Best Brake Pads?

[shinoo]

Originally Posted by Darth G-F

Is there something out there that brakes harder than HP+ without the squealing sound and that are rotor and street friendly?

I've tried the following on the Elise/Exige/Atom: Porterfield R4S,R4, Ferodo 2500, Mintex, Pagid RS4-2 & RS14. I've talked with plenty of clients who have tried Hawks, EBC, etc. I'd suggest the RS4-2 based on your requirements. Yes, we have them in stock.

[robains]

You both have a lot more road to use, and I didn't see any brake weave so looks like you weren't pushing the brakes as much as you could.

In a race, you'd want to use a lot more curb and even some dirt.

[Darth G-F]

Originally Posted by Rennstore

There is always a tradeoff - always.

Yet for a Lotus, honestly, the Pagid Blues come very, very close..........

Originally Posted by Shinoo

I've tried the following on the Elise/Exige/Atom: Porterfield R4S,R4, Ferodo 2500, Mintex, Pagid RS4-2 & RS14. I've talked with plenty of clients who have tried Hawks, EBC, etc. I'd suggest the RS4-2 based on your requirements. Yes, we have them in stock.

So based on you two, the pagid blue is the pad to get. I need to know, do they brake harder than HP+? I wouldn't want to compromise on that.

[shinoo]

I've not tried the HP+ so I can't comment.

[Rennstore]

Customer yesterday didn't like the HP+ on his Exige, loved the Pagid Blues (RS42)
So there ya have a partial answer -

[robains]

Hawk Blue is good, Hawk HT-10 is very good but might be overkill for Lotus. HP+ might be Ok for street pad, but I would not use it for a track pad unless you're new to track events and just started learning.

I have the Pagid's now and will be using them in August track event and can report back my findings.

But the OEM pad that came with the car isn't bad, but I haven't done 20+ mins of track braking with it yet.

[Rennstore]

I'd rather lick a brake pad than use a Hawk Blue.
Unless you like corrosion and high rotor wear.....

[Darth G-F]

Well I had Pagid blue on my STi and hated them Of course the STi is an overweight pig and that might be the reason I didn't like my Pagids.

What do you guys think of the Carbotech XP10? It is the preferred pad of Spec miata racers. Many use them on the street with no problem (other than dust and light squeal).

[Rennstore]

Pagid Blue on an STI is a big mistake, honestly.

Car is too heavy and the rotors too thin - WAY too much heat transfer for Blues on that car.

For a Lotus, another situation entirely -

FWIW.

[lttletimmy]

I use xp10s as my track pads on my mini and they're decent, I still get some fade but it's a big improvement over stock. I would definitely not recommend them for street use as they really need some heat before they start working, and on my car they're very noisy.

[Rennstore]

Honestly: For a track pad, fade should be a thing of the past - especially one that still has the very old characterisitc of needed to warm up for street use (!)

[Gary(SF)]

For what it's worth, I tried Ferodo DS2500s (with EBC golds) at Infineon a few weeks ago and they were flawless. No fade issues, and they are very quiet on the street, which is good because I like to use a dual purpose pad whenever possible. Price is right, too, about $240 for both axles.

Gary

[dmh]

Originally Posted by Gary(SF)

For what it's worth, I tried Ferodo DS2500s (with EBC golds) at Infineon a few weeks ago and they were flawless. No fade issues, and they are very quiet on the street, which is good because I like to use a dual purpose pad whenever possible. Price is right, too, about $240 for both axles.

Gary

Gary-
That's what I'm talking about!
We've got them for $230 with free shipping through the end of August.

[ChrisH]

I just switched from Porterfield R4S pads to Pagid Blues. I have only used them on the street so far, but the Pagid Blues are much better. The Pagids have much more grip than the Porterfields, so I don't have to press on the brake nearly as hard when driving twisty roads aggressively. Less leg force on the brake makes heel-n-toe easier as well.

The Pagids do groan a bit just as the car comes to a stop (below a few miles per hour).

[Chili Red]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

I just switched from Porterfield R4S pads to Pagid Blues. I have only used them on the street so far, but the Pagid Blues are much better. The Pagids have much more grip than the Porterfields, so I don't have to press on the brake nearly as hard when driving twisty roads aggressively. Less leg force on the brake makes heel-n-toe easier as well.

The Pagids do groan a bit just as the car comes to a stop (below a few miles per hour).

Once the Pagids get broken in they shouldnt groan or squeek.. I only get groaning and squeeking after a track day for about the first 50 miles.

[ericwgexige]

Originally Posted by Rennstore

The Pagid 1587 Blue front has a small scallop on the inner dia of the rotor where there isn't contact -

Why would Pagid manufacture the front pad material on the 1587's so that it does not sweep the entire rotor surface, especially when the backing plate allows room for enough pad material to sweep the entire rotor? What is with that section of the pad material that is scalloped out when the backing plate is square??? Besides slightly reduced braking ability, it should leave a nice band of rusty rotor surface after washing the car a few times.

[Rennstore]

The 1587s aren't specifically made for a Lotus - they are also the rears for a Subaru STi.
Pagid evidently chose to co-use the 1587 for the Blue compound only; the Blacks are the 2593 and are perfect regarding pad sweep.

I wouldn't sweat the small band that is untouched, it seems to make zero difference.
They've turned out to be a huge favorite amongst Lotus owners.