Best brake pads
Discussion
Zed 44 said:
Your opinions please.
What are the best pads for normal road use that create the least dust and don't squeal? Mine's a 350Z but whatever
Nobody will have tried them all. And for every make you'll get people that like and hate, usually in equal measure.What are the best pads for normal road use that create the least dust and don't squeal? Mine's a 350Z but whatever
Some will OEM is best and will never try anything else (so how do they know???
)As for squealing, that's not the pad material, that the pad vibrating against the piston(s). Cooper slip can help dampen this. But also the correct retaining springs and fully functioning calipers help too.
I have used DS2500s for a few years. They're OK.
A lot of Evo owners raving about Carbotech XP8s. My mechanic (whose opinion I value) recommended them.
http://www.carbotech-europe.com/
(Expensive, though)
A lot of Evo owners raving about Carbotech XP8s. My mechanic (whose opinion I value) recommended them.
http://www.carbotech-europe.com/
(Expensive, though)
Prof Prolapse said:
I'm still deeply sceptical about this "copper grease behind the pads" malarkey...
Next time I change a set I'm going to grease up on side and not the other for a bit of controlled anecdotal evidence.
Quite right. Despite what others on here say the fact is that OE pads are specifically engineered not to squeal.Next time I change a set I'm going to grease up on side and not the other for a bit of controlled anecdotal evidence.
The idea that you can somehow enhance your car with fancy pads is very closely related to painting the calipers red for greater stopping power. Brakes are a "system" designed to a particular set of compromises. Changing one "part" of that system can only achieve very little.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Quite right. Despite what others on here say the fact is that OE pads are specifically engineered not to squeal.
The idea that you can somehow enhance your car with fancy pads is very closely related to painting the calipers red for greater stopping power. Brakes are a "system" designed to a particular set of compromises. Changing one "part" of that system can only achieve very little.
So you're saying pad material has no effect?The idea that you can somehow enhance your car with fancy pads is very closely related to painting the calipers red for greater stopping power. Brakes are a "system" designed to a particular set of compromises. Changing one "part" of that system can only achieve very little.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Quite right. Despite what others on here say the fact is that OE pads are specifically engineered not to squeal.
The idea that you can somehow enhance your car with fancy pads is very closely related to painting the calipers red for greater stopping power. Brakes are a "system" designed to a particular set of compromises. Changing one "part" of that system can only achieve very little.
...unless you can eliminate one or two of those compromises and use a different pad compound more suitable to your requirements.The idea that you can somehow enhance your car with fancy pads is very closely related to painting the calipers red for greater stopping power. Brakes are a "system" designed to a particular set of compromises. Changing one "part" of that system can only achieve very little.
Standard pads are designed to: work well from cold, not squeal, not create much brake dust, have a good service life and must be cost effective for the manufacturer. Those certainly aren't everyones top priorities so there's plenty of scope for improving things!
busta said:
Standard pads are designed to: work well from cold, not squeal, not create much brake dust, have a good service life and must be cost effective for the manufacturer. Those certainly aren't everyones top priorities so there's plenty of scope for improving things!
Plenty of scope for changing things. Whether it's an "improvement" or not will depend on the competence of the engineer and the desired shift in the compromise."Performance" parts are often 90% marketing and 10% engineering!
Ozzie Osmond said:
Plenty of scope for changing things. Whether it's an "improvement" or not will depend on the competence of the engineer and the desired shift in the compromise.
"Performance" parts are often 90% marketing and 10% engineering!
You got that right, I have spent loads on so called performance parts, only to find out its just s"Performance" parts are often 90% marketing and 10% engineering!
t in a nice box with a picture of rice rocket on it.Then spend moneys buying the standard parts to replace the performance parts that spoilt my car.
You need to match pads and discs. 2500's are ok if dusty and can hurt discs vs OEM. I rate Pagid, Hawk and CL in various compounds. See which fits your budget and try them out to see how they work for you. Road use for one person is track use for another.
Oh and squeal is reduced with copper slip on the back of pads but hard pads will always be a little chatty.
Oh and squeal is reduced with copper slip on the back of pads but hard pads will always be a little chatty.
Switched from stock to EBC Redstuff pads on my Celica. Current thoughts on them are:
- About the same as stock from cold
- Much better when warmed up
- Loads of dust but it does come off very easily
Ozzie Osmond said:
Plenty of scope for changing things. Whether it's an "improvement" or not will depend on the competence of the engineer and the desired shift in the compromise.
"Performance" parts are often 90% marketing and 10% engineering!
It doesn't take a very competent engineer to change brake pads and I'm not sure what difference a competent engineer could make to their performance, unless he soaked them in oil to make the car go quicker?"Performance" parts are often 90% marketing and 10% engineering!
I agree there is sometimes more marketing than engineering around performance parts but to the same extent there is a massive market for people whose wants exceed their needs, and these 'performance' parts serve them well.
But brake pads is one area where, similar to tyres, there are clear performance advantages to be had using certain pads, and a thread such as this is a good way to avoid the marketing led ones *cough*EBC Redstuff*cough*
If you want low dust and no squeal then the Carbotech Bobcat's should do you, fast road pad.
XP8's are their next step up and have more power and fade resistance but some people can't stop them squeaking and some people never have any - depends on the brake setup and discs.
The best pads for 'normal' road use without wanting more performance? Stick a set of standard replacement mintex/ferodo's in, that's what they're designed for.
XP8's are their next step up and have more power and fade resistance but some people can't stop them squeaking and some people never have any - depends on the brake setup and discs.
The best pads for 'normal' road use without wanting more performance? Stick a set of standard replacement mintex/ferodo's in, that's what they're designed for.
busta said:
But brake pads is one area where, similar to tyres, there are clear performance advantages to be had using certain pads, and a thread such as this is a good way to avoid the marketing led ones *cough*EBC Redstuff*cough*
I'll take that bait 
EBC may be considered just a marketing company but the redstuff definitely stop much better compared to stock once they are warmed up. TBH they were about the same price as stock so not complaining. YMMV etc...
If you can afford, try some pads and see if they are any better, if not then it's not tons of money to change them if you're willing to do it yourself.
If your brakes are squealing then it might not be down to the pads. Giving the callipers a good clean and replacing the pins cured it for me.
cornet said:
I'll take that bait
EBC may be considered just a marketing company but the redstuff definitely stop much better compared to stock once they are warmed up. TBH they were about the same price as stock so not complaining. YMMV etc...
Sorry, I hadn't seen your post before I submitted mine. If I had I woud have deployed a bit more tact EBC may be considered just a marketing company but the redstuff definitely stop much better compared to stock once they are warmed up. TBH they were about the same price as stock so not complaining. YMMV etc...
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