So I'm really bored at work today, and after re-reading our brake group buy thread, I was curious about other pad options. Russ got a price on Hawk HPS, which I read some good things about on NASIOC. Other names I saw were Carbotech Bobcat, Porterfield R4S.... Anyone have some experience to share about any of these? Or for that matter, any other non-OEM pad for a Subaru? Joel
I currently have Porterfield pads on my Sti 4pots for the fronts and on stock calipers for the rear. If I'm hard on the brake pedal, my soul flies through the windshield. And the same with my passengers, but only it's them that flies. On a more serious note, the pads don't require warm up. They bite and bite hard.
I have heard some really good things on the bobcats, and the porterfields. I also heard that the porterfields are a bit harder on the rotors, but we won't have to worry about that. I am thinking about getting into the bobcats, but will have to do some research. Russ
I ordered the EBS Greenstuff from TireRack. VERY pleased. My stopping distance has drastically decreased from the previous Raybestos pads. I have Greenstuff on the front and ceramics on the back. I just checked them and there's minimal to NO signs of wear. I think I may actually need to upgrade the rotors to accomodate the better pads. Although, I heard one horror story from someone who got the Green (or was it red stuff?) pads with EBC's slotted rotors and after one day at the track he took the caliper off and the pad literally crumbled out. [xx(] However, I have had excellent "bite" / grip with the greenstuff pads and would highly recommend them. I also installed them myself! I take back this post. I don't know what happened but my rotors got warped and now of course my pads are worn down. I now hear that Greenstuff warps rotors! Boo on EBC! Boo I say! Oh well, I am getting something nice out of the whole thing. How about slotted + cryo'd rotors, SS-lines, Porterfield R4S pads, Speed bleeders, and new fluid for starters...}
I heard about that too, it was some guy who did OneLap. He thought that the pads were probably put in backwards, they were labeled wrong or not labeled at all or something.
PBR/Axxis Ultimate compound pads for my 4-pots. Nothing like the smell of hot-as-hell ceramic/kevlar compound [xx(]
Besides a great set up pad's, one should consider change their brake fluid as well to a much better heat resistant brand like Castrol lma or ATE BLUE or Motul or what ever. I have Axxis with ATE blue on slotted rotor my DC2, the brake pad feels is much more firm, and have non rotor wear, and braking failures. Last thing to consider is having agreat braking power does not constitute to your car stopping, you will also have to have a great set of tires to transfer over. lol Chong
I am currently running the R4S on the RS for autox and I love them (very street friendly, too). I bought a set of the R4 for track use last summer, but I haven't had a chance to run 'em. FYI... I have been using Valvoline SynPower Brake Fluid for the past 4 years, exclusively, and short of LMA, I haven't found anyhting better (although I believe there are equals).
