Brake Pads

[DAVID PATERSON]

I'm not technically minded myself and i rely heavily on friends for help and advice when it comes to car specification and maintenance. So I welcome any suggestions you all care to make.

Previously, i have used ordinary street pads, they are cheap to buy, they don't need warming or bedding in and in the past they lasted well at Lakeside which is a flowing track with a shortage of tight corners and hard stops. But now, they are just not working well enough, I'm getting brake fade after about 5 laps and wear has also become a problem. My last set failed to complete their second meeting, i used to get a full season from a set of pads.

I've talked extensively with my colleagues and there are two popular suggestions. Bendix Ultimate, a premium high performance pad made with carbon/kevlar, these wear well and don't fade, but need warming and bedding in and they don't give much change from AUD100. The alternative is the Bendix Metal King, these are made from iron/steel, they work similarly to the Ultimates but are known to chew up disc rotors and are about half the price of the Ultimates.

Any ideas, folks?

[bobdrummond]

Are Performance Friction's Carbon-Metallic pads within your budget?

Have you checked your current installation;-
Is there sufficient cooling?
Is the disc ok?
Have you serviced the calipers recently?

[DAVID PATERSON]

I'm not familiar with those Bob. We have recently replaced the discs and fitted cooling ducts and we are about to overhaul the calipers.

[bobdrummond]

When used on steel discs, Carbon Metallic Pads provide stopping power comparable to Carbon discs/pads. They are very popular in the 'states with all varieties of racing.

http://www.performancefriction.com

[Peter Mallett]

You could be getting fade because you are running quicker. Try running a Mintex MGB 1144. Are you using vented discs?

[Sparky]

I think I remember David saying that he wasn't allowed to run the vented discs as they weren't homologated for the 510.
I could be wrong.

Also, is it possible the street pads that were available over the last few seasons, might now be considered 'unfriendly' and so now have a different composition?

Just a thought.

[DAVID PATERSON]

I now have a friend who works in a brake shop and can get me metal pads very cheaply, he can also get brand new disc rotors very cheaply, so no probs with rotor wear.

[bobdrummond]

David, you're a tart! Do you know anyone at Jiffy Lube (just in case an oil leak develops)

[yelwoci]

I use Hawk Blue 9012 on stock 1982 Mazda Rx7 rotors.
I'm very happy with them, though they cost over USD100 here in UK. But they last 2/3 season.

Might have a go with MT8 or MT9s this season

Regards
IanC

[BMWRacerITS]

Here in the States the hot pads for sedan-racing on the club level are:

Hawk Blues
Performace Friction 90

Both offer loads of torque, do not fade, stand up to the heat of racing, and are fairly easy to modulate.