Brake pad suggestions?

I ended up putting Axxis Metal Masters and Ultimates on the Escort and the MX6. GREAT pads. The Metal Masters have some serious initial bite, and for the price (under $100 for both full sets shipped) they were a serious bargain.

Still love my Yellowstuffs on the Celica, though. Almost painful stopping power.

A lot of nice tips and pointers on pads but I was wondering if anybody has done a comparison between the EBC yellows and Porterfield R4S? I need a set of pads for track duty and I'm not sure which to get. AWD, 3300 lb car. I have to say I'm leaning towards the EBC's more...

chknhwk wrote: A lot of nice tips and pointers on pads but I was wondering if anybody has done a comparison between the EBC yellows and Porterfield R4S? I need a set of pads for track duty and I'm not sure which to get. AWD, 3300 lb car. I have to say I'm leaning towards the EBC's more...

I've used both, but on a car that weighed between 700-1000lbs less, depending on stage of development.

The R4S is arguably better for track duty, but is pretty ridiculous on the street, and eats rotors like crazy.

I prefer the Yellows, but you'd do well to get either.

And again... personal preference, wildly different car, etc, and all that, chap.

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

Are you referring to the R4S or the R4E? I was under the impression the S stood for street and the E was for extreme or track duty.

It is funny how different pad opinions can be.

I've run OEM, Green Stuff, and now HPS pads on my E36 M3 (not a swear!). It is amazing how great BMWs pads are on cold grip, but they dust like no other and are not great for repeated stops. Green stuff had a lot less cold grip, moderate warm grip and feel, and did pretty good when really pushing down on them. Now I'm running HPS pads and like them quite a lot for street driving. They have more cold bite than the Green Stuff (still not OEM), a great pedal feel, and I haven't faded them yet, but it has been 100% street. I've never heard a sound from them.

HP+ on my race car is quite noisy but stops like crazy.

OP: Are you sure you don't have HP+ on there? If it is in-fact just HPS then I would try really cooking them on the highway. Sometimes even well used pads/rotors can be improved with a good hot bedding in. I was able to cook off moderate brake vibrations on my M3 with a handful of highway stops.

chknhwk wrote: In reply to 93celicaGT2: Are you referring to the R4S or the R4E? I was under the impression the S stood for street and the E was for extreme or track duty.

Hrmmm.... well hell. It was the track pads, so i guess the R4E

belteshazzar wrote: oh SWEET! an opportunity to dig up my hatred for EBC greenstuff. rotor shredding dusty loud AND THEY DON'T STOP ANY BETTER grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

This was exactly my experience as well. I've been much happier with the Ultimates. They do dust though. I've never used a good pad that didn't dust worse than what most of us consider oem (bmw, you're not included).

93celicaGT2 wrote:

chknhwk wrote: In reply to 93celicaGT2: Are you referring to the R4S or the R4E? I was under the impression the S stood for street and the E was for extreme or track duty.

Hrmmm.... well hell. It was the track pads, so i guess the R4E

I kinda had a feeling... I think I'm going to try the R4S's for both street and track and if they don't do well I can always get a set of full race pads through Carbotech and send back my street pads. LOL

From the Porterfield catalog. R-4 racing compound. Maintains average of .50 friction level within a wide operating temperature. Optimum operating temperatures 450 and above.

R-4E, endurance race compound. .46 average friction. Perform best at temps over 600 degrees. Designed to endure higher prolonged temperatures and still have the pad life as long or longer than the R-4.

R-4S, For high performance and heavy duty street conditions. Up to .41 friction level. Great forautocrossing, solo events, off-road events and rallies.

I ordered the R4S's for the fronts. I've got a two day event at Loudon in three weeks. If they're not enough then I'll probably get something more aggressive for my three day VIR event in August. Either way I need to get rid of these Carbotechs.

Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice.

All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad.

For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads!

The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads.

Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads.

If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads.

If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions!

Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

I used a set of Axxis Ultimates on OEM BMW rotors ("Euro" fronts) on my M3 (e36) for a couple years. Loads of autocross action and a couple track days at Summit Point and Shenandoah on RE01Rs.

I picked up a set of Hawk HT10s for track which have lasted 10 or 12 events so far and have a couple left, though I've been going a LOT harder so far this season with subsequent increased wear.

As the car receives minimal street use, and when it does it's a mix of autocross style urban assault on either end of a 10 mile highway drone - I've been lazy and left the Hawks in since I prepped the car in March.

They sound horrible when they're cold and pretty much maul your rotors, but on the track they kick ass comprehensively. That said, if I go to 255 RA1s I'll have enough tire to go to Performance Friction pads.

