What brake pads do you recommend FOR ME?

[ccage]

I have the Porterfield sports now, and like them but I don't have a clue what is good or bad. In the last 6 months, I have had 3 different people that have driven my car question my brake performance.

Ok, I haven't driven the car on the track -- not even autocross -- so take this with a whole shaker of salt:

The Porterfields feel to me like the have a much differently shaped performance "envelope" than the stock pads. Specifically, they feel to me to make higher friction over all, but generally at higher temperatures. It seems to take more pedal pressure to get the same result in braking, but if you keep pushing it feels like you get more overall friction.

At first it bothered me. I thought maybe I hadn't got them bedded in right, even though I followed their guidelines (and their guidelines made sense to me and others). Looking at the rotors showed a good bed-in. Then once I discovered the difference, it's actually kinda nice in that -- because the overall performance envelope is wider -- the lockup threshold area is wider, too, meaning that it's easier to find the threshold and hold it.

OTOH, you have to remember that when you get in it to go to the store first thing Saturday morning after not having driven it for a few days (or worse yet having driven your almost-identical-but-with-stock-pads-Miata all week), you need to allot for the fact that a) you have to push harder on the pedal and b) the brakes aren't gonna work as well 'till they heat up just a little -- which can lead to an oh $%$ moment. Ask me how I know. :)

Hope this helps.

Chuck

[Titus]

Ok, I haven't driven the car on the track -- not even autocross -- so take this with a whole shaker of salt:

The Porterfields feel to me like the have a much differently shaped performance "envelope" than the stock pads. Specifically, they feel to me to make higher friction over all, but generally at higher temperatures. It seems to take more pedal pressure to get the same result in braking, but if you keep pushing it feels like you get more overall friction.

At first it bothered me. I thought maybe I hadn't got them bedded in right, even though I followed their guidelines (and their guidelines made sense to me and others). Looking at the rotors showed a good bed-in. Then once I discovered the difference, it's actually kinda nice in that -- because the overall performance envelope is wider -- the lockup threshold area is wider, too, meaning that it's easier to find the threshold and hold it.

OTOH, you have to remember that when you get in it to go to the store first thing Saturday morning after not having driven it for a few days (or worse yet having driven your almost-identical-but-with-stock-pads-Miata all week), you need to allot for the fact that a) you have to push harder on the pedal and b) the brakes aren't gonna work as well 'till they heat up just a little -- which can lead to an oh $%$ moment. Ask me how I know. :)

Hope this helps.

Chuck

This sounds consistent with what I have seen as well as with most of the comments I have gotten, including TCs above. Perhaps there is nothing wrong other than the lack of familiarity with the pads characteristics by those that have made comments.

[Titus]

And I just happen to have a 1.8 set complete for sale. Go figure?

Gary

Just for giggles, why don't you PM me your price.

[Treibenschnell]

Just for giggles, why don't you PM me your price.

Hey Gary, for him, you should just go ahead and double it!

[Titus]

Hey Gary, for him, you should just go ahead and double it!

And to think, I was going to offer you a deal on my 1.6 powerslot rotors.

[Treibenschnell]

And to think, I was going to offer you a deal on my 1.6 powerslot rotors.

Actually, I'd been thinking of bumping up to the 1.8 brakes for awhile now...

[icepenguin66]

I like the Hawk Black pads. Especially if you are not going to street the car a whole lot. medium duty race pad/aggressive street pad. I ran them on my project racer and on my street car for the past 2 years and love'd em.

[BAM!]

Come drive our '96 and see what you think, they have the HP + which are still my favorite for the street and the track.

Gary

i think ill use the HP+'s you sold me from now on. i love them. yes theyre noisy and dust alot, but hell, once you get used to them, youll be hooked!

[Titus]

BTW Titus - do you still have the OEM 1.6L brakes? Because they suck, in my opinion. Every 1.6L car I've ever instructed in had horrible brakes.

Before I shelled out for a new set of performance pads for the 1.6L brakes, I'd look into buying a used set of OEM 1.8L brakes - they'll be a vast improvement.

Well, this is what I finally ended up doing. I bought a box full of stuff that Gary pulled off of a wrecked '99 that included front and rear 1.8 rotors, calipers, caliper brackets, and a set of nearly new HPS front pads. BAM! stopped by tonight and helped me get the fronts on and it was pretty easy. We ended up not needing to use the calipers, as you only need the brackets, rotors, and pads. This saved us having to deal with bleeding the system. Once I get some rear 1.8 pads, I will get them on.

[Adam Payrot]

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