I've searched the forums and have yet to find a definitive thread on this topic. Here's my situation: I have a bunch of suspension upgrades and a mild power increase. I drive the car daily in the summer and it sees road track events at least 2 times a month. The questions: What pad compound would you recommend? What pad would you recommend? Is it worth upgrading to a new rotor?
Hawk HPS or EBC Red Stuff. Anyone who said ceramic pads didn't see that you said you're going to be road racing it.
If your track days are autocross then the HPS will be fine for the street and your events, but if you are on an actual track then you will need two sets of pads. For track use you should be running something like the HT-10. You will cook the HPS pads on a track, but the HT-10 will not work well on the street, they will not get up to temperature. Make sure you get a decent brake fluid and bleed them after your track days. You don't need to upgrade the rotors (I wouldn't spend the money again, I didn't know any better when I got my Powerslots), if you trash them then get more on newtakeoff.com. It would probably be worth it to get cooling ducts if you are cooking rotors, and stainless lines would be nice as well.
Thanks for the replies so far, very helpful! I already swapped out the brake fluid when I installed the SS lines so this combo should definitely help. I was actually leaning towards getting 2 pad materials, it's not like it's a huge job to swap them out when i get back from the track (for those full track days). Anyone have experience with the EBC compounds on their stang?
I have used HP+ pads for street use and HPDEs but they dusted a lot and were loud. Didn't bother me but I was tired of people telling me I needed new brakes because they were uninformed. I run Porterfield R-4Ss now which are comparable and much better on the street. Now that I've graduated up to a faster run group and my skills have increased at the track, a street/track pad really is marginal at best. I've done the other tricks of swapping to Motul RBF600 fluid, braided lines, and cooling ducts but at this point I really need more agressive pads or larger brakes. Pad choice shouldn't be left to a poll really and the information given doesn't tell the whole story. What kind of track driving do you do? What kind of track is it? Some tracks are very hard on the brakes while others are not. Are you a more advanced driver? etc. etc.
Well, i'd go with Hawks HPS next time (probably). I got so far braided brake lines, superblue fluid and EBC Yellow stuff pads. When i got them they were perfect on the front, and the rear, well, it's whole different story. Yes, I love EBC yellow stuff, but rear pads were too thick and from what i hear it's a common problem. I didn't cause any fuss about it and just sanded rear ones down (alot). Good things: good predictable breaking and don't get that: come to the pit with smoke coming from ur wheels and rotors turning blue, like with stock pads. Bad things: too much work of fitting them (unless i got wrong pads somehow). p.s. someone put me at ease, if u had used yellow stuff pads, did rear ones fit right from the box (05-09 GT)?
I use the EBC yellow stuff, mine fit but the rear rotors had just been resurfaced before the pads were put in. They are the type of pad that you can drive all year and leave them on at the track (Road America) for me.
I have the GT 500 fronts so those # wont match. My rear brakes are stock. I got my pads from Auto Parts Warehouse | Car Parts, Truck Parts & Auto Body Parts Online - Free Shipping on most Auto Accessories & Performance Parts – AutoPartsWarehouse They are the yellow stuff R # e35dp4016r. Hope that helps.
