Brake pads (Poll)

[shanehutton]

So, it turns out that nobody seems to make a track pad for the front of my car (Volvo S70). The car makes a decent amount of power and weights 3500lbs so I need something that can handle heat really well. Due to this, I need your thoughts / experiences with the following options:

-Hawk HPS
-Hawk Ceramic
-PBR Metal Master
-PBR Ceramic
-Porterfield R4-S

Does anyone happen to know of a better option?

Thanks

[Maddog]

Carbotech Performanace Barkes makes track pads for S70 1998-2000.

http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/volvo.htm

I'm running the XP10 on the front and love them. Haven't had any brake fade so far this year and they are less dusty than the Hawk HPS I have on the rear.

[Redshift]

I second the Carbotech's. (What I run on my street/lapping car.)

However, as an alternative, I run Satisfied GranSport GS-3s on my dedicated track car and love them. Recommended them to a local person who was lapping/soloing a Bonneville SSEI (almost 4000lbs) and would constantly cook any brakes he tried. (Various Hawk's, PBRs etc.) He went with the GS-3s as well and never had any fade issues again.

[shanehutton]

Carbotech Performanace Barkes makes track pads for S70 1998-2000.

http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/volvo.htm

I'm running the XP10 on the front and love them. Haven't had any brake fade so far this year and they are less dusty than the Hawk HPS I have on the rear.

Do you just order direct from them or is their a better source?

[Maddog]

Just order straight from them. The main sales guy there is Danny Puskar.

[Parker]

Shane, I am running the Carbotech XP-10's front and rear in my Z as I think you know... we had a convo about brakes at Mosport. Anyways, running them on the DDT where they never have a chance to cool I never experienced actual brake fade during my 25-30min sessions, my only issue with running race pads was I was getting a mushy and pedal from all the heat the race pads generate... so it is scary trying to push hard late in the session. I think they would fair just fine on the bigger tracks where the brakes get an opportunity to cool between turns.

The XP-10's are on the limit of bite for a street tire though, I wouldn't suggest going with anything stronger until you are running R-comp tires. I already run into my ABS a bit but it is still managable.

[Burnsey]

Hey Shane - glad to see you're still workin' that Volvo. We chatted/co-rode at one of the PITL events last fall.

I run Hawk HPS on my Mazda 6 for street/autocross duty. While they work great for that type of use, I don't think they'll put up with much track/heavy use.

A great pad but not quite what yer lookin' fer...me thinks...:D

[oldguy]

Contact Ken Kozlowski @ KNS brakes.

www.knsbrakes.com.

He is the brake man... custom builds stuff for race
teams, etc... deals directly with the public, too.

Great guy.

Super service.

No mistakes.

He has forgotten more about brakes that all of us
internet wizards will ever know.

[abrracing]

Never ever cooked my Hawk 9012 Blue before, but I know they are not good street pads
________
CALIFORNIA MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES (http://california.dispensaries.org/)

[shanehutton]

Yeah, unfortunately Hawk doesn't make any of their track compound for my car. Only the HPS and Ceramic.
I think I am going to go with Carbontech. Do you guys recommend a separate set of track pads and rotors or can I use these day to day? It would be a pain but if they eat rotors or absolutely suck in the cold then I might deal with it. I assume I should run something else for the winter though cause the cold bite can't be that good. Also, how do the pads last? I went though a set of fronts in 5000km and 2 track days with the PBR Metal Masters. Should I expect better than that?

[Cap'n Pete]

I would NOT recommend HPS for the track ... not for a ~3500 lb car. I had a BAD experience due to HPS in the front of my ~3500 lb Camaro (doing ~220 at the end of the long straight at MIR is not the place to realize the pads don't have as much stopping power as you hoped/expected :rolleyes: ).

I've run various different Hawk pads (Blues, HT14's, DTC70's) but think I may try a Carbotech XP10 or XP12 next ... I've heard very good things about them. If you can get them for your car, go for it :cool:.

[Parker]

Yeah, unfortunately Hawk doesn't make any of their track compound for my car. Only the HPS and Ceramic.
I think I am going to go with Carbontech. Do you guys recommend a separate set of track pads and rotors or can I use these day to day? It would be a pain but if they eat rotors or absolutely suck in the cold then I might deal with it. I assume I should run something else for the winter though cause the cold bite can't be that good. Also, how do the pads last? I went though a set of fronts in 5000km and 2 track days with the PBR Metal Masters. Should I expect better than that?

I have found my XP-10's to be a very streetable pad due to my lazyness. I had track event 2 weekends in a row, and now I have just been super lazy with no excuse and still have the race pads in. I haven't driven in any real cold, nowhere near winter temps and they will never see winter but as for the cool weather that has struck us recently I have had no issues with a weak bite, in fact the bite is almost too much for the street. Driving at speed they are fine, but when you are moving in and out of the drive way and rolling around parking lots it is hard to be smooth, you certainly feel them "bite" as you try to feather the brake to control your idle speed in first gear. Make sure you bed them properly, I can see that the pad material has transfer to the rotor and it is obvious that it makes a big difference in friction/bite. So besides making you look like a jerky driver at low speeds on the streets, they are also noisy at low speeds on the street as well. I haven't got any comments yet, but everytime I stop in traffic I am just waiting for the smartass remark about having a nice car and not being able to afford new brakes :rolleyes: lol

[gearhead]

I have run the Hawk HP+s on my M3 and if you can stand the noise on the street they are an OK street pad,Oh did I mention the noise when they are warm?On track they work quite well and quite easy to modulate & progresive with good feel and seem to be quite rotor friendly.They do fade when pushed real hard but recover quite fast but this is also a 3700 lb car with over 400hp.

[AllenT-SPDA]

the r4-s performs well on my 07 impreza which is probably 33-3400 pounds with me in it. It's a similar bite as the hp+ but with no noise and less dust. I've had some spirited, hard braking on the DDT with them and at shannonville and I didn't feel any pad fade, but it is only a light track duty pad, I'd be a bit hesitant to run these for extended sessions on the track.

[Tashko]

Hmm, is anybody running EBC track pads?

[Do It Sidewayz]

Hmm, is anybody running EBC track pads?

I am.....however not as much in a "track" environment.

I've been testing the Yellows for EBC or a while now, and been completely happy with them.

I ran them just recently at the DDT, on my Rally car, which is heavy by track standards and makes good deal of power.

They held up to 10+ laps at a good pace without fade once i got the bias adjusted in the car. And i don't call flat out in 5th (of an STI 6 spd), on the ddt slow at all.



The best option on a heavy Volvo, with good power....nothing much "stock" is going to really be up to the task, find pads that will take the heat, an other parts simply will not. Don't get greedy, and try to run for 20+ minutes. The tires, brakes, seals, and wheel bearings will thank you.

[shanehutton]

Just ordered everything:
Carbontech XP-10 front and XP-8 rears
Stainless lines
Upgraded from 11" rotors to 12"

Hopefully this will help me out at the next ATTS. I was about 4 seconds off pace at the DDT but I am thinking the automatic tranny and horrible brakes had to have been costing me about that. Now if only I can find the axles for my manual swap :)

It's all for fun anyways - as long as I'm not last ;)


Thanks guys.

I'll report back