Brake pads for sti.

[Kevin M]

I'd go with ceramics. Cost a bit more but last longer generally.

[AWDlaunch]

Originally Posted by cody

Never heard of them, but don't metallic and to a lesser extent, semi-metallic pads wear out your rotors significantly faster?

I always thought it was the the ceramics that wore the rotors faster. Then again i know absolutely nothing about brakes except for how to change the pads.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by AWDlaunch

I always thought it was the the ceramics that wore the rotors faster. Then again i know absolutely nothing about brakes except for how to change the pads.

IIRC, ceramics last longer and dust less... but if they perform as good as the dusty metallics, as Dean was pointing out, they will wear the rotor more.

If you can live with less braking performance (which should be fine unless you're racing the car) a set of ceramics should last longer and be cleaner. I just don't know squat about ceramic street pads to recommend one.

[sybir]

ooh. ooh. pick me.


heh.

[szucchet]

I need some pads for my sti I read this whole thread and it all looks to be a year old, is there anything new I should now before buying a new set?

[Dean]

No real changes. Another older but useful thread

Pick up a set of Greens, R4-S, HP+ or ultimates (Now called ULT?). You won't be unhappy with any of them. Ultimates allegedly make nastier dust.

Pick up some decent brake fluid while you are at it. Old but still correct except prices thread

[cody]

I'm going to try Hawk HPS when my R4-S's die. They should cost less and last longer without sacrificing anything.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by cody

I'm going to try Hawk HPS when my R4-S's die. They should cost less and last longer without sacrificing anything.

HPS are not a trackable pad and are only OK for autocross IMHO. (lower CF than those listed) They are a good street only pad though.

[Kevin M]

I've run both back to back. The Porterfields are a little better, but also more expensive. The HPS work fine so either way it's not a disaster.

[Kevin M]

Originally Posted by Dean

HPS are not a trackable pad and are only OK for autocross IMHO. (lower CF than those listed) They are a good street only pad though.

Yeah I'd agree with that. They better than "okay" for autocross as they hold up to the abuse, but they can't handle the track in a heavy car.

[cody]

The R4-S are no picinic at the track anyway, they fade readily and it's such a waste of a nice pad since you chew through them so quickly when they overheat. I'm done using "high performance street pads" on the track. Last time I only did it because I didn't know I was going til a couple days before hand. I'll actually probably put my stock pads back on after the Porterfields die and use the remaining 70% or so up. They'll be fine for autoX.

[Dean]

You have to drive the car you have, not the car you wish you had. Stock WRX brakes are going to fade at the track with most any pad if driven too hard. The question is if the pad will actually hold up. HPS and ULTimates are known to fail at high temps.

You will not be happy with the stock pads at autocross. With RE01s, I bet you won't be able to ABS in a straight line due to low CF.

[cody]

Originally Posted by makofoto

What's the big deal with people wanting to change out their radiators? We run in very warm Southern CA and NEVER have over heating issues with OEM radiators ... with Suby's prepped to ST and SM rules. Most of us probably use Redline Water Wetter, but that doesn't do THAT much.

I know many National Champs that use oem brakes and pads. Drivers like Josh Sortor (STX Champ) and Gary Thomason (ASP and SS Champ). Save your money for the best tires and lighter wheels! I DID have Rotoro big brakes on my WRX ... and had other top drivers tell me that they felt "the best," but believe me, it didn't make me any faster.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/newr...ply&p=26524944

Edit: Wait, two of those are STi classes aren't they? At least we can assume the STX is on stock WRX brakes and pads but they could be the better MY06 brakes.

[Dean]

I don't believe any WRX driving Nat trophy winner uses stock pads and nobody other than the driver's themselves can convince me otherwise. Calipers yes, pads no. Stock WRX pads barely stop the 16" RE92s.

[cody]

I didn't think they were bad at all but then again, I was a noob when autox'd on them.

[szucchet]

Has anyone tried the hps plus? Also can't find green pads all I've seen are yellows, is there a big difference?

[Kevin M]

HP+, and yes, I've used them. They're more track oriented, so they dust and squeak a lot on the street. Good for track and autocross though.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by szucchet

Has anyone tried the hps plus? Also can't find green pads all I've seen are yellows, is there a big difference?

I can't comment on the HPS+ pads.

The EBC Greens and EBC Yellows are quite different. Think of the Greens as an aggressive street pad that will hold up well for autocross. Think of the Yellows as very aggressive pads that will hold up at the track, will get by at autocross, but are likely too harsh extended street use because they need higher temps than street driving generates. Yellows on the street will usually cause excessive rotor wear.

Many people will run the Greens for the street/autocross, then keep a set of Yellows around to throw in the car for track days.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by szucchet

Has anyone tried the hps plus? Also can't find green pads all I've seen are yellows, is there a big difference?

Two different Hawk pads. HPS = Performance street. HP+ = High performance street, Autocross, light track.

I have used the later and they are pretty good and somewhere between the ULTimates and R4-S in performance.

I'd still lean EBC Greens though.

[cody]

Shouldn't the HP+ blow the R4-S's out of the water on the track? I thought they were a much more aggressive pad.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by cody

Shouldn't the HP+ blow the R4-S's out of the water on the track? I thought they were a much more aggressive pad.

No. this is kind of an over generalization, but the R4-S is a streetable version of the R4 race pad. HP+ is a trackable version of the HPS. They end up in about the same place, but with different performance characteristics. HP+ are better cold, R4-S are better hot.

The greens are somewhere in between and beyond. They work extremely well cold and hot, but are a very high CF pad and may feel grabby to some on the street.

I have run every one of these crossover pads on at least 2 and maybe 3-5 cars now and am the most happy with the EBC products from a price/performance perspective, but I am not a normal driver. I like the positive/aggressive feel of the greens and the yellows, but they are not for everyone.

HPS or HP+ may be the best bet for a DD with some autocross the former for your N year and later for in class years and start trying more and making your own pad test. Again, just generalizing.

[szucchet]

so were can i find greens for an sti does anybody know, i cant seem to find any

[Dean]

Google shopping, amazon, ebay... search for: ebc green sti

Double check, but I think these are the part numbers. DP21210 and DP21538

Searching for the part numbers will get you more or less hits and probably a lower price depending...