Time has come for new pads on my Z - I have about 30k now on whatever pads I am currently running (I forget if they are Mintex 1144 or Hawk HPS). I have the AP 5200 series caliper up front, stock (non Brembo) in the rear. Looking for pad recommendations from those who run their car hard - I cannot have an all out track pad, as it is my daily driven car, but I do need something that I can flog around and maybe take to the occassional Lime Rock track day.

What have people actually used and been pleased with - there are about a billion pads offered for this caliper, and I am honestly a bit lost as to which direction to take

Thanks

Adam

 

Carbotech Panther Plus is the best street pad IMO. Nice linear feel, initial bite, and quiet. However, I don't remember how much it dusts.

 

For your stock rears, the Hawk HPS are a good choice and not very expensive. I have run them both on the street and the track with no issues. They last far longer on the track than the stock pads plus very low dust by comparison.

 

I have the Hawk HPS pads and yeah they are nice but they certainly get loud when they get hot....I have heard everyone give good reviews of the Project Mu pads...

 

I think Hawk HPS' are trash. While I don't have them on my Z, I do have them on my commuter WRX and they don't perform any better than the OEM pads, wear faster, and they dust more. They may dust less than the Z's OEM pad, but they're still a waste of money IMO.

 

I couldnt disagree more John - we actually use the Hawk pretty much exclusively on WRX's, for street and track days. MUCH lower dust than stock pads and amazing pad life - I typically get 30-40k out of a set with mixed use driving.

 

If you'd like, I can put the OEM pads back on the one side of the car and compare them to the HPS after one month. I can assure you that my HPS pads dust the wheel much worse than the OEM pads, as I had more dust after two month of the HPS than I did after 4 months after having the OEM pads (yes, I've only washed my car twice since I picked itup in Dec. - I'm lazy and it's the commuter car). And using the HPS for track days?

 

mantos rue what to tell you there John, it's just 180 degrees opposite from what I ahve seen on my own Subaru's and what my customers report back to me as well - who knows what pads you got as OEM I suppose.

And yes HPS for track days The idea is not to use the brakes in the first place and at our "home" track (Lime Rock), and HPS is all most Subies need