I've always used lube on the back of the pad, even in a fixed caliper. Supposedly reduces noise.

I've been using XP10/XP8 since my first track day. Never had an ice mode problem with (RE-11s or AD08s). Maybe I'm not engaging the brake fast/hard enough to cause it. I've also run this setup on the street without any horrible noise... until very recently.

After replacing my stock rotors with a set of PowerSlots the noise level went up 10x. It's ear piercing when I drive next to a wall or building. For an example watch the first 45 seconds of this video: Great Lakes Z Club - LaPeer Dragway 9-10-11 I've got a set of Bobcats on the way because of all this new noise.

Dust from the XP pads is THICK but I've not had any issues with damage on my stock sport wheels or the TE-37s. Maybe I'm lucky... but I neglect my car washing quite a bit (The other MI guys FORCED me to wash my car at ZdayZ : ) and have yet to see any adverse affect on my wheels from the dust.

Well, I'll be using the XP8's on slotted rotors too, which I assume is the difference factor in your noise. We'll see how it goes once I get them on and bedded.

/\ same here, carbotech advertises that their dust is noncorrosive and so far anyway, that seems to be the case, no issues/damage with the OEM Nismo wheels and our car isn't washed on a very regular basis.

In for updates. I am very interested in this same topic and would like to know what you decide.

If swapping pads back and forth the CL Brakes are a good option as well. They don't require bed-in as they are a sintered compound. For street tires and a little beyond I would run C6E front and C5+ rear. They handle 1800F and never give any hint of fade. The C6E pads are their endurance compound and seem to wear at about half the rate of any other pad I've tried. Perhaps they are more aggressive on rotors as a result but I haven't noticed any issues so far. They are pricey, but given the wear rate I find them cost effective.

chris, how many track days do u get out of your pads

The rears seem to last for an infinite amount of time, they simply don't wear. The fronts I replaced after about track 11 days (5 2-day events), and they probably had another 2 days left in them but I keep them as spares. 7 of those days were at NHMS which is brutal on brakes.

I used the Hawk DTC-70 at WGI because they were out of stock and they just weren't as consistent over the entire session.

that is excellent wear for the cars power and weight. i probably get half of that if i really use my brakes

Yeah I was extremely impressed by the CL Brakes performance and durability. Expensive yes, but they last twice as long. Availability is the only big issue.

at least you can say it is $2000 well spent, not just some $2000 ricer parts that add nothing

Expensive, but not that expensive. For the sport brakes the fronts are about $320 and the rears are around $270. An extra few bucks for mine as the AP pad shape isn't as common.

I meant the bigger calipers/rotors. THe pads too. I would love to go back to some Cobalt Friction, but they are over $300 per axle at this point.

Cobalt Friction are good pads too, similar properties the CL's. They are a sintered hybrid pad.

Their marketing strategy is terrible too. Grassroot motorsports rated them highly in their latest test, but it's nearly impossible to order them without calling them direct.