Brake pads

[Th3Franz]

Been awhile but been busy with other stuff and hoping to do some events before the season ends here but anyway I just got new DBA 4000's for the Legacy and while swapping out rotors realized I need new pads sooner than I thought. Until this point I have been running Endless SS-M for everything: street, autocross, and track. They are pricey so I am looking to get a less expensive pad for street use. I have Carbotech XP8 track pads to use for the more serious lapping days etc. So, out of the list what would you pick:

Hawk HPS
Hawk Ceramic
Porterfield R4-S
Carbotech Bobcat

These seem to be the only performance street pads with fitment options for my front calipers. Does anyone have positive experience with any of the pads listed? Those pads are close in performance but I'd prefer a pad with less dust and less squeal/noise over a pad with a slight edge in friction for the street. The stock pads suck. :)

[Hille]

I believe Dizmm runs the Hawk pads and likes them.

I just run the Carbotech XP pads and have never run the bobcats. The XP pads have always worked fine for me on the street.

[Dizmm]

I believe Dizmm runs the Hawk pads and likes them.

I have the HP+'s which are Hawks track/street pad. the HPS's are more of a street pad only. The HPS's could probably be used for some auto-x stuff, but thats about it.

[Plumcrazy]

I ran HP+ pads on my Escort. I liked them on the track, but they make lot's of noise in cold weather.

[marky967]

used the hawk hps all last season and loved them. this year i downsized my brakes so i can run a 13 inch wheel..and i am going to try the hawk hp+ pads. definatly i would say stick with hawk. they have a proven product.

[ianb]

Hawk definitely makes good pads, I love my HP+'s. While we're on the topic, does anyone think that my EBC Yellow Stuffs would be too aggressive for the upcoming lapping day? Here's some info if you aren't familiar. http://www.ebcbrakes.com/yellowstuffinfo.html

Franz, I would say go with the hp+'s. They are an awesome pad, I just don't want to kill mine over the lapping day.

[Derek26]

I've used HP+ too, works good for a street/track pad. Make sure you swap them out for the winter though. Not only it make lots of noise, it also ate my rotors over one winter.

[Dizmm]

This year I am running CarboTech XP12's. They are a bit more aggressive than the HP+'s

[SgtRauksauff]

I ran the HP+ on my turbo escort wagon, never had a noise issue really. Might have had a slight squeak on the first stop on cold pads, but otherwise I never had a problem (or didn't notice any odd noises, at least).

I'll probably be trying some carbotechs or something different later on, in an even more aggressive compound, just for comparison's sake, but I pretty much think that the HP+ pad is a great all-around pad.

--sarge

[jprx7]

I have the hawks hp plus to work great for me

[slowgls]

I'll might go with a set of hawk hp's when I do my breaks.Heard great things about them.

[subie04]

has anyone had any problems using the hp+ pads on their cars for street as well as autocross. I am debating on whether I should get the hps pad or the hp+ pads, their was one person who said the plus' tore up a set of rotors over one winter. It wouldn't be a big deal to switch the pads before winter but if I don't have to switch that would be nice.

The rear pads on my car are hawk hps I believe but I have to figure out how to find out.

Would it be best to replace front pads and rear pads all at the same time?

[Dizmm]

the HP+'s work great for auto-x and street stuff. I had them on my evo, even ran them at gingerman and they held up ok.

[subie04]

should I be changing fronts and rears together? if they have pad left on them they should be fine right.

[slowgls]

should I be changing fronts and rears together? if they have pad left on them they should be fine right.

Its a good idea anytime you do a brake upgrade.

[Bump Stop]

it really does not matter if you change the pads at the same time, once they are bedded, the car doesn't care if there is an 1/8'' or 1/2'' of pad. you can use different compound pads to balance the car to your style of driving. i'm not sure how anti-lock and vsc systems would react to doing this, but as long as your not locking a tire it really shouldn't cause problems.