they're about as good as it gets on most of these factors. They will squeak, especially if you drive them cold on the street, but it's not that bad. The on-track performance is awesome, the pedal feel (ability to modulate) is awesome, and perhaps most importantly they're basically self-bedding. No need to worry about hardcore break-in/cool-down on pad swap and trying to figure out whether you broke them in hard enough, or hit them too hard and cooked stuff.

The only real downside is they're very pricey and there's only one distributor in the US to order from. For RC-6E at all 4 corners on the AP/Stillen kit, you're looking at $850 in pads. They do seem to last a long time, though. Pad links from my last order:

Front: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads
Rear: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads

Next time around (whenever these are finally significantly worn down) I'm planning to upgrade the front to RC6 while leaving the rear at RC6E, but RC6E all-around is still a very good setup, and probably more streetable than the RC6 anyways.

I have the RC6's, they're loud as **** and dusty as well. So this guy would probably have an aneurysm if he bought them.

[hyunsoo1803]

Originally Posted by Sh0velMan

Soooo you want:

Good on the Track
No noise
No fade
No dust


So you want magical brake pads?

Seriously, there's no pad in the world that can fulfill all of those requirements.

Will shims do any trick to reduce noise? I've had PMU Club Racer pads which screamed like pig in low speeds.

I might just try the RC6E with shims

[Sh0velMan]

Originally Posted by hyunsoo1803

Will shims do any trick to reduce noise? I've had PMU Club Racer pads which screamed like pig in low speeds.

I might just try the RC6E with shims

RC6E are absurdly loud, but also completely awesome pads.

Shims + regular greasing will absolutely help. So will putting heat into them as often as you can...

Sometimes I do a run up to 90 or so and brake hard down to 5-10 to put enough heat into them so that they shut up for a while.

When I say regular greasing, I mean like every couple of weeks, if you daily drive it.

[wstar]

I had RC6 fronts on my Akebono calipers, they weren't that bad! Maybe noisy for a street car, but way better sounding than e.g. Carbotech XP's

[Sh0velMan]

Originally Posted by wstar

I had RC6 fronts on my Akebono calipers, they weren't that bad! Maybe noisy for a street car, but way better sounding than e.g. Carbotech XP's

In my experience, it's not the fronts that make the most noise lol, but mine are loud as hell.

[wstar]

Maybe, I had RC-5+ in the rear at the time. My Carbotech noise was horrendous, but the CL's really don't seem bad at all to me. It squeaks cold, but it's not the same kind of annoying screeching I had before.

[SPOHN]

Originally Posted by wstar

IMHO, what I've found over the course of many brake pad experiments is that there are two universal rules:

1) Good track pads will make dust and noise that you won't enjoy on a street car.
2) Brake pads that are sufficiently clean and quiet on the street won't hold up to hard-core track stresses. Something will give, if nothing else they'll put deposits all over your rotor and then destroy them

Just don't believe the hype when a pad mfg tells you they have a universal pad that solves everything. They don't!

That being said, I'm running Carbon-Lorraine's RC-6E at all 4 corners in the AP kit on my track car, and I really like them, and I think they're about as good as it gets on most of these factors. They will squeak, especially if you drive them cold on the street, but it's not that bad. The on-track performance is awesome, the pedal feel (ability to modulate) is awesome, and perhaps most importantly they're basically self-bedding. No need to worry about hardcore break-in/cool-down on pad swap and trying to figure out whether you broke them in hard enough, or hit them too hard and cooked stuff.

The only real downside is they're very pricey and there's only one distributor in the US to order from. For RC-6E at all 4 corners on the AP/Stillen kit, you're looking at $850 in pads. They do seem to last a long time, though. Pad links from my last order:

Front: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads
Rear: Essex - CL RC6E Brake Pads

Next time around (whenever these are finally significantly worn down) I'm planning to upgrade the front to RC6 while leaving the rear at RC6E, but RC6E all-around is still a very good setup, and probably more streetable than the RC6 anyways.

$500!!! I'll stick to my Carbotechs for my AP's. They stop perfect, no fade ever, and very lasting pads for my hard braking (XP 10's)

[hyunsoo1803]

I also heard griding the edge of the pads will significantly reduce the squeal. Any ideas?

[DarkJak]

I'd have PMu HC800 (I believe the same as HC+?) pads on my car this week had I not accidentally shipped my fluid to my campus address. So I'll have to wait until my move-in day. I was looking for a step up from the stock sport brakes. I'll report my thoughts once they are on.

[hyunsoo1803]

Originally Posted by DarkJak

I'd have PMu HC800 (I believe the same as HC+?) pads on my car this week had I not accidentally shipped my fluid to my campus address. So I'll have to wait until my move-in day. I was looking for a step up from the stock sport brakes. I'll report my thoughts once they are on.

Please do !

[hyunsoo1803]

Originally Posted by DarkJak

I'd have PMu HC800 (I believe the same as HC+?) pads on my car this week had I not accidentally shipped my fluid to my campus address. So I'll have to wait until my move-in day. I was looking for a step up from the stock sport brakes. I'll report my thoughts once they are on.

update?

[DarkJak]

Originally Posted by hyunsoo1803

update?

Got my brake fluid two days ago. I've been pretty busy since then. I'll try to get pads and fluid swapped tomorrow morning if I can wake up early enough. Otherwise, Friday.

Edit: well got my fluid changed. (Castrol SRF) but the shops all charge over $100 to swap pads. Freaking ridiculous to me, seeing how easy they are. So I'll be doing them with a friend tomorrow.