On saturday I replaced my pads with Hawk HPS pads and changed fluid (Valvoline SynPower) and bled the brakes.

It now seems like ABS activates prematurely, under only moderately hard braking. It was particularly noticeable when I was bedding the brakes using the instructions that came with the pads right after I changed them.

It seems to be better after a couple of days, but even now on a hard stop that seems before wouldn't have triggered ABS, does now.

Is this in my head, or did I possibly mess something up bleeding the fluid? I should mention this is my first time to do any brake maintenance, but I read up on the procedure thoroughly before I started.

 

Thats because your brake pads are bit harder than the stock pads. If you put some sticker tires they will not lock up as easily.

 

Did you only replace the front pads? I had this problem when I had a pad with a lower coeficiant of friction than the front in the rear. Put the same pads in front and rear, or get a stickier pad in the rear.

 

I replaced all four pads.

I already have Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires on the car, which are notably stickier than the stock tires.

I have considered the fact that maybe these pads bite that much harder than the stockers, especially since they were worn out (25k miles and a couple autocrosses). Maybe it just is that easy to break traction with the new pads.