Brake Pads

[Seattle09GT]

Installing DBA rotors, Hawk pads and Russell SS lines tomorrow with ATE Blue brake fluid. Will update on what we think after we're done.

[Napalm]

I'm a big fan of Carbotech or porterfield brake pads.

Also coming from the GTO. Don't put EBC pads with DBA rotors. I know they claim to be OK, but many people myself included had major issues with pad deposits using that combination. pad bedding didn't do shit with them either. I am convinced it was a chemistry issue. Major pad deposits. where same rotors, same car, tires and driving habits but different pads lead to no deposits.

Just an FYI.

[pha|anx]

Installing DBA rotors, Hawk pads and Russell SS lines tomorrow with ATE Blue brake fluid. Will update on what we think after we're done.

Would LOVE to hear about your experience. My rotors are fucked and this is pretty much the only option I'm seriously considering right now. I'm looking at the drilled and slotted regular rotors and the HP ceramic pads.

Do stainless lines really make a big difference? How about fluid options?

Sent from Hell via my Galaxy S Captivate

[Napalm]

ss lines help with pedal feel and modulation. imagine the rubber hoses expanding every time you pump the pedal after they have been on the car a while.

You will notice a firmer pedal feel, once you get used to it, you can't go back.

On fluid, what I do so take with a grain of salt: I used to DD my GTO and track my GTO. So I would put standard Valvoline Synethetic brake fluid (its like $7 per 1 quart, 1 litre) bottle at your autozone or orieliys. This is clear when it goes in, and you flush the entire system of the car (more on that later you don't need a Tech 2 to do it). When I would track the car, I would flush again with ATE super blue fluid (jegs, summit etc and other carry it) its more like 21+ per 1 litre bottle. it is blue going in, you knew you were good when the fluid was clean and blue.

track the car, come home, flush again with basic Valvoline. repeat as often as possible per track day. For a daily driven car, expensive brake fluids aren't worth the money.

Also for me Tracking the car meant road course or AutoX course. not Drag races.
And I flush my brake system every year or 2 years depending on use. Just to keep the abs unit clean and happy. I call it cheap insurance.

[wreckwriter]

Hawk HPS with NO noise and amazingly, very little dust. I also have DBA rotors. This thing stops AMAZINGLY now.

That's funny, mine dust like crazy.

[pha|anx]

ss lines help with pedal feel and modulation. imagine the rubber hoses expanding every time you pump the pedal after they have been on the car a while.

You will notice a firmer pedal feel, once you get used to it, you can't go back.

On fluid, what I do so take with a grain of salt: I used to DD my GTO and track my GTO. So I would put standard Valvoline Synethetic brake fluid (its like $7 per 1 quart, 1 litre) bottle at your autozone or orieliys. This is clear when it goes in, and you flush the entire system of the car (more on that later you don't need a Tech 2 to do it). When I would track the car, I would flush again with ATE super blue fluid (jegs, summit etc and other carry it) its more like 21+ per 1 litre bottle. it is blue going in, you knew you were good when the fluid was clean and blue.

track the car, come home, flush again with basic Valvoline. repeat as often as possible per track day. For a daily driven car, expensive brake fluids aren't worth the money.

Also for me Tracking the car meant road course or AutoX course. not Drag races.
And I flush my brake system every year or 2 years depending on use. Just to keep the abs unit clean and happy. I call it cheap insurance.

Thanks for the quick reply! Alright that sells me on stainless lines then lol. Cheapo fluid it is!

Sent from Hell via my Galaxy S Captivate

[Napalm]

I have lots of info about brake systems that most people don't agree with as it defies conventional wisdom. I used to work for a company that made ABS modules, for GM, Mercedes, AUDI, Lamborghini, and others.

later in life I was doing Aircraft brake systems. Some people don't like my thoughts but the ultimate in braking systems is on commercial jets, it later trickles to automotive. There is a reason why you don't see drilled rotors on an aircraft. It has nothing to do with cracking.

Slotted rotors (Iron and Carbon) have been around for years.

[Seattle09GT]

Would LOVE to hear about your experience. My rotors are fucked and this is pretty much the only option I'm seriously considering right now. I'm looking at the drilled and slotted regular rotors and the HP ceramic pads.

Do stainless lines really make a big difference? How about fluid options?

Sent from Hell via my Galaxy S Captivate

Ya, my front rotors are totally fucked from doing DPE school last year - not impressed. After time on the handling oval the brakes were literally smoking. I'll add I don't have much to complain about, an Audi A6 that was running the same day also had BBQ brake pads smoking away and near cooked brake fluid.

Stainless steel brake lines make a difference, feel is much more firm. The stock lines bulge when the fluid pulses through, and that bulging gets worse when the fluid is heated, so you need more pressure on the pedal to get the same amount of brake force. Perceived fade is greatly reduced.

I know the folks at DBA say Hawk Pads or nothing, so that is what I'm going with, I went with the ceramic as they can take heat better. I don't do serious hard core lapping but dabble in auto-X and will do some lazy lapping this fall (and more of that moving forward).

I'm going ATE Blue as an overkill choice. Figure if I can get two years out of a single flush than it is all good.

I'll keep people posted, I only have 18K miles on my G8, I just want better brakes. I suspect a lot of people are looking at options as they are pushing into the useful life of the OEM brake system.

[hulkss]

Where's the best place to get the Centric rotors?

I got mine at RockAuto
I like the machined hats and corrosion protection they use.

[Executor999]

I got mine at RockAuto
I like the machined hats and corrosion protection they use.

Thanks. They have great prices on the rotors and the AC Delco pads.