Since now I have my super nice jack, I'm all set for changing brake pads before racing. So what should I get and where?

BTW, here is my jack if somebody still didn't see it

 

I have had positive experiences with both Ferodo DS3000 and Cobalt Friction Technologies Spec VR race pad. Vicious pads.

 

Blue Liquid, I think you're the only other forum member that uses the Cobalt VR. Everyone else doesn't know what they're missing. I've been using these for about a year now, and cannot say enough good things about them. However, I will forewarn others that these pads are so grippy that you really need R-compound tires. Wears nicely on the rotor, and is fade resistent over 1500 degrees. Cobalt gets two thumbups from me.

 

I don't plan for R-compaund this year. So those are not for me?

 

I forgot, are you AutoXing for road racing?

Also, what brakes do you have?

I've been using the VRs with the same size street tires you have, and it can be done. However, in order to maximize the potential of these pads, you really need R-compounds.

 

Nice jack. Where'd you got it at? What brand? How much was it?

Sorry to go off topic.

 

Carbotech Panther+ or Carbotech XP... I've used both in my Brembos and been very pleased with them...

the XPs are a higher-temp pad, track-use only, not a good street pad...

the Panther+ more of a really aggressive street pad with some light track duty in them

 

I need it for autox mainly. So it's not gonna be really hi temperature.

 

scroll down for more pics:
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....k&pagenumber=2

was about 160 shipped from
http://www.toolprice.com/product/1415T

amazing craftmanship and its all aluminum.

 

I like Carbotech as a company (great supporters of many series and organizations), but from what I've heard, they make their pads in house. Unfortunately, their press only produces a density of 3-4 tons / inch on their pads. Andie Lin who founded Cobalt, used to work for Carbotech, and started his own line. Cobalt outsources the manufacturing of their pads to a manufacturer with a 10 ton press, so Cobalt's pads have a much higher density and longer life than Carbotechs.

 

Very true John. I've hammered the Spec VR pads on three different tracks here on the east coast and I've never experienced any fade, not even on this heavy car (all the while using R compound tires). And while we're talking about Cobalt, I just need to mention how fantastic his (Andy) customer support has been, always willing to answer my questions, work with me on a problem, try to find last minute solutions when I need race pads a couple days before an event, etc. Top notch service. So anyway, I also highly recommend these pads to anyone tracking their car. However, for autoX use, they're going to be excessive. Some of the other pads mentioned would probably suffice, as would Porterfield R4S or Axxis Ultimates (which I run on the street).

 

Blue Liquid, what do you mean by excessive? Too expensive for just little gain, or that they won't work at low temperatures?

I have Hawk HPS now, and I'm very dessatisfied with my braking power. I changed brake fluid to Blue, but it didn't help much. When I hit the brakes car slowing slowly instead of just stopping... Very bad for autox when you don't have much time to prepare for a turn

I need pads that work at very low temperatures and have huge initial bite.
I have stock, non-brembo brakes and I'm not planning on changin them

 

Well, by excessive, I mean they are costly, and chances are they won't ever get up to their normal operating temperature range on a typical autoX course. They work best when they're really hot, and while autoX typically heats up the brakes, they wont get them up to your average track temperature. As a result, they'll be harsher on your rotors, as sub-optimal operating temps on race pads make them very abrasive on rotors. Plus, I'd highly recommend swapping them out when you're finished autoX'ing, and this can be a hassle each time you autoX. And this is because they'll be noisy as heck on the street, and eat your rotors for lunch if you left them in all the time. I think you'd be much happier using the Porterfield R4S or Axxis Ultimate, to name just two good examples. As for your fluid change, that won't make a difference unless you were tracking your car, in which case you'd be getting the fluid up to comparitively higher temperatures. It sounds like what you're after is a hard initial bite from the pads...you hit the pedal and the brakes grab hard, right away. You can find a pads 'coefficient of friction' and this will give you an idea of how they'll bite. The higher the number, the better the initial bite. The Cobalt Spec VR race pads have a very high number, I believe .64 or something to that effect, and they grab and hold like a vice. High performance street pads will be lower than this, but are still better than stock. So to recap, race pads are more expensive, very noisy, and not too suitable for typical autoX courses (IMO). I recommend you give Andy a call at Cobat Friction. He's very knowlegable and he'll be willing to help. Oh, and another thing, you may have fewer pad choices with the stock brakes, so some of the pads mentioned in this thread may not be available to you. Andy will know, so give him a call. Good luck.

 

Yeah, I though I mentioned it - I'm planning on swapping pads for eash autox. I can do it pretty fast right now.

 

For AutoX only, the Cobalt GT-S is a good pad. Very high initial grip even at cold temps.

 

I finally desided and got myself Ferrodo DS2500. It works at low temps. And is an intermediate pad between street use and race-only use. It costed me $112.

I'm very pleased with the results. My car is back in business. Breaks bite hard from the beginning and stop car really fast.

I think something wrong was with my previous pads. I've noticed that my rear pads are worn down to limit and my fronts have a LOT left. And they were there for quite some time, and I've changed rears relatively recently (March?). Is it what called "glazing"? When something happened to front pads and they don't work good anymore and don't wear either? My car was stopping slowly and lazy.

Now I need rear pads...

 

I'd recommend any of the Pagid or Performance Friction lines of pads. They are the technology leaders in the industry. Their production methods are the most advanced, and their pads tend to be extremely consistent performers (which many are not).

Vlad, tell me more about your car and I can give you a better recommendation. Is it reasonably stock weight and power? Are you running street or R compound tires?

 

I'm running street tires, at least this year, and my car is 116 lbs lighter, mostly from the rear, as you can see from my sig.