In our last brake update, we fitted a set of 3D-printed brake cooling deflectors. Our goal? To keep our very street-friendly pads–Pagid’s new STREET+ line–working even after back-to-back hot laps.
We wanted to stay true to this project’s mission: A truly daily drivable car…
But, are they really good for the street? Traditional wisdom say that any race pad won't "turn on" at typical street temperatures.
In reply to triumph7 :
Nope, on the street they're fairly noisy and dusty. But they stop the car, even if it takes a bit more pedal pressure.
How hard have these been on the rotors? How are they in the coldest temps you see in Florida? Any trouble bedding in with the scoops in place?
I've been considering trying more expensive pads that might last longer and eat rotors less than the Powerstop PSAs I've been using, but for me they need to work decently in near-freezing temperatures.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
I ran Porterfield R4 last year all year with a lot of track time and even more street time as it was my daily. They dust, a lot, and they squeak, a lot. And yes the rotors by October looked like records but were still serviceable. Around 10k street miles and 15 track days. Went G-Loc R12's and reused last years rear R4 with fresh rotors. Less track time since I screwed my body up on One Lap, but still a bit of street time and pretty much the same thing.
As for working on the street, they do. Well. I have to be aware of who is behind me and how close because after a couple stops in evening traffic they get all nice and grabby and want to stop RIGHT NOW! A lot of people are not expecting cars to stop like that.
My solution has always been as follows:
Put on bigger brakes from another model (read overkill) and just use quality street pads.
If that's not possible then performance / track / race pads that will last a long time.
I don't care about noise or dust.
+1 on the Porterfield pads, big fan. On my SM they have good feel, good stopping power and last quite a bit.
GameboyRMH said:How hard have these been on the rotors? How are they in the coldest temps you see in Florida? Any trouble bedding in with the scoops in place?
I've been considering trying more expensive pads that might last longer and eat rotors less than the Powerstop PSAs I've been using, but for me they need to work decently in near-freezing temperatures.
I haven't measured so take my comments on rotor wear with a grain of salt, but wear seems accelerated but not catastrophic. I think I'll get two sets of pads out of these rotors, in addition to the abuse they took with the STREET+ pads.
They work fine in the coldest temperatures I've seen so far. It stops fine.
I've had great experience running Carbotech/G-Loc pads on the street. Yes, they work better with more temperature than you get on the street, but stone-cold XP8s still bite harder than any street pad I've used. They're not even that hard on the rotors.
I'm running them on both a track Miata that I drive on the street and on an E30 rally car.
I'm tempted to switch back to them for my street Miata because I hate every single street pad I've put on the car since the Axxis Metal Masters went away. But that's because right now I'm dealing with pads that don't bite. I'm sure if I switch back to G-Locs, the dust/noise will drive me batty.
The downsides are they are dusty and they are noisy, and while others have reported no problems, the dust has ruined the finish on wheels for me.
I'm -1 on the Porterfield pads on the Miata. I think they require way too much pedal effort--some find that feel easier to modulate, I find the opposite. I do run R4S shoes on my Formula Vee and they're fine for that application.
In reply to Berck :
I'm running Porterfield shoes on the back of the Datsun and have been very happy with them.
Tom1200 said:My solution has always been as follows:
Put on bigger brakes from another model (read overkill) and just use quality street pads.
If that's not possible then performance / track / race pads that will last a long time.
I don't care about noise or dust.
I run a car that came with big brakes to start with and effective brakes in the rear with enough rear weight to be helpful. First full season I ran Porterfield R4S street pads. I had fade one time at Road America following an over-braking car in front of me. Once I got past and could do single brake usage per corner they were fine.
With that said..... the switch to actual race pads was eye opening. The bite, the grip, the feel were all way better. The G-Locs are more bitey than I want, and the R4 was a little soft on initial bite so somewhere in the middle would be my Goldilocks.
Big fan of Carbotech/Gloc stuff. Had no problem using them on the street on my NA track rat. Noisy and dusty? Yep, but still stopped just fine.
Bonus is the dust isn't corrosive. I left the brake dust from a damp track day on the wheels for like 8 months, washed off just fine, didn't hurt the finish on the wheels.
R4-S are fine street pads - run them on my Z4M. Another one I like are the EBC Redstuff on the Solstice - ceramic, low dust and much better initial 'grab' than many street pads.
+1 on GLOC compound being great for street and track but also incredibly dusty and noisy.
They're so noisy on the front, even in the mild R6 compound designed for autocross, I had to switch to their street only GS-1 compound. I'm running Wilwood FNSL4 calipers in the front so it's incredibly easy to swap pads, literally one nut/bolt, though I haven't been to the track in a hot minute.
They're also incredibly dusty, I still run the R6 in the rear and my rear wheels are much dustier than the front.
How hard are you guys driving on the street that your pads not being up to temp is a problem?
I've done plenty of street driving on the EBC RP1, EBC Blue, and Hawk HP+. Never ever have I thought I didn't have enough stopping power. Maybe some people need to look at upgrading an inadequate brake system that they are just covering up with brake pads.
In reply to Patientzero :
I had Hawk Blue on the Tiburon with 12" XG rotors and twin piston calipers. Those things were so touchy even cold that tailgaters mad you pucker because it was almost like brake checking them trying to be easy. And they would haul down from 120 all day every day without fade.
Hawk used to sell a Street/Track pad that was apparently their DTC-30 endurance compound but on a street backing plate with street chamfers in the pad. According to the charts at the time they worked at almost as cold temp as an HP+ but continued working at higher temps than those. All the normal drawbacks but they worked well for me on my BMW until they were discontinued.
The Powerstop Track Day Spec pads I run now have worked great on the track for me and aren't too bad on the street (lots of dust, no noise). The first stop the pedal takes some extra effort (and I notice this on autocross runs too) but after that they are fine. I've never had any fade on these even pushing the car for over a half hour straight at TMP which is hard on brakes. I'll continue to run them as they are affordable and go more than a season for me. I'm getting two sets of pads for every set of rotors right now. The car is not a daily driver though so maybe with more street usage I would do something different.
My theory on the rotor wear is that on the street when the pads are below optimal temps they are eating the rotors but on track once things are hot then it is the other way around.
bobzilla said:In reply to Patientzero :
I had Hawk Blue on the Tiburon with 12" XG rotors and twin piston calipers. Those things were so touchy even cold that tailgaters mad you pucker because it was almost like brake checking them trying to be easy. And they would haul down from 120 all day every day without fade.
Exactly. It blows my mind people are having issues with "cold brakes".
Patientzero said:bobzilla said:In reply to Patientzero :
I had Hawk Blue on the Tiburon with 12" XG rotors and twin piston calipers. Those things were so touchy even cold that tailgaters mad you pucker because it was almost like brake checking them trying to be easy. And they would haul down from 120 all day every day without fade.
Exactly. It blows my mind people are having issues with "cold brakes".
I think it is very pad/vehicle specific, personally I'd rather have a pad that requires a bit more pressure cold then one that is an off/on switch and trying to put me in the dashboard.
In reply to adam525i :
I loved those brakes on the track. On the street was a bit challenging. I like the current setup for both.
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