Brake Pad Reviews

daisuke149 · 09-28-2011, 01:11 PM

well as a new review. I used the carbo xp8's on the track this last sunday with z1 2-piece rotors and they were ridiculously amazing. not once did the brake feel change (once heated up)

They definitely bite ALOT harder than oem or the posi quiets (my normal pads for low dust) even when cold. They do squeek a bit under low pressure braking during normal driving but nothing bad. Definitely a good setup for those who want something good but not too extreme.

wstar · 09-28-2011, 01:16 PM

I haven't been to the track on my new XP8's yet, but so far my experience with them concurs with the above. Very grabby, and the noise level is tolerable on the street (and you can reduce it by re-bedding them a bit regularly).

edconline · 09-28-2011, 01:50 PM

Good reviews, I'm still just wary of using them with the RB rotors given the comment on their site.

Hmmm I see that the racing brake ET series pads are now available on their site for the 370Z. It says Nismo but I think the Nismo has the Sport Package brakes? so they should work. They only offer the ET300, ET500, and ET800 pads right now, really wish the ET700's were available, but I think I may give the ET500's a go.

SPOHN · 09-28-2011, 02:26 PM

I just ran at the track on the HP+ and I was happy with them this time around. But the track was not that brake intensive. I took them off Monday and they looked great. But I could see where they will eventually eat the rotors. But about to get some Carbotech XP8's. No worries then.

wstar · 09-28-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edconline

It says Nismo but I think the Nismo has the Sport Package brakes? so they should work

Yes, the Nismo brakes are the Sport Pkg brakes. A lot of aftermarket parts sites only list "Base", "Touring", and "Nismo" as model options, so I generally pick the Nismo when looking at brakes-related stuff, to make sure I don't end up looking at non-sport-pkg stuff.

Mike · 09-28-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

well as a new review. I used the carbo xp8's on the track this last sunday with z1 2-piece rotors and they were ridiculously amazing. not once did the brake feel change (once heated up)

They definitely bite ALOT harder than oem or the posi quiets (my normal pads for low dust) even when cold. They do squeek a bit under low pressure braking during normal driving but nothing bad. Definitely a good setup for those who want something good but not too extreme.

I still prefer my XP-12s with R compounds, but I can second that Daisuke's XP8s worked great with street tires during the session that I drove it.

wstar · 09-29-2011, 12:23 AM

Yes I should have pointed out I'm on street tires w/ my new XP-8's as well

Jordo! · 10-21-2011, 01:58 AM

I just read through as well and here are my impressions:

The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors.

Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed).

EBC pads are okay.

The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust.

The Nismo pads are not worth the money.

The Project Mu pads are well liked.

I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust.

Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones.

wstar · 10-21-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

I just read through as well and here are my impressions:

The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors.

Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed).

EBC pads are okay.

The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust.

The Nismo pads are not worth the money.

The Project Mu pads are well liked.

I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust.

Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones.

The truth is if you ask 1,000 people, you'll get 1,000 different answers. Some people claim Hawks eat rotors, some people love the Hawks and don't see rotor problems. Some people love EBCs, some people say they have horrible quality and fall apart. etc, etc...

Some of this is explainable via insufficient data: e.g. EBC went through a management and manufacturing changeup a few years back, and it seems like most of the bad rep came from before the change and they're better now. Hawk makes several different street and light-track compatible pads that are vastly different from each other: probably the problems are on one type and not the other. Then there's user variations: some people are just a lot harder on brake pads than others, whether it's street or track driving.

It's a minefield, good luck making a rational decision

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 09:58 AM

So I'm not in a Z anymore but I thought I'd share some thoughts and touch up on some things I said about the Hawk HPS pads earlier in this thread when I still had my Z.

I felt like they lacked in inital bite but still had good stopping power and heat properties for a street car. I drove them hard on The Dragon and they did fine. They didn't dust much and seemed to have a fairly long life and treated the rotors well. The main takeaway for me was that they are a good street pad but just lacked in initial bite.

Now, recently I just changed my brakes on the 5.0... it comes stock with a Ferodo street and light-track compound pad that performs great but dusts like a motherf*cker (can't keep my wheels clean for more than 2 days), eats the rotor, and wears too quickly for a street driven car. I wore the rear pads down to the backing plates at 21k... all street driving!

So I decided to try the HPS again since I liked everything about them on the Z but the initial bite, only this time I mated them to Stillen's slotted rotors. It definitely feels better than when I had them on the Z's blank rotors in terms of the initial pad bite. I'm definitely happy with them as a street setup. If/when I need higher temp properties I will just swap in the Carbotechs, but so far I am really happy with this HPS and Stillen combo on the street.

Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon.

djpathfinder · 10-21-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon.

