Brake Pads - Any recommendations?

[loony tunes]

I have upgraded to ebc red stuff brake pads in my wrx (2004 model) as the first OEM set worn out too quickly and suffered serious fade from over-heating.  I am now disappointed with the ebc red stuff pads as they are the same (not quite as bad) as the OEM pads.  I don't know whether it is because I am using OEM discs but the pads have been run in properly but smoke when braking harshly resulting in reduced braking force. On the other hand however, I have not experienced any problems with them when cold as some members have mentioned in this forum, but this may be due to my driving style, as 99% of the time the car is being driven hard and the pads don't stay cool for long. Those people who experience problems with the red stuff pads when cold are in my opinion driving to the speed limit most of the time, not giving the chance for the brake linings to warm up, which in all honesty, doesn't take much.  The important thing to remember is that you really want to stop when you are flooring it when the pads are very hot (at speeds that you know you won't make it), when compared with the speed that you must be going at if the pads were cold.

I have read about the yellow stuff brake pads and they are apparently stable up to a temperature of 900 degrees as oppaosed to 700 for the red stuff pads.  The frictional coefficient for these pads is greater than that of the red stuff pads.  Has anyone used these pads and how do you rate them?  What pads do all you scooby nutters out there recommend, or what do you recommend me to do to my scooby to eliminate brake fade altogether?

[ozzy]

Don't know about you, but I find it difficult to drive the car hard in the middle of Edinburgh rush hour first thing in the morning - that's when I have problems with the brakes when cold :-)  It still stops, but makes judging distance a little awkward at first, but nothing you can't adjust to.  They stop fine when thrashing it, but I'm always wary when pedestrians and cyclists decide to jump out in front of me.  Don't fancy knocking one of them down (even if it's their fault) just because the pads don't stop as quick first time.  As you say, it doesn't take them long to warm them up sufficiently to stop in time.

I can get my EBC discs and Redstuff pads smoking after just 5mins and a handful of corners, but I'm very hard on the brakes.  They do stop, but if you keep pushing it then they fade eventually.  My pedal goes long, so that suggests the heat is too much for the fluid rather than the pad itself.  How does your car fade?  is it a long pedal or firm pedal, but no stopping power?

Other pad choices would be the Yellowstuff (not tried them myself) or the Mintex 1144/1155, Pagid RS 4-2 or RS 4-2-1 or the Ferodo DS2500's.

I doubt this will eliminate fade with std size discs as they just can't cope with heat dissipation.  If you want something like that get a set of AP's or at least larger discs with a seperate alloy bell to allow the discs to get rid of the heat better.

[tazman]

I run Mintex 1155's on the front of my wagon with std disc's and survived a weekend at the Nurburgring without any problems! Am thinking about running with 1144's on the rear.

[ozzy]

I've heard there's not that many frequent stops at the Nurburgring and with the long high-speed straights the brakes get a chance to cool.

How have they been on twisty backroads with lots of heavy, frequent breaking?

[loony tunes]

The pedal continues to be firm when the brakes start to smoke but you have to push down much harder.  I am under the impression that when the brakes start to smoke they start to break down and are never as effective as they once was.  Is this correct?  I am a newbie - what are AP's? Drilled and vented discs?  What brake fluid would you recommend?  It has still got the same fluid from new.

[tazman]

To be honest I haven't really push the right foot down on the public highway..........I want to keep my licence! They aren't to bad from cold tho' on initail braking as they warm you do notice them biting more!

Whilst at the 'ring' we did get chance to blat round the GP track as well but were stopping after every two laps to let things cool down just in case.

[z1000]

I put a set of 1144's on my old wagon but they warped the original discs and turned them blue in a couple of weeks but worked great with some ebay sourced grooved and drilled ones.

[ozzy]

  Quote

The pedal continues to be firm when the brakes start to smoke but you have to push down much harder.  I am under the impression that when the brakes start to smoke they start to break down and are never as effective as they once was.  Is this correct?  I am a newbie - what are AP's? Drilled and vented discs?  What brake fluid would you recommend?  It has still got the same fluid from new.

If the pedal is still firm and short, then you've faded the pads themselves.  If you get heat into the fluid through the calipers then it can boil it, but that usually shows as a very long pedal - just as scary.  Pads smoking isn't bad in itself, but if they start to breakdown (really depends on the pad material and manufacturer) then they will start to go off and get worse.

Any good DOT 5 fluid would do the job.  I've only used AP stuff myself and I've still managed to boil it on the road.  They're all much of a muchness from what I've heard and all the DOT rating shows is the boiling point - higher the rating, higher the boiling point.  I'd stick with a reputable one from AP or Motul.

AP's - I'm referring to AP Racing brake upgrades which include larger discs (330mm+ to help deal with the heat), lighter alloy calipers (weight saving and don't get as hot as the OE ones) and seperate alloy bells (again to help prevent heat build-up and get rid of it quicker).  A set of 4 or 6-pot AP's will set you back between £1200 and £1600 though.

[wrxmania]

Pagid RS 4-2-1 seen to last well.

Alyn @ AS Performance for best price.

Brian []

[ormiboy]

DS2500 on mine, very good so far. they start to bite loads better after the first few stamps at the start of a chosen B road then the usual two pot fade kick in and its time to back off.

 

[fai17]

I've got red stuff on mines and no probs so far depsite what folks have said about them.

[john mac]

Another vote for Mintex 1155's

I have used Mintex 1155's on my scoobs for the last 8 years and they are more than up to the job when teamed with some uprated discs,goodridge hoses and fresh fluid.They will stop you when they are cold  and wont fade when they are smokin' [] .They also come in at around £70 odd a set which is a good saving over Pagids and ds2500's which are a wee bit pricey! Like said before by Ozzy, the next step from here would be Brembo's or AP's at $$$$$'s!!