FINALLY AFTERMARKET PADS FOR STOCK CALIPERS - KHARTUNERZ

[Helo58]

For the record, I have used the HPS5.0 pads on my ISF and they are dusty and abrasive. The dust itself is also seemed abrasive/corrosive as it took clear coat and paint off of my caliper and wheel. So I trust the user reports for the HPS pads but thought it was funny that the Hawk website lists this for the HPS pads...
Hawk Performance Street HPS Brake Pads

• Recommended Use: Performance Street Driving
• Delivers up to 40% More Stopping Power Over Stock Pads
• HPS Pad Formula is Low Dust
• Stopping Power is greatly increased
• Hawk HPS Pad Compound Provides Extended Pad Life
• HPS Formula is Gentle on all types of Rotors
• Practically Noise Free Operation

 

[MerlintheMad]

Performance Street Driving

That is a euphemism if I ever heard one!

The rest sounds like it is heading for my alley. I've already said I want better pads/rotors. Pads first, I guess. The rotors on the Stinger seem fine for the great majority of vehicles out there; a few have issues (arguably pad deposits and not "warpage").

 

[westcoastGT]

I always switched from OEM BMW pads ( soft , mushy and filthy ) to Ceramics. usually Akebono

 

[SKStinger]

I always switched from OEM BMW pads ( soft , mushy and filthy ) to Ceramics. usually Akebono

Yep. I did the same on my Audi A4. Went with the Akebono ceramics and they're way better than OEM. No dust, quiet and bite just as well.

I had Hawk Euro Ceramics on my A5 and they were good too. I've never ran the Hawk HPS but i've read on Audizine that they can be dusty and noisy which is why I went the ceramic route.

 

[westcoastGT]

Yep. I did the same on my Audi A4. Went with the Akebono ceramics and they're way better than OEM. No dust, quiet and bite just as well.

I had Hawk Euro Ceramics on my A5 and they were good too. I've never ran the Hawk HPS but i've read on Audizine that they can be dusty and noisy which is why I went the ceramic route.

The ceramic pads that are on our GT's seem to perform well , and certainly are dustless from my perspective

 

[MerlintheMad]

The ceramic pads that are on our GT's seem to perform well , and certainly are dustless from my perspective

GT (Brembo) pads are ceramic? Why did I not hear this before?

 

[westcoastGT]

GT (Brembo) pads are ceramic? Why did I not hear this before?

......................2 ears , 2 eyes , 1 mouth .................................bawaaaaaaaaaa . I'll bet most members didnt know either !!

 

[MerlintheMad]

......................2 ears , 2 eyes , 1 mouth .................................bawaaaaaaaaaa . I'll bet most members didnt know either !!

How can ceramic "melt" and put deposits on the rotors?

 

[Helo58]

How can ceramic "melt" and put deposits on the rotors?

The resins, binders, and copper that hold the ceramic pad materials together have a targeted heat range and coefficient of friction. These materials are the ones most susceptible to heat, not the actual ceramic particles in the mix.

 

[MerlintheMad]

The resins, binders, and copper that hold the ceramic pad materials together have a targeted heat range and coefficient of friction. These materials are the ones most susceptible to heat, not the actual ceramic particles in the mix.

So the OEM pads on the GT Stinger are of a lower grade (less ceramic) than more high performance spec pads? And when you use more ceramic, is that what produces the dust? But the tradeoff is a higher efficiency brake? I.e. good for racing noisy race cars, but not very desirable to most drivers on the road.

 

[Helo58]

So the OEM pads on the GT Stinger are of a lower grade (less ceramic) than more high performance spec pads? And when you use more ceramic, is that what produces the dust? But the tradeoff is a higher efficiency brake? I.e. good for racing noisy race cars, but not very desirable to most drivers on the road.

There are others who can speak to the pad composition specifics. I don't know a whole lot about them in detail. I do know that there is enough variability in "recipes" to not comment further without knowing the components of the pad.

Here is some interesting reading on this link: Toyota Parts | What Are Brake Pads Made Of

Brake pads are a mix of five types of materials:

1. Binding materials (binders)
2. Abrasive materials
3. Performance materials that are included in precise amounts to enhance certain braking characteristics, including temperature specific lubricants
4. Filler materials
5. Structural materials, which help the pad maintain proper shape during use

These five types of materials encompass more than 2,000 substances, and only each brake pad manufacturer knows a specific pad's exact composition.​

 

[westcoastGT]

So the OEM pads on the GT Stinger are of a lower grade (less ceramic) than more high performance spec pads? And when you use more ceramic, is that what produces the dust? But the tradeoff is a higher efficiency brake? I.e. good for racing noisy race cars, but not very desirable to most drivers on the road.

I think our pads are fine , but when you need to replace them , do your homework , there are literally a dozen alternatives or more . BMW never recommended turning rotors , they wanted replacements ...................so it could be a more complicated process when the brakes wear out on these GT's but I'm hoping pad replacement only , I guess I see what happens when it comes time for me ............................

 

[oddball]

The ceramic pads that are on our GT's seem to perform well , and certainly are dustless from my perspective

Nope! Well, the pads work great until you really need them. Then they don't work at all. I don't know if it's an outgassing problem or what, but I had an, ah, "experience" with the nannies turned off where the brakes flat out didn't work. Similar to Car & Driver sliding right off the track on their test.

As for replacing pads while keeping current rotors, that's generally OK. Nick is absolutely correct that it's best to always put new rotors with new pads, but that's not necessary if the rotors are in good shape. Go through the bedding process with the new pads. That will remove the old material layer on the rotors and deposit a new layer from the new pads.
I've seen OEMs recommend keeping rotors even if they're grooved as long as they're not outright knackered.

 

[TwinSnails]

I thought our issue was the rotors and not necessarily the pads? And upgrading the rotors made a biggest difference...

 

[oddball]

It's the pads. The cheapest work-around available to the dealer right now is to replace rotors, which briefly addresses the symptoms.

 

[TwinSnails]

I thought the Euro pads were an option, too.

 

[oddball]

I thought the Euro pads were an option, too.

Try to buy a set.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Try to buy a set.

Yeah, that's what we've been hearing. The Car and Driver test Stinger that slid off the track with spongy brakes got a new set of Euro spec pads (the next day?). Kia sent them pronto. But "not sold in stores" (over here in the US) seems to be the reality.

 

[Jimmer]

wait a minute. there's an issue with the brakes now?

 

[MerlintheMad]

wait a minute. there's an issue with the brakes now?

Only if you are a crazy driver. Seriously, the brakes are good, really good. I've stood on my Brembos in an emergency mode twice; the second time produced a skid because I was on gravel. Both times I stopped impressively fast, with no after effects like lumpy feeling brakes as complained about by some. But, if you are going to get on a track and do a lot of sustained heavy braking at speed, higher spec pads are definitely in order first (as the Car & Driver "fast lap" proved; at least for that driver; the same week, there was a more legendary driver - Randy Pobst - who said the Stinger's OEM Brembos were just fine: so I come away believing that some drivers are just ham footed and need tougher brakes).