It'll look good dropped AND with a set of Nismo rims.

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 10:14 AM

We have the same bolt pattern.

ChrisSlicks · 10-21-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

The truth is if you ask 1,000 people, you'll get 1,000 different answers. Some people claim Hawks eat rotors, some people love the Hawks and don't see rotor problems. Some people love EBCs, some people say they have horrible quality and fall apart. etc, etc...

Some of this is explainable via insufficient data: e.g. EBC went through a management and manufacturing changeup a few years back, and it seems like most of the bad rep came from before the change and they're better now. Hawk makes several different street and light-track compatible pads that are vastly different from each other: probably the problems are on one type and not the other. Then there's user variations: some people are just a lot harder on brake pads than others, whether it's street or track driving.

It's a minefield, good luck making a rational decision

As far as I know it is just the HP+ pads that eat rotors, shouldn't be any problem with their street pads such as HPS.

m4a1mustang · 10-21-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

As far as I know it is just the HP+ pads that eat rotors, shouldn't be any problem with their street pads such as HPS.

That's what I have read.

Jordo! · 10-21-2011, 11:37 AM

Ah, okay -- thanks for clarifying on the Hawks guys

Any more reviews on the Mu street sports?

09-28-2011, 01:16 PM	#92 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	I haven't been to the track on my new XP8's yet, but so far my experience with them concurs with the above. Very grabby, and the noise level is tolerable on the street (and you can reduce it by re-bedding them a bit regularly). __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

09-28-2011, 01:50 PM	#93 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	Good reviews, I'm still just wary of using them with the RB rotors given the comment on their site. Hmmm I see that the racing brake ET series pads are now available on their site for the 370Z. It says Nismo but I think the Nismo has the Sport Package brakes? so they should work. They only offer the ET300, ET500, and ET800 pads right now, really wish the ET700's were available, but I think I may give the ET500's a go. __________________ View Journal Audio Build

09-28-2011, 02:26 PM	#94 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I just ran at the track on the HP+ and I was happy with them this time around. But the track was not that brake intensive. I took them off Monday and they looked great. But I could see where they will eventually eat the rotors. But about to get some Carbotech XP8's. No worries then. __________________

09-29-2011, 12:23 AM	#97 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Yes I should have pointed out I'm on street tires w/ my new XP-8's as well __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

10-21-2011, 01:58 AM	#98 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	I just read through as well and here are my impressions: The Hawk pads suck and will eat your rotors. Stockers are fine, but have crap initial bite (agreed). EBC pads are okay. The Euro Z pads have better bite but more dust. The Nismo pads are not worth the money. The Project Mu pads are well liked. I think I'm going to pick up a set of those... any more reviews regarding noise and dust. Thinking about the Mu Street Sports ones. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

09-28-2011, 01:11 PM	#91 (permalink)
daisuke149 My *** is famous! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA Posts: 4,849 Drives: 2013 Boss 302 PW Rep Power: 31	well as a new review. I used the carbo xp8's on the track this last sunday with z1 2-piece rotors and they were ridiculously amazing. not once did the brake feel change (once heated up) They definitely bite ALOT harder than oem or the posi quiets (my normal pads for low dust) even when cold. They do squeek a bit under low pressure braking during normal driving but nothing bad. Definitely a good setup for those who want something good but not too extreme.

10-21-2011, 09:58 AM	#100 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	So I'm not in a Z anymore but I thought I'd share some thoughts and touch up on some things I said about the Hawk HPS pads earlier in this thread when I still had my Z. I felt like they lacked in inital bite but still had good stopping power and heat properties for a street car. I drove them hard on The Dragon and they did fine. They didn't dust much and seemed to have a fairly long life and treated the rotors well. The main takeaway for me was that they are a good street pad but just lacked in initial bite. Now, recently I just changed my brakes on the 5.0... it comes stock with a Ferodo street and light-track compound pad that performs great but dusts like a motherfcker (can't keep my wheels clean for more than 2 days), eats the rotor, and wears too quickly for a street driven car. I wore the rear pads down to the backing plates at 21k... all street driving! So I decided to try the HPS again since I liked everything about them on the Z but the initial bite, only this time I mated them to Stillen's slotted rotors. It definitely feels better than when I had them on the Z's blank rotors in terms of the initial pad bite. I'm definitely happy with them as a street setup. If/when I need higher temp properties I will just swap in the Carbotechs, but so far I am really happy with this HPS and Stillen combo on the street. Yes, yes, I know... the car is getting dropped soon. __________________ - Steve* Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-21-2011, 10:14 AM	#102 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	We have the same bolt pattern. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-21-2011, 11:37 AM	#105 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Ah, okay -- thanks for clarifying on the Hawks guys Any more reviews on the Mu street sports? __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

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