I heard that the AP2 brake pads were better suited to hard driving than the AP1. Is this true? If so, are they interchangeable?

 

Some would say yes, some would say no.

The AP2 pads are semi-metallic. the AP1 pads are ceramic.

 

i personally dont believe the extra brake dust is worth the hassle, i driven ap2 feels the same to me, unless you road racing or ACTUALLY need them, even then i'd just go aftermarket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuzukaBlueAP2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Some would say yes, some would say no.

The AP2 pads are semi-metallic. the AP1 pads are ceramic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know. Most ceramic pads are not based on silicate type ceramics (sand), so they arent really fade proof. Semi - metallic is anyone's guess how well they perform depending on the ratios and the actual materials used. lol...so it could go either way, I guess...I was hoping for someone with some experience in this category.

 

cant compare between the 2 but i can between stock AP1s and Project Mu's... MU's had a nice bite to them but dusty to all hell!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SilverDc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i personally dont believe the extra brake dust is worth the hassle, i driven ap2 feels the same to me, unless you road racing or ACTUALLY need them, even then i'd just go aftermarket.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I have race pads. I change them out for the track. Im going to the autobahn club this weekend. I was looking at my OEM street stuff, and i notice its getting pretty worn. I was looking for a good OEM pad for the street. Since Honda OEM pads last a long time, dont beat up rotors, and are relatively low dust, I figured i'd try to get the most out of my street setup as well. But you dont think the extra dust is worth it, huh?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by S@nt0s &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cant compare between the 2 but i can between stock AP1s and Project Mu's... MU's had a nice bite to them but dusty to all hell! </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol yeah, but i wouldn't wanna use race pads or even "high performance" pads around town for many reasons, but mainly because I am a clean freak, and I HATE brake dust. I usually like to keep my car clean enough to eat off of inside and out. But if you ate off it, in it, or on it...I would kick you in the face lol. I used to have hawk HPS for my S13, since i told they were good street pads. They dusted like a motha, and i couldnt stand it.

 

I would say if you don't like dust then use the ceramic pads for day-to-day driving. They don't seem to produce much dust at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuzukaBlueAP2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would say if you don't like dust then use the ceramic pads for day-to-day driving. They don't seem to produce much dust at all.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah...maybe. I am pretty **** retentive. I mean is the dust really that noticeable on AP2 pads?

 

ap2 vs ap1... im saying i dont think the extra dust on the ap2 pad is worth the minimal performance giving,

 

i tried to raise the issue of the exact difference before and didnt get much response.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1824228

i like sideways' approach. street pads are for the street. i dont want to damage my street rims and have to clean excessive brake dust. so i bought a new set of AP1's. yes, theyre available.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sideways &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The AP1 pads dust a small fraction of what the AP2 pads do. If you don't care about brake dust on the wheels then go for AP2s. I personally run the AP1 pads on the street and race pads on the track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

im going to the track with cobalt GT Sports this weekend. but i hear big willow doesnt need much brakes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I used to have hawk HPS for my S13, since i told they were good street pads. They dusted like a motha, and i couldnt stand it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

They dusted alot?? Hawk swears that the HPS dont ...well i just picked up some, so i guess ill have to see

 

I used OEM pads for street use, then Cobalt Vr's for track use. There was a point I was running Cobalt Gt Sports on streets but I got annoyed of the squeaking/screeching noises in everyday use.

 

you can even use oem pads for track..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FR-MOB: Jerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can even use oem pads for track.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

only if its your first time...

 

why ONLY for first time? they prohibit you for using oem pads your second time around? lol

 

they're the same, incase go aftermarket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FR-MOB: Jerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can even use oem pads for track.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Tracking:

AP1 on OEM AP1 pads with R-comps and managed to fade the brakes and glow the rotors red every 10-12 lap session.

AP2 pads, R-comps: better initial bite, and better modulation (ABS never kicked in) on threshold and trail braking. A lot less fade than AP1 pads, but still noticeable. Moderate amount of dust, but they were spare wheels so I didn't care much.

Hawk HPS are slightly grabby when cold, but when gets more progressive as you warm them up. No noticeable difference in fade from the AP2 OEM pads, but more dust.

None of the pads did very much noticeable wear on the rotors from my experience. 3 different sets of pads, 4 sets of A048s, roughly 8000 cumulative track miles and about 20k of street miles.

 

In your opinion, have you experienced some brake pads work better under heat?

i.e. Grabs better under high loads?

 

Yea definitely. The AP2 pads do that a bit better than the AP1s do. The Hawk pads get progressively better as they warm up, to a certain point, then heat fade takes over the rotors.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FR-MOB: Jerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can even use oem pads for track.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I did the last time i went to road america. I destroyed the pads and the rotors after I passed an S4 and went WAYYYY past his braking zone to stay ahead. Not to mention fade...plus the car was shaking like crazy when the brakes got hot at any point. So i figured i'd get some good pads that would steal some heat and take up some wear instead of warping the rotor.

I run race pads for the track, and STRICTLY street pads for the street. By that I mean OEM lol. I dont want any excess dust, and OEM pads are good for even spirited street driving....although I usually drive like gramma on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Projekt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yea definitely. The AP2 pads do that a bit better than the AP1s do. The Hawk pads get progressively better as they warm up, to a certain point, then heat fade takes over the rotors.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was pretty impressed with the HPS's ability to take heat. I was also impressed at how much abuse the stock ap1 pads took before they started to complain, but I'm a real late braker, especially when Im on the track with EVOs and Vettes..or other cars that are faster than I am lol. I have no choice but to catch up on braking zones and turns. I used HPS on my S13, and they were pretty solid, especially for the price. Although, I doubted that HPS would be much better than the stock S2000 since i had experience with both allready. So i got EBC yellow track pads. I figure that there's no reason to compromise between dust on the street or mediocre performance on the track. Changing brake pads isnt hard.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by S2KL33N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In your opinion, have you experienced some brake pads work better under heat?

i.e. Grabs better under high loads?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Usually, track pads will do that. You have to get a pad that works for the temperature YOU plan on running at. I.E. the temperature you driving your car will generate. Hawk blues or Ferrodo's race compounds or ATS carbon, and i think Project MU titan kai are good examples of pads that need heat to work.

 

Wow thanks for the info...I figure that a logical explanation and that's why after a couple of hard braking on the FWY made it feel better! Daily street driving felt like my pads didn't have enough friction-feeling to it.