Brake Pads???

[sr_sil80]

Which Brake pads do you recommend for Z32/Skyline Calipers? Right now i'm looking at Endless, Project Mu, Axxis, KVR,...., which has the most bang for the buck, and if there are any brands that i left out then go ahead and post 'em up.
thanks

[gmckey]

wow, you're looking at high dollar pads there... I've got Porterfeild R4S's and I love them... and I thought they were pricey... :ugh:

[old_s13]

axxis metal masters. i've had better but, for street.. metal masters are more than sufficient.

[D1drifter]

Endless all the way...Great pads. You get what you pay for.

[jetbill]

Def. Ebc Greenstuff Pads. I Can Get Them For You For A Decent Price If You Like.

[AndrewRuiz]

sr_sil80 what color is your car?

[AKADriver]

The best pads I've ever used for street driving were Axxis Metal Masters and Mintex red box. I don't think the Mintex are available for Nissan, though. VW people use those, mostly (I had them on a GTI).

The Metal Masters are cheap, quiet, and grippy when they're cold.

"JDM" brake pads are a waste of money. US-based companies are more than capable of making comparable pads.

Porterfield R4S are good, but they squeak a little at low speeds. The tradeoff is they handle a little bit more heat. I use them on my street/track cars.

[thx247]

OEM or something cheap like raybestos if you only want street driving.

If you wanted to track it then it would depend on how much power you make and how hard you drive..but carbotech makes some great pads imo.

[Projekt_Sil80]

or go with Hawk

[Nismo240SX]

i've heard Hawk HPS or HP+ or Axis metal masters... i don't know what to pair with my powerslot rotors either...

[AutoRnD]

hahahahaha!!!!
JDM BRAKE PADS ARE MORE THAN JUST LOOKS AND OOOH AAAH STATUS...
THEY ACTUALLY WORK... And if you want some track pads get some endless brake pads.. if you want street pads get some endless brake pads. If you need something for the toe gay then you need some endless brake pads.. EITHER WAY ENDLESS HAS THE BRAKE PADS THAT YOU NEED...


Also brake pads are probobally one of the most important things in your car.. You can spend 5000 dollars to do a sr swap but for you LIFE and SAFETY you are only willing to spend like 40 bucks? Is your life only worth that much.. If it were up to me.. When it comes to best.. Ie.. Pads or SS Lines or Rotors ... I WOULD GET THE BEST AND THE BEST IS ENDLESS!!!!!!!!111

[SpeedMonkeyInc]

wow, you're looking at high dollar pads there... I've got Porterfeild R4S's and I love them... and I thought they were pricey... :ugh:

I don't like those pads much. I have them on now. They are only a little better than stock pads I think. But I do have a big heavy S14. The pads over heat coming downhill fast.

[mellojoe]

how do you use your car?

just daily driven to the grocery store? or is this for light-track use? or is this for track-only use?

if its just a daily driver, then just order some decent pads from your local auto store for your caliper. Just say, "I need some pads for my 1993 Nissan 300zx" or whatever. That will be more than sufficient.

if you are going to do some light track use, then I like EBC Green. They seem to be pretty good with cold grip, but still grab under hard use. EBC Greens are similar to the Hawk Plus pads, or whatever they are called. Both seem to be pretty popular.

If you want some dedicated track pads (ie. drive to the track, put them on. change them before you drive home), then Carbotech seems to be the best way to go. They grab HARD and don't fade at all under even some really hard conditions (Arkansas heat plus a techinal road course = HARD brake use). I have heard a couple raving reviews about these brake pads, from people I really respect. So, Carbotech all the way for me for my track days from now on.

It really depends on your driving style. Just change frequently if you use them hard, and inspect your rotors often.

[old_s13]

The Metal Masters are cheap, quiet, and grippy when they're cold.

untrue.. metal masters are NOT grippy when cold, they are grippy when HOT. actually, i found the Axxis Ultimate pads were more grippy when cold (and could also take more abuse) but the downside is that they make a LOT more dust than metal masters. Plus, the dust is very sticky and hard to clean.

You cant have everything with pads, you have to experiment until you find one that meets your driving style, noise requirements, and dust requirements. SO, all I can say is try try try and eventually in your many years of trying you will find things that fit you and your car.


Also brake pads are probobally one of the most important things in your car.. You can spend 5000 dollars to do a sr swap but for you LIFE and SAFETY you are only willing to spend like 40 bucks? Is your life only worth that much.. If it were up to me.. When it comes to best.. Ie.. Pads or SS Lines or Rotors ... I WOULD GET THE BEST AND THE BEST IS ENDLESS!!!!!!!!111

Are you done being an ENDLESS-whore? The best isnt a brand-name, the best is a quality pad that fits the persons driving style. I am not saying endless is good or bad, but based on the price and coming from Japan.. I think it may be excessive.

