Pad recommendations for a friend
Discussion
I took a friend for his first ever trackday at Donington on Friday and he had a great time. However he did find the limits of his factory brakes on the day, we did bleed them beforehand with some uprated Motul fluid but kept the factory pads as they had a lot of meat on them.
The car in question is a MK2 TTRS, the car is still on just regular Michelin PS4's but he might be looking at some smaller wheels to put something stickier on. So we are looking for an uprated pad that will work for his car. I use Carbotech XP8 and my other friend uses some kind of hawk pad but our cars have half the power and are also a fair bit lighter (gt86 and nc mx5) plus my pads are not great on the road as they sound like a train and dust really badly but my car isn't really used that much so I don't care.
So I'm looking for a pad that can stand up to track abuse but isn't too extreme really, the factory setup is pretty beefy anyway as it's got some pretty big 4 pot brembos with a 370mm disc. My first thought was DS2500's but years ago I chewed through a set in a single trackday in my old turbo mr2 so maybe one up with the DS11.11 or whatever it's called?
Pagid was another option but I really can't figure out which one is a trackday compound? Is it the RS29? Same goes for carbone lorraine would it be the RC5+ or RC6?
The car in question is a MK2 TTRS, the car is still on just regular Michelin PS4's but he might be looking at some smaller wheels to put something stickier on. So we are looking for an uprated pad that will work for his car. I use Carbotech XP8 and my other friend uses some kind of hawk pad but our cars have half the power and are also a fair bit lighter (gt86 and nc mx5) plus my pads are not great on the road as they sound like a train and dust really badly but my car isn't really used that much so I don't care.
So I'm looking for a pad that can stand up to track abuse but isn't too extreme really, the factory setup is pretty beefy anyway as it's got some pretty big 4 pot brembos with a 370mm disc. My first thought was DS2500's but years ago I chewed through a set in a single trackday in my old turbo mr2 so maybe one up with the DS11.11 or whatever it's called?
Pagid was another option but I really can't figure out which one is a trackday compound? Is it the RS29? Same goes for carbone lorraine would it be the RC5+ or RC6?
Everyone will have their own opinion on pads, but I'm a big fan of the Pagid RSL29's. I've used them on various cars over the years, and currently run them on my Exige.
They might not have the outright bite of some newer pads on the market, but they work fine on the road, last well on track, are very kind to discs, and don't generate lots of corrosive dust. On track the bite is significantly better than something like a DS2500, and I never seem to be able to get them to fade (although obviously that will be car dependent)
They might not have the outright bite of some newer pads on the market, but they work fine on the road, last well on track, are very kind to discs, and don't generate lots of corrosive dust. On track the bite is significantly better than something like a DS2500, and I never seem to be able to get them to fade (although obviously that will be car dependent)
IdiotRace said:
Theres a RS29 and RSL29, is there a difference between the two?
I believe RSL is the new name for RS29, so you may come across places with RS29 in stock.Either these or DS1.11 would be my opinion.
Both come in at £300 (ish) or more but both will last well over a year of TDs unless you are out a couple of times a week.
IdiotRace said:
Yeah I kinda thought that, funny thing is the pad shape is also identical to the brembos on my 86 without the sensor indent. I'm assuming people tracking these must short the sensor out to stop it complaining if you run these pads.
You don't short it out, that will bring it into pad worn, just tie the sensor wire out of the way with a cable tie.I'm seriously impressed with the new EBC Bluestuff pads. Not only are they currently pretty cheap to buy, I guess still trying to build a reputation, but I'm struggling to think of a better track pad I've used on a heavier (1400kg+) car.
Quick rundown of my experience with other pads I can remember:
EBC Yellow stuff/Red Stuff - Great bite but awful pads. Friction changes with temp so you're always chasing the right brake pressure. Cooked both varieties in one 20min session in a 1550kg car.
Mintex 1144 - Best bite of any pad I've driven. Superb in lighter cars (Mini/Exige) but over temp on track if car over ~1400kg
EBC Green stuff - Very similar to the Mintex, not as good when cold (maybe) better when up to temp but also overtemp in anything heavy like a TT.
Pagid RS14 - lovely consistency, excellent durability, lower friction so pedal firmer, horrible on the road. Squealing like train brakes and numb.
Carbon Lorrain - poor fit in calipers so rattle unless freshly lubed in copper grease and cooked in 2 laps on the Nurburgring (Evora S). Only good thing is they will recover and brake well after being over temperature.
Brembo HP2000 Performance - Good cold bite. Narrow operating window, they get better and better with temperature, then go over quickly and deposit material on the disks leading to judder. Also, once over temp a couple of times they turn to blocks of wood.
EBC Bluestuff - Not a much bite as Mintex or other EBC pads, but lovely and consistent like the Pagid, slightly more bite than Pagid and far less squealing on the road (very occasional squeak). I've yet to seriously over temperature them on track, even in my 1850kg Tesla! Also tried on a lighter GR86 and they have worn very well.
Quick rundown of my experience with other pads I can remember:
EBC Yellow stuff/Red Stuff - Great bite but awful pads. Friction changes with temp so you're always chasing the right brake pressure. Cooked both varieties in one 20min session in a 1550kg car.
Mintex 1144 - Best bite of any pad I've driven. Superb in lighter cars (Mini/Exige) but over temp on track if car over ~1400kg
EBC Green stuff - Very similar to the Mintex, not as good when cold (maybe) better when up to temp but also overtemp in anything heavy like a TT.
Pagid RS14 - lovely consistency, excellent durability, lower friction so pedal firmer, horrible on the road. Squealing like train brakes and numb.
Carbon Lorrain - poor fit in calipers so rattle unless freshly lubed in copper grease and cooked in 2 laps on the Nurburgring (Evora S). Only good thing is they will recover and brake well after being over temperature.
Brembo HP2000 Performance - Good cold bite. Narrow operating window, they get better and better with temperature, then go over quickly and deposit material on the disks leading to judder. Also, once over temp a couple of times they turn to blocks of wood.
EBC Bluestuff - Not a much bite as Mintex or other EBC pads, but lovely and consistent like the Pagid, slightly more bite than Pagid and far less squealing on the road (very occasional squeak). I've yet to seriously over temperature them on track, even in my 1850kg Tesla! Also tried on a lighter GR86 and they have worn very well.
Edited by Niffty951 on Wednesday 25th June 12:14
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