KrylonFuzion

In terms of stopping power, which is better, the OEM pads, or Hawk Ceramic pads?



thanks in advance!

turborx8

iTrader: (1)

Hawk Ceramic pads

/thread

LionZoo

I'm not so sure. I've never used the Ceramics, but I have the Hawk HPS and Hawk rates the HPS as having harder bite than the Ceramics. Yet, I feel the HPS are a slight downgrade from the OEM pads.

ac3mastuh

iTrader: (1)

I have the Hawk Ceramic and I found that the OEM pads seem to bite a little harder initially but the Hawks seem to stop in a shorter distance overall.

416to212

I have the Satisfied Pro Ceramic pads and I would say that the initail bit is slightly less than OEM. But in a hurried 100% emergency stopping situation they work on par with OEM. The benefit of running ceramics is the low dust production. For a street car I'd like to run Ceramics all the time.

c41250n

iTrader: (5)

i think the hps is way way better then stock!!
with stock brake pads overheated on the track and the hps never over heated!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

They will...give them ( you) some seat time

c41250n

iTrader: (5)

im already done with them!!
no problem for me!!
and now my bbk is coming....so no more worries for me!

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

RacingBrake has some interesting pad choices... I'll be trying the ET800s this week.

thebiggdaddy

I have the Hawk Ceramic pads. I don't track the car at all, but use the 8 for daily driving. I think the OEM pads were much better for DD than the Hawk Ceramic pads.

PBlue

iTrader: (1)

HP+ for everything ftw.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I too have the Hawk Ceremic and they don't bite as hard as the stockers. Does anyone know who makes the stock pads? Nissan?

KrylonFuzion

hmmm dunno i just assumed mazda manufactured them?

swoope

iTrader: (5)

george,

i expect a pm with a mini review.

to the op. the stock oem pad is a much better braking and feeling pad than the ceramics if you push the car at all.

the hawk ceramic dusts very little..

i have owned both..

beers

Ross_Dawg

iTrader: (2)

+1. I use HPS for street use and then switch in HP+ for autox / track days

SymSym

For street driving anything more than the OEM pad is overkill. They are designed to run at temperatures encountered in daily driving. AS such they have better initial bite and good stopping power. If you track your car, then your brake temperatures will rise and higher performance pads will give you better stopping power than the OEM and will not fade as badly (please note that if abused all pads will overheat). The problem with high performance pads is that in daily driving they do not reach their correct operating temperature and have LESS performance than OEM pads. So it comes down to where you are using your car as to the best pad for performance. If you want less brake dust, then ceramic dust is lighter in colour and does not spoil appearance as much as OEM pads. Having said that , there is very little wrong with the RX8s brake system for 99% of all drivers.

Ross_Dawg

iTrader: (2)

I wouldnt go so far as to say 99% of 8 owners on here dont visit the track here and there. One day at the track with your oem pads and some hawk hp+ and you will feel a huge difference

Race Roots

iTrader: (64)

You know it is good stuff

I have had some excellent street reviews I too would be interested to see what he has to say for track use.

GeorgeH

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys. I will be posting a review soon. In fact, I installed them & bedded them tonight. Have an autocross this weekend. Not sure when I'll get a track day in, but I was looking for a pad that could do both. I wondered if the 800s would be overkill for solo, and posted that question on the RB forum. They replied by saying they thought it would be ideal, and gave me a 25% discount if I would try them out and write a review. They also offered a money back garauntee if I did not like them, so I took the bait.

I'll post a review, at least for solo use, next week.

Catspaw

So maybe I missed it, but how do the ceramic brakes fare on the track once they heat up, better than HPS? I'll be in the market for new pads soon, but I want something that's still decent for daily use.

LionZoo

The Ceramics are inferior to the HPS performance wise.

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

hold on what are the hps made of? arent hawk hps their ceramic pads? not sure just wondering im confused now ... im not running hawk anymore im on ebc redstuff but ive ran hawk before and i thought mine were hps but i know they were ceramic!

KrylonFuzion

from what i understand, hawk makes two different sets of pads- ceramics, and the hps that most people get.

KrylonFuzion

just got my car back today- got the ceramic hawk pads installed and the rotors re-surfaced. ridiculously smooth braking now!

but I think I have an issue- whats the best way to break them in?

also, i believe that the ceramic compound used for these brakes is harder than OEM, so it will take longer for them to seat- about how much longer?

mysql101

hawk ceramics are a godsend if you dislike brake dust. what little it does spew, is light in color and wipes away easily.