And whoever said "raybestos" man.. thats some crap right there. Raybestos is Rayworstos when it comes to Japanese cars, they only make good domestic brake pads.

[S14DB]

I hated the Ebc Greenstuff Pads. I have the Hawks in the race version and wish I would have got the street compound. The take some time warming but the big problem is the race pads dust like MoFo's. If I had to do it again I would get the Street compounds.

[AutoRnD]

actually.. i've had hawks and porterfields on my 240... and they are not as good compared to endless... i just say the truth.. like i say jic sucks ass =) hehehe

[sr_sil80]

Thanks for all the replies; After reading through (some) helpful replies, i've decided to look into axxis metal masters, street hawk pads, and ebc greenstuff. i'd look more into endless, but i'm guessing they're not too much better and cost way more. I'm also somewhat skeptical about endless because the only person posting in favor of them happens to be a zilvia.net advertiser, which is a dealer of endless, however on the autornd.com website, there are no endless brake pads to be found??? My car WILL be a cross between street, track, autocross, and drifting, pretty much all around in order to have the most fun w/ it because it is a project car for me. So as of right now, i'm gonna look more into the axxis, hawk and ebc.

If anyone has any more input then by all means let me know.

Anymore postivies/negatives about any brake pads would be great!
Or if anyone has any links to websites w/ reviews/ratings as of different pads, or even actual tests of 60-0, because i was not able to find any.

As far as the color of my car, i don't see how that's relevant, but if you still want to know then pm me and i'll tell you if you have a good enough reason as to why you are wondering.

[D1drifter]

yep JIC SUCKS.....period

[thx247]

I had a big post about brakes but its pointless to argue something I've seen with my own eyes so lets just assume that raybestos pads are only slightly better than wet post-it notes and forget about them.

There shouldn't be any 60-0 reviews of brake pads because pads don't decrease stopping distance unless they are sorely inadequate. Even rayworstos can lockup the brakes at *70mph.

*Pedal feel is going to suck if you're trying to lockup anything at that speed unless its a race pad. This includes MM's and whatever other crap "street and light track" pad you can think of.

[sr_sil80]

As searching throughout various websites, i've noticed that there's been a lot of good feedback, with small amounts of negative feedback about the metal masters. So i figure that these are good quality pads for mostly street use, or that a lot of people have them, which leads to the reason as to so many reviews compared to other pads.

As far as 60-0 reviews, i was just hoping to find some sort of review that compares similar quality pads of different brands, with tests of which ones have better stopping distances within the same categories.

[Teh Luckinator]

No recommendations for Project Mu B-FORCE? I was thinking about getting these. I'm going with Slotted rotors and stock calipers, so any other suggestions would be great.

Also, at first I thought of going with Endless NA-D, but since they only come with rear pads, I'm not too sure I want them anymore.

For people who have B-FORCE pads, how's the initial braking, when it's cold, dust, fade, etc?

[thx247]

[QUOTE=sr_sil80

As far as 60-0 reviews, i was just hoping to find some sort of review that compares similar quality pads of different brands, with tests of which ones have better stopping distances within the same categories.[/QUOTE]


Pads cannot shorten your braking distance unless you somehow improved the brake bias by using diffferent types of pads front and rear.

[ZK]

Don't get the Axxis Metal Masters, they are pretty crappy. Eats rotors fast and lots of other problems. The Ultimates are probably the best pads that Axxis makes.

No one mentioned these but the Ferrodo 2500 are excellent high performance street/light track pads. They don't dust up as much as the Hawks or the Axxis Metal Masters or Ultimates and they can handle a lot more heat than the Ultimates. Very consistent stopping throughout the heat range.

I don't think they make a fitment for the 240SX but they definitely have them for 300ZX brakes.

I can also say the Hawk HP+ are excellent pads but lots of dust, squealling and not good cold stopping. But very good for fast street and light to medium track duty. I can deal with the dust and squealing. :)

Think this way - more aggressive pads = more dust, more noise and faster wear. So how much streetability are you willing to give up for more stopping power?

[sykikchimp]

Brake pads I've run:

Metal Masters: ehh cold stopping, ehh hot stopping, and crappy fade resistance. fairly low dust though.

Ultimates: GREAT cold stopping, good hot stopping, decent fade resistance. This is an excellent Auto-x pad. more dust than MM's. I run these on the street b/c I like the cold bite, and dont really care about the dust.

R4S: Crappy cold stopping, excellent hot stopping with good modulation, and a little better fade resistance than the ultimates. Good novice track pad with street tires.

