I'm looking for some comments on brake pads for track days. I'm an experienced driver with ~10 years of autocross and ~5 years of track experience. I've recently started running track days again after a couple of years hiatus. My car has mild suspension modifications (Konis, RB springs, a Mazdacomp front bar) and I run 255/40-17 RA1s at the track.

Currently, I've got Axxis Ultimates on the car front and rear. While these are a decent street/autocross pad, they did not hold up well at a recent track day. The pads never really faded, but they did leave a lumpy deposit layer on the front rotors.

I have a track day coming up at Texas World Speedway in a few weeks. I was about to order a set of Hawk Blues for the front brakes (I'll swap them trackside when I swap tires), when I remembered that I have a set of Carbotech XP8 fronts and Panther Plus rears that came with the car that I'd forgotten about.

Anyone have experience with these particular Carbotech pads for track day use, or am I better off just ordering a set of Blues for the front and leaving the Ultimates in the back? The rears held up fine on the track, but the fronts need some help.

I tend to lean on the car hard at the track, and I need a pad compound that will hold up to my level of driving. These will be track only pads. I'd love to hear some pad advice from the experienced track day junkies out there.

 

If the XP8s are in good shape, I would give them a try. I used them front and rear at multiple track days, including the Pocono full course. They held up beautifully the whole day there. Turn one was a 135mph->65mph braking zone and the back stretch to chichane was about 120->60 so they were definately stressed a bit.

Never a hint of fade and my rotors were perfectly clean, though a bit thinner They're super dusty too and loud as heck when cold, but of course that shouldn't matter for a track only pad.

 

I know you like to slow down way to much, you might want to think about a parachute.

Just use up the pads you have, the Carbotechs will be fine. I use a Hawk blue, but only cause I can get them for free from ProSolo contingency.

 

Hawks are supposed to be the best, but their supposed to be extremely corrosive. One of my friends who runs them, cleans his wheels religiously after every session. I use carbotech's and they

 

I think the XP8/Panther Plus F/R bias will be better balanced than the Blue/Ultimate F/R bias.

I'd go with the carbotech setup.

Also, there's many newer compound choices than Blue out there these days which will be kinder on rotors while providing equal or better performance. Hawk Blue is old technology.

 

Too true, too true.

Yeah, the Carbotechs were on the car when I bought it from Keith. I pulled them off and stuck them in a toolbox because I couldn't stand them on the street, and I forgot about them until just the other day. I figure they ought to hold up better than the Ultimates, and they're free (unlike the Blues), which appeals to my inner cheap bastard.

 

Carbotechs are good pads. I've been running XP8 Front, Bobcats Rear. Very rotor friendly and no brake fade or deposits on the rotor. Running similar setup, Mazdaspeed suspension with 275/35-18 RA1s. The Bobcats are wearing much faster in the rear than the XP8 in the front though. I can't believe the fronts have lasted this long with 4 Sebring events and 3 at Roebling Road (lighter on brakes).

Currently upgrading to XP10 front and XP8 rears. I liked the XP8 in the front, but I'm hoping the XP10 will slow the car down even faster.

 

That XP8/Panther setup should be just fine, I run XP8's in the front and Bobcats in the rear, and no problems. I run at lot at Road America, so a very high speed track with a lot of braking from the 130+mph zone. No problems, always great bite and no corrosive dust(unlike the Blues).

 

maxi-pads

 

Try the Carbon Kevlar from Porterfield. They have been making racing brakes for years.

They work excellant on the track.

http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/