Hawk HP+ gets my vote. Locks them up at 80mph on the highway.

 

How much differance is there performance wise between the hps and the hp+. Anyone have experience with both?

 

Earlier in the thread a few guys chimed in on this. It would appear the HP+ are substantially better re: initial bite and grip when hot, but dust like a **** and may squeak on the street. I don't care much about the dust, but the squeaking can definitely suck.

 

does everyone have a problem with the squeek?

Mine made noise for the 1st 1k miles or so, but settled down after that... about the only time I hear them make any noise is if I'm slowly creeping forward at a stoplight or something... And even then it's not that loud.

 

Eric, my first two sets of HP+ only had a very light squeak the last few inches before stopping. My current set of HP+ squeal like a ****.

 

My last set of HP+ squealed LOUDLY creeping up to a light. It was damn embarrasing. I actually had some dude yell at me out his window to get new brakes.

The HP+ definitely bite harder than the HPS. With the HP+, I really could lock them up at will at almost any speed. The HPS just don't bite like that. They are still excellent on the street though with a lot of stopping power.

 

My set of HP+ squeal. For the first month or so, it was bad. Really the only time they didn't squeal was on a HARD stop. Now, after about 6-7K miles, they only squeal after quite a while of driving in stop and go, and only under very light pedal effort.

My boss made a comment about them once. "Gee, Jerry you need to fix your brakes." I proceeded to lecture for the next two minutes about brake pad compounds.

 

come on now, the brake dust isn't hard to remove, it's just a pain, lol... once, i didn't wash my car (or wheels) for 3 weeks or so, and i was hanging out w/ some guys, they seriously thought my wheels were painted black... thenk i took my shoe and wiped a stripe on the wheel, and they were like HOLY CRAP. Yeah, the HP+ dust like no other

 

I know the feeling. Seriously though, I have since found the HPS dust easier to remove than the HP+.

 

EBC Greenstuffs or stock Mazda/Sumitomo FD Type RS/RZ pads.

 

Perhaps a bit of information as WHY to stay away from these pads???

 

Red Stuffs are junk, but the Green Stuffs work really well!

 

I was just looking at the Endless CCX, they seem to be hands down the best pad for street/track, but @ $125/each...I dunno

Thanks for the info on the greenstuff, I think I'll go with that as opposed to the Hawk HPS...do you think they offer better track performance than the HPS???

 

I've had EXCELLENT results from Greenstuffs on Street and track..

I'd highly recommend them!

And unlike Hawks, you have a pedal when they're cold..

 

Green Stuffs are on par with Hawk Black or HP Plus on track, except the Green Stuffs are easier on your rotors, and hardly dust on the street. BTW, Hawk Blacks are not streetable at all...

 

There was an interesting test of brake pads in the September 2003 issue of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine. The test was semi-scientific (but not rigorously so) and they were obviously testing on a Mustang rather than an RX-7, but I think the data they collected is at least somewhat applicable to our cars. It has "Orange Rush" on the cover and the brake test starts on page 192 -- check it out at the news stand for full details. They tested PBR OEM, Hawk HPS, HP+, PFC 93, 97, 01, and SBS Ceramic, Carbon Ceramic, and Dual Carbon.

Here's a few of my observations:
- the HP+ stop shorter and fade less than the HPS
- track pads resist fade MUCH better than street pads and also provide shorter stopping distances
- they tested several pads from SBS and even the street pads seemed to exhibit excellent stopping distances and fade resistance, though they noted a softer pedal feel than some of the other pads -- the numbers are very good despite the feel, however

TireRack sells SBS pads:
http://tinyurl.com/hodh

-Max

 

For street, ALL i care about is low dust, zero squeal, low rotor wear. This car has plenty of stopping power for the street. Can anyone recommend athe lowest dusting pad out there, preferably non-squeeling?

For the track, nothing beats PFC 93 front, and 90 rear.

 

Max's link didn't work for me. Here's another one:

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/sbs/protrack.jsp

Here's a good link listing all of the brake products available at the Tire Rack for the FD:

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/resul...=all&x=68&y=12

Rich

 

Hawk pads are very good products. I installed HP+'s on my FD and have loved them ever since! I do require a better than stock pad on my car as several consecutive 150-60mph stops tend to heat up brake components quickly. I would have to say i'm very pleased with the HP+ pads. Being able to lock to wheels up at 100mph+ is quite amazing.

I have only experienced brake fade once and that was after 5 of the above mentioned stops. Even then, the brakes still felt more solid than the stock pads I had before.

The only downside, which has been mentioned above, is the brake dust. I'm sure Rx7gslse can vouch for me that I do in fact have chrome stock wheels ... although half the time they appear black.

The HPS pads, however, barely dust at all while still providing great brake response and stopping power.

On the up side, HPS and HP+ pads are transfer layer compatible. MEANING ... you can run HP+ at autox/roadcourse events and then swap the HPS pads in after without having to "bed-in" the different pads each time.

GOOOD STUFFF!!!!


Edit: I also forgot to mention that if the pads are properly "Bedded in" you won't get any noticeable squeal at any speed. I know this because I didn't fully bed them in at first ... and had noticeable squeal at speeds under 10mph. After re-bedding in the pads ... I haven't had squeal since.

 

Rich, I didnt know Tire Rack sold Brembo brake kits and all. Thanks for the links.

I have some Hawk HPS's I havent installed yet. I may sell them (anyone.... anyone....) and go with the SBS

 

anyone notice that with Hawk HPS pads all the way around, on a stock S5 TII the rear brakes are much stronger then before?

 

Anyone care to challenge the claim of the PFC units as being the best???

Btw Van Sema, that girl in your avatar is BEAUTIFUL!

 

EBC Green Stuffs or Sumitomo Type RS/RZ pads. Can be used interchangeably @ either end of the car with not much difference in performance. The sweet thing is, these pads can be used for autocross and for open track events too Both require only medium pedal pressure for the pads to bite. Both are very easy on the brake rotors also. Heat resistance is outstanding. I'm good for 20 to 25 minute sessions on street tires. FWIW my street tires lose grip (from overheating) before the brakes even feel like fading...

 

Maybe cuz you're not pushing the car that fast ...

 

Nope that's not it.