Need brake pad/rotor advice.
I've used:
Hawk HPS
Hawk HP+
Carbotech Bobcats
Carbotech Panther Plus
Axxis Metal Masters
Axxis Ultimates
Colbalt Friction GTs
Of all the above, I always slap the ultimates back in. The work the best cold, the best warm (Christian couldn't get them to overheat at T-Hill, and that on Race Rubber), and work so reliably day in and day out, i just can't believe how good they are.
But that's just me. They are the best bang for buck pad out there.
Hawk HPS
Hawk HP+
Carbotech Bobcats
Carbotech Panther Plus
Axxis Metal Masters
Axxis Ultimates
Colbalt Friction GTs
Of all the above, I always slap the ultimates back in. The work the best cold, the best warm (Christian couldn't get them to overheat at T-Hill, and that on Race Rubber), and work so reliably day in and day out, i just can't believe how good they are.
But that's just me. They are the best bang for buck pad out there.
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
I used to run the axxis religiously on my civic but I have gotten my hawk pads for cheap so I run those. Maybe I'll try the axxis again.
I will say this... the hawk hp+ are rotor eaters.
I will say this... the hawk hp+ are rotor eaters.
General Pimpin'
iTrader: (7)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,019
From: Knee deep in beer. subabrew crew, ca.
Car Info: MY04 aspen wrx wagon.
Don't think so.
I just noticed that the hp+'s did a number on my rotors. If they pick up any flaws, dirt, rocks, build up, etc... they grooved really bad. My DBA's got a really bad groove in them. I had them turned and they're grooving again but I'm honestly starting to wonder if something in my caliper is contacting the rotor.
They're great pads. Just my personal experience.
And do yourself a favor and don't get cheap rotors. If you're gonna go cheaper get stock ones or brembo blanks. If you're going slotted get quality rotors like DBA.
I just noticed that the hp+'s did a number on my rotors. If they pick up any flaws, dirt, rocks, build up, etc... they grooved really bad. My DBA's got a really bad groove in them. I had them turned and they're grooving again but I'm honestly starting to wonder if something in my caliper is contacting the rotor.
They're great pads. Just my personal experience.
And do yourself a favor and don't get cheap rotors. If you're gonna go cheaper get stock ones or brembo blanks. If you're going slotted get quality rotors like DBA.
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,228
From: 631 Railroad Ave. Fairfield, CA
Car Info: A Laptop
I've used:
Hawk HPS
Hawk HP+
Carbotech Bobcats
Carbotech Panther Plus
Axxis Metal Masters
Axxis Ultimates
Colbalt Friction GTs
Of all the above, I always slap the ultimates back in. The work the best cold, the best warm (Christian couldn't get them to overheat at T-Hill, and that on Race Rubber), and work so reliably day in and day out, i just can't believe how good they are.
But that's just me. They are the best bang for buck pad out there.
Hawk HPS
Hawk HP+
Carbotech Bobcats
Carbotech Panther Plus
Axxis Metal Masters
Axxis Ultimates
Colbalt Friction GTs
Of all the above, I always slap the ultimates back in. The work the best cold, the best warm (Christian couldn't get them to overheat at T-Hill, and that on Race Rubber), and work so reliably day in and day out, i just can't believe how good they are.
But that's just me. They are the best bang for buck pad out there.
I've gone through all the same pads except the Cobalts and the Axxis Ultimates are by far my favorite. The ONLY potential drawback is that they dust... but its not the type of dust that fuses to your wheels, it just washes right off. Otherwise, they stop better than anything else I've tried, work great in a huge range of temperatures, cost less than most other pads, and make my rotors last forever. I think I'm on my 4th set of Ultimates now.
speak for yourself!
I have little drops of liquid Axxis pad bonded to insides of my wheels. I use a screw driver to chip them off
Ive been searching for this myself. It looks like Wheeldude has the Axis Ultimate pads and Powerslot rotors for pretty good prices.
Can anyone comment on how the Powerslot rotors would hold up compared to the STi Brembos?
Can anyone comment on how the Powerslot rotors would hold up compared to the STi Brembos?
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 11,892
From: Hangin in Placerville youtube.com/rallydude1515
Car Info: 1999 RS Coupé- 1995 Mazda Miata -KTM 300
My current rotors have a 2 mm lip on the outside of them from my Hawks.
haha yeah...i dont care when people write stuff in the dust on my car...just dont fingerprint my brake dust! once you wipe off your brake dust, it forces you to clean your whole wheel x 4
haha yeah...i dont care when people write stuff in the dust on my car...just dont fingerprint my brake dust! once you wipe off your brake dust, it forces you to clean your whole wheel x 4
Last edited by kYLEMtnCRUZr; Dec 9, 2008 at 08:17 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 100
I know you're looking for budget friendly parts but when you're ready to do more track days and still want a daily driver, I've been very happy with Ferrodo 2500 pads on slotted Brembos. I'm a coach at Thunderhill Raceway and have used this combination on my '04 STi since it was nearly new. There is a bit of dusting but it will easily blow off with an air hose (about 95%). But the biggest advantage is in the performance. I warped my stock Brembo front rotors on my second track day back in 2004 and replaced them with the slotted version. I think they're called "Sport" or "GT" by Brembo. I also had a set of 2500 pads an slotted rotors kryoed and they lasted a very long time.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,808
From: San Jose, CA
Car Info: 2015 WRX
Cool deal.
I decided on using Carbotech AX6 pads F/R, they said it'd be a lil dusty, but the bite should be more than worth it. I wash the wheels once a week and drive "adventurously" once a week, so it shouldn't be that bad.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/ for your future consideration.
I decided on using Carbotech AX6 pads F/R, they said it'd be a lil dusty, but the bite should be more than worth it. I wash the wheels once a week and drive "adventurously" once a week, so it shouldn't be that bad.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/ for your future consideration.
I have had DBA 5000 2 piece rotors with stock brembo pads for over 15K and they are still in great condition! It's amazing that the pads are about 1/2 worn and I don't see any grooves on the rotors yet. But all I do is clean my wheels every 2 weeks or so! My next rotors to try out are the Girodisc 2 piece rotors with HPS pads that I have sitting in my garage. It's a good thing that the Girodisc rotors can fit both bolt patterns of the STI. Maybe these rotors will go on my next car(08 STI).