Another vote for Porterfield R4S

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

The Yellowstuff last twice as long as the Greenstuff? Mannn... i ran my old Greens for 20k miles, and i couldn't even see any wear when i took them off. Glad to know i bought pads that will last the rest of the life of the car.

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

except you don't make pads for my upgraded brakes. I am doing a common brake upgrade on "common" car and no one makes upgraded pads for it.

internetautomart wrote:

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

except you don't make pads for my upgraded brakes. I am doing a common brake upgrade on "common" car and no one makes upgraded pads for it.

Details?

93celicaGT2 wrote:

internetautomart wrote:

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

except you don't make pads for my upgraded brakes. I am doing a common brake upgrade on "common" car and no one makes upgraded pads for it.

Details?

Q45 calipers on a S13. allows me to increase rotor diameter, go to dual piston calipers and still keep stock wheels. they make "performance" pads for the J30, but not the Q45. Both are dual piston calipers that are very similar and just about interchangeable. If it comes down to it, I may just get a J30 set to make finding pads easier since in the end the car will have a bunch of J30 parts anyhow

internetautomart wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

internetautomart wrote:

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

except you don't make pads for my upgraded brakes. I am doing a common brake upgrade on "common" car and no one makes upgraded pads for it.

Details?

Q45 calipers on a S13. allows me to increase rotor diameter, go to dual piston calipers and still keep stock wheels. they make "performance" pads for the J30, but not the Q45. Both are dual piston calipers that are very similar and just about interchangeable. If it comes down to it, I may just get a J30 set to make finding pads easier since in the end the car will have a bunch of J30 parts anyhow

Hrmmm that IS strange that they don't make performance pads for the Q45. You doing the J30 VLSD?

93celicaGT2 wrote:

internetautomart wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

internetautomart wrote:

EBCBrakes wrote: Hello Gents! My name is Chris Noah with EBC Brakes. I just want to clear a little bit of the confusion on pad choice. All of our compounds are made for different driving. Greenstuff is not even a racing pad. This is our first upgraded street pad. For anyone who wants to autoX or any track day events... You MUST use Yellowstuff. This can be used for regular street driving as well. The beauty of this pad is that you would think that a harder race compound will tear your rotors up faster... NOT the case with Yellowstuff. We use a kevlar base with soft resin in the pad mix with a bit higher cooper ratio to accomplish rotor wear similar to the Greenstuff pads! The Yellowstuff pad will last almost twice as long as the Greenstuff pads. Now, for most import vehicles in " like the Miata " range will definitely need to be fitted with Yellowstuff pads. If your running a larger/ heavier car... You will want to go with our Bluestuff pads which last 3 times longer than the Yellowstuff and you can run these up to 1500 degrees. This is the best racing pad in the world! You can also use this Bluestuff pad on the street as well. Rotor wear is similar to the Yellowstuff and Greenstuff pads. If you have any questions.. I am more than happy to answer your braking questions! Cheers, EBC Brakes Chris Noah

except you don't make pads for my upgraded brakes. I am doing a common brake upgrade on "common" car and no one makes upgraded pads for it.

Details?

Q45 calipers on a S13. allows me to increase rotor diameter, go to dual piston calipers and still keep stock wheels. they make "performance" pads for the J30, but not the Q45. Both are dual piston calipers that are very similar and just about interchangeable. If it comes down to it, I may just get a J30 set to make finding pads easier since in the end the car will have a bunch of J30 parts anyhow

Hrmmm that IS strange that they don't make performance pads for the Q45. You doing the J30 VLSD?

yeah, pretty soon we are going to raid the JY for the rearend, hubs etc.. from a J30t so I can go 5 lugger at the same time. First though I do have to fix the frame rust.
Anyone want to buy a non-running beat up 97 altima? or a 98 intrepid that runs but has some top end noise?

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

What year Q45 is your calipers off of? We hvae rotors and pads for the Q45!

EBC Brakes Chris Noah

In reply to motomoron:

Im confident enough to say that watch out for that car running EBC passing you on the outside of the corner because he was able to stick the front end down with braking power!

Cheers, EBC Chris

Unfortunately I went with the R4S for both street and track. If I find they're not enough for the track I was going to try the Yellowstuff as you don't make Bluestuff for my '04 Jaguar X-Type. I'd give them a try but I doubt you'd make a set just for me. Don't know how much demand you have for racing pads on an X-Type...

EBCBrakes wrote: In reply to 93celicaGT2: What year Q45 is your calipers off of? We hvae rotors and pads for the Q45! EBC Brakes Chris Noah

93 same pad 90-96

In reply to chknhwk:

Go with the R4 then.

In reply to chknhwk: Sorry Mate... No Bluestuff for that car. Yellowstuff will be more than enough for the Xtype!