Brake recommendations
 

My 2005 STi has worn out its brakes. :(

So, after some research on the web, I have found that Ferodo has some good brake sets, I.E. the DS2500 series. However, I am having a hard time finding a dealer around here.

I checked out Summit Racing and they only carry the Front brake pads from EBC. The ones I was looking at are the EBC DP31210C for $119.95, (redstuff pads).

Anyone have any better suggestions?

I like EBC, and strongly reccomend them. You may not like the reds in the winter though. Pretty good autocross and track pad.

I just got a set of yellows for the STI.

Porterfield R4, or R4s.

Hawk HP+ is a good street/autocross pad, but not great for the track other than maybe a first event.

<dean>just brake less, bitch!</dean>

I have used ferodo 2500s and 3000s up front in my STi. The 2500s last a long time but are a bit average in feel. The 3000s are a little wooden the first time you use them in the morning, but after one or two applications are amazing. They don't last very long at all though :( These are track only pads according to ferodo, but I love the feel so much I am using them on the street. At autoX, with the 2500s I had to really stand on the pedal to get the abs to kick in. With the 3000s I have to be gentle on the pedal or the abs will kick in at every corner. I love these pads! If only they lasted longer than 2 months :( I definately wouldn't leave these pads in during winter!

I have had porterfield R4 pads, they felt about the same as the ferodo 3000s, except they took longer to warm up, but also lasted a lot longer. I definately wouldn't leave these pads in during winter!

EBC pads are probably the best bang for the buck. I used the reds on my WRX at a track event and they were great. I drove dean's WRX with the greens at AutoX 2 years ago and they bite really well.

Just buy the pads online, there are dozens of places that carry everything you need cheaper than summit. This is the last place I bought pads: http://raceshopper.com/

I have only tried stock and R4-S's so I don't have much comparison to base my opinion on, but I do like the R4-S's. They are a little wooden on below freezing mornings, but totally usable. They faded at my one and only track day at RFR a little, but that's no surprise. What I do like is that the dust wipes off the wheels easily even after sitting on them for months, they seem to be lasting a long time and my rotors look pretty good still. They have recently started squeeking a little, but it's not bad and spraying them out with water seems to have helped. They're perfect for daily driver/autoX IMO.

1) Don't restrict yourself to what's in stock locally. Shipping is minimal enough on pads.

2) Splurge on pads. After tires, they are the next most important component of the car. Worry less about "value for dollar" and more about what you can afford to actually spend. Buy the best stuff you can allow yoursef to spend for.

If you're planning to run one single pad year-round, you're gonna be unhappy on the track or scared shitless in the winter, no way around it. Brembo pads are just too big. I would recommend Mike's favorites, the DS3000s for track and autocross, and something like Axxis Deluxe Plus or maybe Hawk HPS or whatver for in between. I also really like the Stoptech Club Spec pad for competition duty, but you should ask Scott about those since the ones he tried on his car were much more similar to your application than mine was.

Do you guys recommend replacing the hardware when replacing pads?

I don't think it's necessary. As long as you didn't break anything. It is just for noise suppression anyway.

I use the StopTech ClubSpec pads for the track. Rumor is, they're rebranded Porterfield R4s. (Shhhh!) I'm *very* happy w/ them at the track, but they are simply too harsh for the street (they do a pretty good job of polishing your rotors clean if you use them cold for a while), and they don't have enough bite for autocross (I find they're just starting to feel right as you're finishing up a run).

I use Axxis Ultimates for street/autocross. They're messy as hell though, which sorta sucks for daily driven cars. But they've got good cold bite, and seem to work pretty well at autocross. However, don't take 'em to the track... they will overheat and turn into bricks.

If you can't stand the corrosive dust from the Ultimates, I'd agree w/ Kevin's recommendation of the Axxis Metal Masters. That's what I use on the SVX, and they're great street pads. Not sure about autocrossing 'em though.

Also, I hear good things about the R4-S's on the street/autocross... and I imagine they're pretty compatible with the R4's if you're going to be swapping pads a lot between track and street. But I haven't used the R4-S's myself, so I've got no 1st hand advice on 'em.

Actually, I recommended Deluxe Plus. ;) I've never used Metal Masters, but as I understand it, Metal Masters are in between Deluxe+ and Ultimates in terms of noise and friction, but closer to the Deluxe+ for dust. Deluxe Plus are dustless and not noisy (although after autocrossing on the mtwice, mine are making some noise in the Miata) wear slow, and they are CHEAP.

Either way... for the record, I don't remember if I have the Metal Masters or Deluxe's on my SVX. :lol: All I know is they're not Ultimates, and they barely dust, and the dust doesn't stain the wheels (it just washes off at the touchless car wash even!).

Werd, Axxis street pads FTW.

I use Cobalt GT-Sport pads and I dig 'em.

Coefficient of Friction: 0.48mu
Temperature Range: 75-950F+

Thanks guys for all the suggestions.

Just and FYI, I went to the dealership here in Lake Tahoe and asked how much the OEM brake pads cost. The answer was, $320 for the front, and $208 for the rear.

I think I will definetly be buying aftermarket pads. I found that the Axxis Ultimates are $141 after shipping, and thats both front and rear pads. Not sure if I am getting those ones yet, as I don't clean my car very often and it would seam the brake dust is gonna get pretty bad.

Just do like I did- Paint your wheels black so the dust doesn't show. Problem solved!

You will need to paint the side of your car black too

I'm sure we could all help with that.

I'm shocked (and yet, not) to see the dealer price on the OEM pads for STi. However, a quick trip to the subarugenuineparts.com OEM parts catalog shows that the fronts can be had for $220 and the rears for $169. You know, if you want OEM that badly. :P

Comparatively, a full set of pads (front and rear) for my car would cost a total of $125. I wonder if I'm really getting 32% the performance for 32% the price. :|

might you consider mail order? i ordered a set of front pads from subedude.com a few weeks ago and got it the next day (order placed after 4:00 pm and recieved by lunch the next day). tahoe is a little close than g-ville, but it's suprising how fast i got the parts for regular shiping charges. and i dunno if they have the parts your looking for, but it's worth a try.

Yes, mail/Interweb order! Whatever you decide on, I would strongly reccomend searching on Nasioc, iwsti, and i-club for the best deal. Brake parts have a huge markup, and many places are willing to cut their profits to the bone on these items. And often their postings are more up do date, and more complete than their web sites.

I think I saw front and rear Ultimates the other day as low as $129 for both sets.

Pro Parts USA has them on ebay for $130 shipped. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Axxis...spagenameZWDVW

These guys are pretty good. I have bought stuff from them before. You might want to call them up and ask what there best deal is without ebay. It might be even better. (Their web site is tragically out of date, and incomplete compared to what they actually carry/sell.)

Contact info in this thread in the vendor review section.

http://www.seccs.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4387

Thats a good link, 112 for both sets

Do they seriously dust up the car that bad?

On track certainly... but if you wash your car every week or two like most people, you won't really notice. Since MikeK washes his car every time the millenium digit on the calender increments, he has to chisle off the brake dust coating.

I am right there running for a tie with first place when it comes to wahsing my car.

Do most people really wash their cars that often? I've been meaning to get it done recently, but I haven't actually washed my car since last October. Hohl Subaru gave it a quick wash last time I took it in for an oil change, though.

That's what happens to everyone with white and silver cars. :p The nice thing about having a dark colored car is that washing it is actually rewarding, because when you go all out and do a good wash and clay bar and multi-stage glaze and wax and all that, it actually looks good. With white or silver cars they are "clean" or "I think it's clean" or "hmm, I should wash my car just for the weight savings."