Brake pad advise needed

[pernod]

The new CX7 is going in to have it's rotors replaced next week. Having done some research there is a train of thought that the standard Mazda brake pads are the cause of some warping issues, so while replacing them anyway I have a chance to swap the mazda ones out for something else 'just in case'.

The question, what on earth should I be swapping them with?

I've never run non-standard pads in anything before so I'm clueless and need some advise.

EBC yellowstuff are available to fit the CX7 but everywhere I look is full of conflicting views on whether they are suitable for road use. Greenstuff is also available but if I'm changing pads anyway it seems to make sense to upgrade them?

Anyone got any advise or recommendations. Would you even bother changing them from stock?

Edited by pernod on Thursday 16th February 20:41

[MX-5 Lazza]

No idea what pads are best for that car but generally speaking I'd avoid Greenstuff like the plague. Yellowstuff are track biased so might not be the best on the road i.e. they might not work so well cold. They will also wear the discs quicker than road pads.

[kiwifraser]

The yellowstuff pads in my Monaro weren't great cold, and squeaked/ squealed at times. Not much help am I

[kiwifraser]

http://brakespros.com/c-77_mazda-cx7_performance-b... ??? Don't know anything Hawk pads though.

[pernod]

More research suggests warped rotor and brake pad link is 'unproven' at best (although warped rotors seem surprisingly common)

So my options are:

• leave it stock and hope - and change disks/pads if they do warp again.
• Try different pads
• Put different rotors in now

I'm leaning towards leaving it stock and seeing what happens. Worst case it'll just be the added fitting cost if they warp in the future (as dealer will pay for the stock disk/pads this time).

[pernod]

Thanks for the help though! I've learnt a lot about brakes tonight

[shimmey69]

Put in yellowstuff and just drive it very hard "just to get the brakes up to temp". :thumbup"

[BerksJack]

EBC did alot of work last year to change the compounds of their pads.

I had yellows and they seemed fine when cold, I've recently changed to the new orangestuff and to be honest they are absolutely fine from cold. No different to any other performance pad I've had in the past.

What will you be using the car for OP?

[NormanD]

For pads I use Ferrodo DS2500

[GeoffW]

You haven't said whether you wanted road biased or track biased pads, most of the recommendations above are track biased pads whereas I suspect - with a CX7 - that you only drive it on the road? Can then make a recommendation or two...

[BerksJack]

GeoffW said:

You haven't said whether you wanted road biased or track biased pads, most of the recommendations above are track biased pads whereas I suspect - with a CX7 - that you only drive it on the road? Can then make a recommendation or two...

I Mis-read the OP as driving an RX7

[John D.]

Aren't warped discs a myth generally? Its all just uneven pad material build-up on the disc which causes the vibration. Which does mean the OE pads could still be the culprit I suppose.

FWIW I used to have Yellowstuff on my Elise. They were not much cop from cold so not really family car material. Greenstuff were fairly cack on my old Clio too. DS2500s are great pads but again rather track/hooning orientated. Better than Yellowstuff from cold I reckon. Bit dicey if allowed to get cold and wet on the motorway though! Had an interesting lack of brakes approaching the end of a slip road once.

I think Mintex do some more tame/road orientated pads.

[pernod]

GeoffW said:

You haven't said whether you wanted road biased or track biased pads, most of the recommendations above are track biased pads whereas I suspect - with a CX7 - that you only drive it on the road? Can then make a recommendation or two...

Whoops! That would explain some of the recommendations

It's the family mover which is likely to do lots of short trips + any long motorway runs so something which keeps stopping at low temps is a must.

[I am The Gimp]

BerksJack said:

EBC did alot of work last year to change the compounds of their pads.

I had yellows and they seemed fine when cold, I've recently changed to the new orangestuff and to be honest they are absolutely fine from cold. No different to any other performance pad I've had in the past.

What will you be using the car for OP?

As has been said above. Some of the compounds changed in back of 2010. Best bet is speak to EBC for the correct serial number matching your application.


I use Bluestuff pads in my car. They seem spot on from cold and get better onces a bit of heat is in them.

I had Yellowstuff prior and foudn them fine from cold. But noisy and faded once used hard.




Steve