OK folks, what's a good choice for the non-brembo stock rear pads for the 350z? I can get Hawk HPS. Having trouble finding better choices and don't really want to spend >$100.

Thanks in advance!

 

Bump. What are you putting on the rear non-Brembos for the track?

 

Try Carbotech Panther + or Panther XP for the rears at the track (www.carbotecheng.com) They're a little pricier than what you've mentioned you'd like to spend, but the fact of the matter is that there are very few manufacturers who make rear pads for the non-Brembos. Good luck!

 

Thanks Gary, you're not kidding. Why couldn't they use a more used pad!

 

Porterfield makes a high performance rear pad. Not a true track pad though.

 

Do you know the part number for the R4-S? I can't find it on their website.
Thanks.

 

I just ordered Porterfirled's track pad, the R4 for the non-Brembo rears on my car. I've been using stocks on the rear at the track.

 

I'm using Carbotech Panther Plus in the rear and Performance Friction 01 on the front (StopTech front only kit). Works great. I leave the rears in for street and track (except during the off-season). If you buy them in bulk (like I do, because the tiny ******* don't last very long), you can get attractive pricing from Carbotech.

Also, this is just my opinion but I think the Porterfield R4-S is crap. Their R4 is a proper track pad but the R4-S is a very mediocre pad and has nothing to do with the real R4. I guess they are fine for street/autoX use and maybe for a total newbie's first couple of days at a track but there are much better pads out there (even in the *gasp* high-performance street pad category).

 

I only ran the R4-s rears once on a track last year with Axxis ultimate fronts. My impression was that the stopping was greatly increased and the under steer was diminished. I attribute this to the better grip from the front pads. The OEM pads wore faster in the rear so I'm thinking the new combination put more bias to the front.
I will be tracking it more in the coming month and should have more experience with the Ultimate/ R4-S combination. Don't know as I'd call the R4-S pad crap yet but I used Panthers once on my M3 and was amazed how quickly they wore out. Expensive though!

 

The AXXIS Ultimate is not a track pad and will give you deposition problems as your skill level improves. I strongly suggest you swap in some sort of club race pad, at a minimum, for your next event.

I second Jason's opinion on the Porterfield R4-S pad. In my opinion, they took advantage of the good name of the R4 club race pad when naming their mediocre street pad and have introduced all sorts of confusion as a result. More than one track day has been ruined by the R4-S pad which is often pushed as a street/light-duty track pad. It's no more a track pad than the EBC Greenstuff! It doesn't help when people post on message boards that they installed R4s (meaning a set of R4 club race pads) on their car and had a great experience at the track and then all the novices think they are referring to the R4-S..

 

I'm going to run a half day Friday (instructor session) on a track that's easy on brakes and should have a good idea of wear on the Ultimate/ R4-S combo.
Can't dispute Dave's advice (he's the expert) but there aren't many choices yet for the non Brembo setup. Also his statement about deposition bothers me. I did that with my stock M3 brakes and it sucks as the only answer for it is new rotors.
Are the Nismo pads better?
I was very happy with Performance Friction pads on my M3 but they don't make a track pad for non Brembo, last I heard.
Dave M - any help?

 

Porterfield will cut rear pads for the rear non-brembo Z brakes, in their race compound pad, the R4. I have them now and will run them for the first time this Thursday at Lime Rock. Up front I am running Cobalt Friction Spec VR pads. Call Porterfield and see what they have for you.

 

If you have a part number for the Porterfields that would be great.
Thanks.

 

If you go with Carbotechs in the back, don't even think of getting anything less than the XP9. On tight tracks you will easily go through a set in a weeekend...