Bendix Silver - everyday street only pad. slightly better cold stopping than the Metal Masters, but lower temp before fade. low dust.

Carbotech XP8: not good cold stopping, takes 3-4 good stops to get them to bite. They work well enough on the street to drive to the track with them on. Once up to temp, phenomenal bite, and modulation, and I have yet to fade them. lots of dust. These are now my prefered track pad.

I will NEVER buy a jdm brake pad b/c there are plenty of US brake pad manufacturers that produce pads as good, or better than anything you can buy. Some of the companies (like Carbotech) will even make custom brake pads, and work with you to build custom compounds if you need.

[BlackS14]

I've ran the Metal Masters with my Brembo x-drilled rotors on both the front and back for close to two years now (w/o resurfacing rotors) just fine. That being said, I hadn't done any track time with the car or whatnot, but I do drive it hard on the street once and again....and like others have said...the cold stops can be scary at times, but when hot, they really bite hard. I plan on upgrading to the Ultimates when my 300z brakes are ready to go on....

-Bill

[Dousan_PG]

i have HAWK HPS on my z32 brakes up front
no complaints after good hard driving in the mountains and some time on the track
on street they are great too, seems pretty all around
www.splpart.com has some info on the paids they carry, might help out some

what i have for the cost and what i do, i dont need some fancy pants JDM brand.
ive been happy with this

rear z32 rightnow has oem replacment raybestos

might be putting some Project Mu shoes in though...

[Steeles]

agreed I love my hawk HPS I've had um on for awhile now and they are some tough lil bishes I'm happy to see they finally have one available for the S14 rear 9didnt offer it when I got mine for the Z brakes up front) I'll have to replace my rear pads now. been using some carquest gold pads in the rear hehe lifetime warranty ownz haha ebrake kills em dead

[019]

if you're thinking of getting the metal masters, then just get the axxis ultimates. the metal masters are just ok. my friend had them and they were ok, but like mentioned previously in this post, don't really stop well when cold. that means when you go autox, you'll have to warm them up before going on the course. i convinced my friend to get ultimates and he loves them. i run the ultimates on my car and run at the track and autox. i've never had a problem with them fading, but i'm only running street tires. only real down side is that they dust quite a bit.

[Scrapin 240]

Hawk Pads are pretty good, but Endless is the Good Stuff. Josh knows his stuff, and since you already have a big brake upgrade, then I would definitely spend the extra and get the Endless Pads.

BTW KVR Rear Pads never finish, I have had them on the car for 4 years and they are about less than half way. (Wonder if they are doing anything :squint: )

[old_s13]

i think it just comes down to your brake setup. if you're running stock calipers, you'll probably want more aggressive pads as metal masters are just average. you cant look at JUST the pad, you have to take into account the entire system people.

i run full Z32 front and rear calipers with brembo OEM rotors front and rear.. the front rotors are slotted, I run metal masters all around. For Z32 brake setup on S13, the metal masters are completely sufficient and have no problem stopping me from triple digits, several times in a row.

- mike

[shoes59]

Carbotech XP8: not good cold stopping, takes 3-4 good stops to get them to bite. They work well enough on the street to drive to the track with them on. Once up to temp, phenomenal bite, and modulation, and I have yet to fade them. lots of dust. These are now my prefered track pad.
I'm accustomed to switching from street to track pads at the venue. How are the Carbotech's on rotors? Particulary when switching back to street pads for the ride home. My concern is glazing.

[sykikchimp]

They are great. Right now I am running the same rotors, and switching b/w Axxis Ultimates for the street, and Carbotechs for the track. I've had no problems yet with this. I think there are some pad compounds that don't mix well though. Matt or Larry at carbotech can tell you what will or won't work. Great guys, and track junkies.

Tell them Charles with the 240sx sent you, and they might give you like a 10% discount. :)

[sykikchimp]

i think it just comes down to your brake setup. if you're running stock calipers, you'll probably want more aggressive pads as metal masters are just average. you cant look at JUST the pad, you have to take into account the entire system people.

i run full Z32 front and rear calipers with brembo OEM rotors front and rear.. the front rotors are slotted, I run metal masters all around. For Z32 brake setup on S13, the metal masters are completely sufficient and have no problem stopping me from triple digits, several times in a row.

- mike
I agree totally with this. If you've got the brake's to dissapate the heat, then you don't need pads that can soak a lot up. Now if you were to throw some really sticky tires on that car, and run a 30 min track session, you cook those MM's.

[thx247]

I would reccomend swapping rotors when using the Carbotechs on the track. If you don't want to swap them at the track then just drive them home. They will be fine and you'll make it in one piece.

