When should I replace the Brembo pads? I currently have 11250 miles on them. What would be some good replacements? I may take it to the track once or twice this spring. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


-Matt

 

The OEM Ferodo pads are cheap and hold up well. I still have my OEM Ferodos, and that's after 20K miles and four track days on them. However, at the track, I now use a race pad, and then swap the OEM pad back in before I head home.

 

awesome...thanks for the quick reply John.

 

I agree with John... the OEM pads are pretty good. There's even a NISMO pad available, but I've never used it.

At the track I use Carbotech XP.

Good replacements include:
Carbotech Bobcat
Carbotech Panther +
Mintex Red Box
Hawk HPS

Cheers,

PeteH

 

I've tried the Ferodo DS2500 street/mild track pad at the track. They worked well at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, but I cooked them at Motorsport Ranch.

I currently use Hawk Blue strictly at the track. Awesome pad w/ very aggressive initial bite (or maybe I haven't gotten them up to operating temps). I just can't get those suckers to fade. The big caveats are that they're abrasive when cold and the brake dust mixed w/ water will be acidic so it's important to spray the brakes and wheels w/in a reasonable amount of time.

Michael.

 

I'd stay away from the Hawks since they love to chew up your rotors.

 

i use hawk hps front/rear for everyday driving and occasional track days. i also have nismo pads that i'll be taking to the tracks now cuz the hawks look like they are fading.

 

Anybody got any other recommendations or reivews for brake pads?


Are teh hawk HP+ that bad? I have heard mixed things about them chewing up rotors.

 

From my BMW days, I'm a PF-97 kind of guy.

 

I just replaced my stock pads at 19000 miles and they were only 1/4 worn. I probably could have gotten 50K miles out of them. I replaced them with Hawk HPS pads and I couldn't be happier. They are quiet, they don't dust as much, and they seem to have a better feel than the old pads. I did have about 3 autocrosses, a few 150 mph runs and about 10 runs at the dragstrip on the original pads....they really hold up!

 

Carbotech Bobcat for street and light track duty.
Carbotech XP for aggressive track use.

Both are rotor and wheel friendly.

 

hi michael,
can you give me exact reference
ferodo ds2500 for front & rear pad?
I think FCP1561 is the front reference,
but I am not sure...
thanks in advance,
best regards

 

Are the OEM Ferodos pads labeled Brembo?

 

Sure thing,

Front: FCP1298H
Fitment: BMW E38 730i, Ferrari 550, Fiat Coupe 2.0, Maserati 3200GT

Rear: FCP116H
Fitment: Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2.5 GTV6, Ascona 1.3/1.6/1.9/2.0, Carlton 1.8/2.0/2.3

I bought my set from splparts.com. If you're just going to use them on the street, then keep your stock shims and apply some anti-squeal paste between the shim and pad. The DS2500 do squeal.

Michael.

 

i use HP+ on the track and they are much better than the oem's

 

thanks michael, last query
my 350z is the european track model, with VDC and
Brembo Brakes. These references (FCP1298H & FCP116H)
remain correct?
thanks a lot

 

The owner of splparts.com has Skyline GT-R R33/R34 calipers on his 300ZX Z32 and he was able to use those Ferodo DS2500 and the factory Ferodo Z33 pads w/o any problems. So I would say that would be a correct assumption.

I can't imagine any differences between the U.S. and ROW Track model Brembo brakes.

Michael.

 

 

IIRC, Ferodo is engraved/cast and Brembo is stamped (in white paint) on the backing plate. The pads come in a red box w/ the Brembo logo in white all over it. I don't have a set on hand so I could be wrong.

Also, the factory Ferodo replacements come w/ new shims, pins, and copper anti-squeal paste. The DS2500 do not.

Michael.