Carbotech XP10 pads

[nikolarun]

I currently run Mintex 1155's on my Jag XJR-S for trackdays (driving to the track as well).
Are the Carbotech XP10's worth going for? They are almost 3x more expensive for a set of fronts. ( got quoted £240 delivered from Carbotech).

[nikolarun]

Thanks for the replies , the 6 million dollar question is are they £150 quid better than the Mintex M1155's ?
The Jag is quite heavy at 1.8t. Do they last longish ?

[nikolarun]

Thanks,
I use Castrol SRF. Dust not an issue. Bedding should be OK. The more they squeal the better IMAO
I will most likely order a set and see what the fuss is all about
How is the fade on them? For example I can do 5 hard laps of snetterton 300 and then have to do 1 cool down lap as the pedal starts getting long( Although this is more to do with heat, I am hoping having better pads will somehow help ).

mrmr96 said:

They are fantastic. I've been through XP8, XP10 and now run XP12's on my Evo. The XP12's are too track focused for the road (they only really come on song at high temps) but the XP8 and XP10 are a good balance to be useable on road and on track. In a big heavy car like the Evo or Jag I'd say the XP10's. Make sure to use good fluid too of course.

Couple of downsides:
- Price
- Dust
- Have to bed them in properly (fully heat cycle), which some people may stuggle with (they have to smoke and stink, then you're doing it right!)
- They can squeal if not regularly used hard.

Plus points:
- fking amazing braking
- Heat resistant
- fking amazing braking

Edited by nikolarun on Monday 23 April 23:55

[nikolarun]

Thanks for the inside. I can't be bothered changing pads at the track for the moment
The car is nowhere good enough to go to such extremes Changing wheels is hassle enough, but will keep it in mind as the Jag is slowly becoming a race car

T4RRR said:

For those who have tried XP12s and like them, I would seriously recommend trying the new XP20s. Initial "bite" is a little higher but the main thing for me is they last way longer than XP12s and also appear to be a little gentler on discs. I tried some at my last Thruxton outing and for me there's now no going back to XP8s, 10s or 12s! I must add that I only use the XP20s on track, got a set of 1521 (Bobcat) pads for road use which are more than adequate.

[nikolarun]

This is how I brake, but on some circuits I have to trail the brakes into the corners, which gets them quite hot, and after 7-10 laps they overheat. The fluid is OK. I am sorting out some larger discs and some cooling to them next.

boy said:

Pedal getting long sounds more like a fluid boiling issue to me, extra cooling to the caliper and braking correctly, ie single hard shove on the pedal should help this.

[nikolarun]

Bleed them every other trackday and yes I agree the feel is much much better.
I'm having new anti roll bars fitted at the moment and will try them out at Goodwood on the bank holiday Monday. Next step will be the shocks(running Bilstein B6 at the moment ) and springs ( TWR spec ones ).
I've decided to go for 325mm XJ6 front disks with callipers ( loosing ABS ).

boy said:

Ok cool, how often do you change the fluid? do you bleed the fluid from the front calipers before each trackday? when it gets very very hot it degrades and you can get a better pedal feel from bleeding the front calipers through.