Brake Pads

[pontiacgp]

There are a number of threads dealing with upgrading brakes but there is little or no discussions on brake pads. I have used KPF carbon kevlar pads which I found to be excellent pads and now I've been using EBC green pads for the last year or so. I find the EBC easier on the rotor and they maintain their heat better. Either of these pads greatly improve the stopping rate of the car and I also use the S10 non power wheel cylinders in the rear. The pads aren't cheap as I was paying about $85 for the KFP and the EBC's run me 108.00 but in view of what it cost to change to a 12" rotor it's cost efficient. Also there is a minimal change, if any, of stopping when upgrading to a 12" rotor for braking. The tire are another variable when it comes to braking. Where the benefits of a 12" rotor really come into play is when your braking hard and frequently as in a circle track race as the extra surface dissipates the heat better.

http://www.truechoice.com/products.asp?dept=1110

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/automotive/gre ... ndex.shtml

 

[dan2286]

Since upgrading to a bigger rotor dissipates heat better, wouldn't that help with brake fade, which in some cases make your braking better?

I put 12 in F-body brakes on my '00 Grand Prix. I believe it was an inch bigger and it used dual piston. It did not help in regular situations when you are just slowing down for a light or something, but it did help almost eliminate brake fade when hitting brakes doing 75+mph. It was pretty bad with the stock brakes. The rotors also took longer to warp. I drive my cars hard, so the brakes usually hate me 😀 I definitely do not think they always give the gains that some people claim, but you should see at least some type of gain if you drive your car hard.

 

[pontiacgp]

Since upgrading to a bigger rotor dissipates heat better, wouldn't that help with brake fade, which in some cases make your braking better?

if I had a problem with brakes fading then I would need to upgrade but with the EBC pads I have never had a brake fade even with stopping at high speeds. These pads are phenomenal and I have no problem with their price...which I can assure you is alot higher than south of the border...if I were in your area I'd gladly set you up with a set for your car and if your didn't agree that the pads are far superior to even premium pads then the pads are on me.. ... 8)

 

[dan2286]

I don't have the Grand Prix anymore and my Cutlass is not done yet, so I will have to give them a try on my Volvo 850. Supposedly, Volvos are very sensitive to what kind of pads are on there. If they are not a certain kind, they will squeal no matter what. They are only a few bucks more than the OEM pads on the front and 10 bucks more on the back, so it would be worth it. I am going to ask the Volvo community if they have had luck with these pads.

 

[pontiacgp]

These pads do lightly squeal on a slow stop every once in a while when they are new but it's not loud so it doesn't concern me and others in the car have not even noticed it...another thing I like about them is that they allow me to modulate the braking almost as good as our race car with manual brakes....let me know how you like them if you do try them out...but don't tell me how much you paid, I don't want to know how much they're hosing me for mine... 😳