There are compatible compounds with the carbotechs but I think using "lesser" pads with a rotor previously used with XP's is asking for uneven pad transfer. You won't be able to heat the rotor to high enough temps to get the XP compound off and the lesser pad compound on. Trying to bed the street pads may result in street compound unevenly bonding to the rotor with the old XP compound giving you a high spot(s) on the rotor.

Since rotors are dirt cheap I would just buy more rotors and use those with street pads.

Or just daily drive the carbotechs, or you can drive them home and sand the rotor face a bit before you put street pads on. (No thanks)

[019]

Or just daily drive the carbotechs

i dunno about that one. just ask charley about the carbotechs when they're cold, haha.

[sykikchimp]

i dunno about that one. just ask charley about the carbotechs when they're cold, haha.

lol.. Almost could've asked your bumper. haha :Owned:

[thx247]

I've never had a problem daily driving them in any configuration, the one time I had to panic stop if I hadn't had them I would have hit that person for sure.

your mileage may vary I guess.

[HaLo]

Well... I personnally use Axxis Ultimates and they are great for Street and Auto-X... Would not go with anything else (they don't offer anything else anyways...:p)

[shoes59]

They are great. Right now I am running the same rotors, and switching b/w Axxis Ultimates for the street, and Carbotechs for the track. I've had no problems yet with this. I think there are some pad compounds that don't mix well though. Matt or Larry at carbotech can tell you what will or won't work. Great guys, and track junkies.

Tell them Charles with the 240sx sent you, and they might give you like a 10% discount. :)
Thanks. Just curious what did you pay for the Carbotech's?

[uiuc240]

a lot.

I just got Carbotech Bobcats for my car. Z brakes up front and stock in the rear cost me about $220 all around. The ones in the rear were the first they'd made with that compound for that fitment. :)

Eric

[sykikchimp]

yeah.. they are not cheap.

I paid $277 for XP's all around (300zx calipers up front) with shipping, and that was with a 10% discount.

[AutoRnD]

well put it this way...
HKS... their crazy cf lan evo race car for time attack.. Has a 54.something at the circuit currently reigning champion...
What pads are they using? ENDLESS...

hmm... is it all hype?? i think not.. Look at signal.. Look at spoon.. Look at hks.. Look at enkei.. Believe it or not.. Endless does work.. maybe that is why when endless first came out with a pad compound for the cars that ran jgtc.. over 80 percent used them and loved them in the FIRST YEAR?
hmmm....

[D1drifter]

endless..... :goyou: again, you get what you pay for.

[thx247]

Not to start something, but it is any surprise that japanese teams use japanese parts?

Maybe if endless pads were on F1 or Nascar's I would take notice.

You also don't see pagid's or XP's or raybestos on jgtc cars for the same reason.

[sykikchimp]

Not to start something, but it is any surprise that japanese teams use japanese parts?

Maybe if endless pads were on F1 or Nascar's I would take notice.

You also don't see pagid's or XP's or raybestos on jgtc cars for the same reason.

A lot of Nascar teams use Performance Friction. Also very good track pads. :)

And I'm sure the fact the he sells only endless brake products keeps his opinions un-biased.

[S14DB]

A lot of Nascar teams use Performance Friction. Also very good track pads. :)

And I'm sure the fact the he sells only endless brake products keeps his opinions un-biased.
I used PF carbon pads in the mustang and loved them. The parts store says they don't make anything for nissan thou... :cry:

[msaskin]

well put it this way...
HKS... their crazy cf lan evo race car for time attack.. Has a 54.something at the circuit currently reigning champion...
What pads are they using? ENDLESS...

hmm... is it all hype?? i think not.. Look at signal.. Look at spoon.. Look at hks.. Look at enkei.. Believe it or not.. Endless does work.. maybe that is why when endless first came out with a pad compound for the cars that ran jgtc.. over 80 percent used them and loved them in the FIRST YEAR?
hmmm....

Wow...could you be more of a JDM Whore??

On my old stealth I pretty consistently ran Porterfield R4's for the Track and Axxis metal masters on the street. Excellent setup.

On my 240 right now I'm running the cheap-o pads that came with the autozone loaded z32 calipers for the street, and will be switching in Hawk HP+ pads when I'm up at willow springs this weekend.

On a side note: Does anyone with z32 brakes know of places that will sell titanium pad backing plates? I know the porsche guys run them alot, and in my mind it seems like it would help with the rotor warping issues that occur due to running the 26mm aluminum calipers like I am (titanium pad block heat transfer from caliper to rotor, etc...)

~matt

[180fan]

running metal masters without too much hassle. Get em from Kragens and they come with a lifetime warranty and yes they don't have any mention of "excludes wear" so yeah get a lifetime supply of metal masters that way. I'm bout to get my second set. lol