Hey fellas how's it goin? Ok so it's time to replace my brake pads & I'd like feedback on which ones you guys would recommend. So far my main source of info on the subject is maxmods.dyndns.org, so if my selections this far seem really far off, please keep that in mind.
Alright so I'm trying to decide from the Porterfield R4-S, Raybestos Quietstops & Hawk HPS brake pads. From what little I've read, it seems like the Hawk HPS's are pretty highly recommended, but I've included the other 2 because of their ratings on the above website. Any useful input on the subject is appreciated. Thanks much!!!

 

Hawk HPS. there is no downside to them. Why bother using anything else?

 

no rotor warpage with these brake pads?

 

I like my Porterfields. Especially when racing. I think hawks are a great choice, they are rotor friendly from what I know. Also what rotors you have makes a difference at times.

Chris

 

I've had Hawk HPS's for over 20k now, and they're @45%. They ARE good pads, but IMHO, do not provide any marked improvment over OEM's that justify the extra expense vs. cheaper aftermarket alternatives. One major downside: They Dust ALOT. There IS an improvement in initial bite, and they are MUCH more fade resistant in repeated hi-speed stops - but are you REALLY going to use it??
The only time I've noticed the fade resistance was when I was trying to "bed-in" the pads and rotors when I first changed them, while conducting panic stops. Yeah -- bad idea...the rotors (Frozen Rotors, no less) went bad in 5k miles.
ANother topic: Don't waste your $$$ on Frozen Rotors!

I have noticed a significant correlation to rotor life and pad material transfer ("warpage") and the speeds at which I drive. Translation: the slower and less aggressive you drive, the longer your brakes will last. Duh.
Some things you just HAVe to experience on your own b4 you believe it!!!

Were I to replace my pads tomorrow, I'd buy something cheaper than Hawks. For anything less than AutoCross or Track days, the cost is not justifiable.
My 2c.

gr

 

Uh-oh! Looks like I just opened-up the "can" with Irish....!

As clarification: I'm five years older than Irish -- and that's OLD!! ...that, and I probably don't drive as agressively as he does. No autocrossing over here~!

Ask yourself how and where you're going to drive your car, and how much you want to spend. There will be your answer.

gr

 

I think gr makes a point, i was thinking about the same things he brought up when i was searching for pads. To me it was either OEM, Axxis or Hawk. OEM's had too much pad transfer and required resurfacing the rotors regularly (or replacing as the case may be).

The Axxis pads barely dusted, but they barely worked either. I nearly ran over a neighbors kid who happened to jump in front of their parked car as i pulled out of the driveway. That to me was more than enough reason to ditch the Axxis.

Then came Hawk's, they're pricier, but they work better than OEM when cold and much better when heated up. My drive to/from work is all highway with sudden stops (That's Houston for you), so it works out great for me.

 

Well, I'm very pleased with my R4-S pads on my car. They stopped great and were fine for auto-x, although they did dust a bit. I happen to have a pair of front pads for sale since I bought them before I upgraded my front brakes, and they are new in box.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=483562

 

Does Axxis have any particular recommended bedding-in procedure?

That may matter, as I found out with the Mazda which just got Hawk HPS / Brembo plain rotors about 500 miles ago. Before that fairly brief and simple procedure, it felt like I had completely lost the power assist. But it was a night to day difference afterward, so they're on the 'short list' when the Maxima's turn for brakes rolls around.

It's too soon to report on things like dusting, noise, and first stop performance when really cold (I'm expecting a slight increase in required pedal effort over stock under those conditions, but nothing major and certainly not a deal-breaker).

FWIW, the Mazda is the current auto-x weapon, but both cars (and the RWD Chevy too, when it's up and running) get brake usage that's commonly a good bit harder than that of average traffic even though I mostly don't drive at speeds faster than average any more.

gr thinks he's "OLD"? My Mom and Dad are old, and I guess I'm creeping up on it based on looking at the numbers or doing the math . . . (Sorry, but I simply couldn't pass that wide-open opportunity up )


Norm

 

I personally only use Hawk or Ferodo pads. You kind of have to experiment since everyone's driving and usage is different.

 

Two questions that nobody have really asked yet:
1. What calipers do you have? stock or aftermarket (BBK)?
2. what will you be doing with the car? slow street driving? all highway in Kansas? auto X? twisty mountain roads? road course?

Before I make any pad recommendations, I need to know those two things.

 

Thanx for the quick replies fellas! Seems like the Hawk HPS are wut I'm QQn for, so I've decided to go with them.

Oh & to everyone who said they aren't worth the price unless autocrossing or tracking my car. From wut I've seen, they aren't much more expensive than oem, so to me they're worth the extra $10 or so/pair for better initial bite & fade resistance even if I'll only use it on the street.

And my fault for leaving out the intended use of these pads. They're for my d.d. & I'm only QQn for better street performance than the Wagner Thermoquiets (or w/e u call em) I hav now.

I'm QQn for better initial bite (esp. when cold!), much firmer pedal feel, better fade resistance, low noise & slightly better stopping power. If I can get most of these at the expense of having a lot of dusting, I'll take it. Hopefully these still meet my needs.

Again thanx much! I only wish I had something to contribute back to the comm. for all the help & advice I've gotten. Sadly, I'm still an automotive noob at this stuff.

 

Oh & I hav oem calipers. Do aftermarket calipers like the BBK make much of a noticeable diff. in braking performance?

 

Bump for any replies?

 

Bump for if these pads still fit my needs? Thanx!

 

I think the bottom line is, if all you do is "granny-driving" then the OEM is your best bet. Anything over that, the HPS should serve you well.