Hello-

I have a '93 FD, and it's somewhere around 99% stock. It doesn't get driven on the track, but I do take backroads mighty hard...

...evidently too hard. The PBR (a.k.a. Axxis) pads I had on there cracked! Right between the two pistons, there are cracks. I dunno offhand if they are the "deluxe" or "ultimate" pads... they were installed by Rick's Rotary Performance in 11/03 (just before I bought the car and took over maintenance myself). It was also hot enough to boil the fluid, but that's another story (solved with Motul 600).

What pad would you recommend? I do not want to deal with lack of braking power when cold or wet (street-grade Porterfields on other cars of mine were scary in the rain!). I'm not going on the track. I don't need to be really competitive. Mainly, I just want something that won't crack or fade when I'm out having fun :-).

Thanks in advance!
Shad

 

Hawk HP+

 

Are you sure the cracked? There is normally already a groove in the pad material right in the middle between the two pistons.

If a pad is going to overheat and begin coming apart it will do so at the leading and trailing edges first. Check for little chunks missing or for stange wear there.

...otherwise I think you're noticing the groove that was manufactured in the pads.

 

Good point Damon, I was too tired last night to really think about the "cracked" comment.

 

Back on the pads, I'm using the Bonez Stage I pads from RX7.com for the street. I like them a lot; low dust and they have a good bite to them.

 

Is the crack on the friction side or backing side? The groove is pretty evident when you look at the pads, it doesn't look like a crack. It sounds to me like the back is cracked (wow!).

I've heard good things about both Hawk HPS & Boenz pads.

-=Russ=-

 

Hey guys-

Thanks for the responses!

To clarify the cracking... it is not a groove. These particular pads do not have a groove in the middle. They are cracks in the material itself, and they don't go all the way through (i.e. they start at the friction surface, but don't make it all the way back to the backing plate).

The leading and trailing edges, particularly the corners, do also have abnormal wear. Yes, I got them way too hot :-).

Another (perhaps obvious and stupid) question: how large of a help are the stock brake ducts? Are they worth spending ~$120 for them? The PO was kind enough to get an R1 lip, but forgot about the brake ducts...

I was thinking Hawk HP+, too... good to know I'm not totally off-base :-). Do these have problems when cold or wet? Wet is what scares me... I've had some hairy experiences with performance pads and water...

Thanks!
Shad

 

I have run the Axxis pads for years, even with a good number of track days on them. (Not the best idea but I know the limits and back off when I feel fade.) I have never had a problem. I know many others that run these pads too. Are you sure you don't have another problem like a sticking piston or something?

 

Hello-

No, there's no bigger problem... except for living in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains (the South Peninsula of San Francisco). It means that you can tear down hills for 10 miles at a time at high speed...

The pads are wearing symmetrically, i.e. the effect of each piston on the pad looks the same. There is no excessive drag, etc.

Thanks,
Shad

 

Bönez little dust ? Damn... then I do not want to see a lot of brake dust, because these pads really dusted my rims. Bite could also be discussed over

Last time on the track, I lost the braking material (it deattached itself) on front left inner pad.

Never going back.

I'm trying out some performance pads next.