I need some new brake pads for my 2000 Prelude, which I autocross about twice a month, and as soon as I get some new pads, will take to open track events at Buttonwillow or Willow Springs every month or so. The car also sees 15,000+ daily driven miles a year. I need something streetable, but with a pretty big temperature range, maybe from 150 - 1000+ degrees F, something that doesn't squeal too much. Dust isn't really an issue as long as it doesn't corrode my wheels.

These are some of the pads I was considering:

(In order of interest)
1) Endless CC-X
2) Carbotech Engineering Panther Plus
(These two are the pads I am mainly interested in)

3) Project Mu Titan Kai HC
4) Ferodo DS2500
5) Porterfield R4/R4S
6) Hawk HPS

If anyone has experience with two or more of these pads, please let me know how they compare? Also, there seems to be mixed opinions about having different combination pads for front and rear. Some say that the front does most of the work anyway, so just some OE pads are fine. Some say that that'll alter the brake bias more towards the front and will hurt performance compared to using the same compound all around. Any insights? Thanks!

~Nam

My first post.


[Modified by NammyBoy, 11:47 PM 11/15/2002]

Welcome to HT.

I know this has been covered many times and assuming u havent done a search yet, i would suggest doing that first. It could possibly answer ur question.
I would recommend this company for their courteous customer service and experience...not to mention their after-service as well. http://www.carbotecheng.com/

Panther Plus is a good track pad, squeals and dusts a lot when cold, but the dust won't harm your wheels or paint. see above for contact info

Ferodo DS2500 has a good rep, but I've only used the DS3000 on track - it was a great performer, but wouldn't recommend the DS3000 for street. Contact andie@cobaltfriction.com for Ferodos or general brake expertise. He's a straight shooter and gives an HT discount.

Best thing to do, IMO, is to use your OEM pads on the street and switch out to a track pad when you're running the car hard. Hondas are so easy to swap out brake pads (or even rotors) that it's worth it for me.
My .02

Talk to Andie at Cobalt. He will tell you what will work for you.

to Andie

Thanks for the feedback. I've actually been reading H-T posts, and I finally decided to get off my lazy butt and register. General consensus is that most people on this board really like the DS3000 and Panther XP, which is a little too race for me. But anyway, 10 minutes after I posted this subject, Andie from Cobalt IM'd me and told me all I needed to know about all the pads listed above. I was amazed at how helpful he is!

After talking to Andie, I have to decide whether or not I want to sacrifice streetability for track days. I don't know how to change brake pads, but if it really is as easy as a lot of people say, maybe I'll purchase a set of DS2500's off Andie, and also some DS3000 for track... But right now, I'm trying to figure out what's best for my driving style.

~Nam

BTW, how come every time I open a new page, a new window pops up saying, "You do not have permission to access instant messaging?" Does that mean that someone left me an IM, but because I'm a trial user, I can't read it? How long does it take until I'm not a trial user?


[Modified by NammyBoy, 6:28 AM 11/16/2002]

i find the hawk hp plus works best for me, tried many others but these seem to take the extended track laps better.

What ever you do don't use KVR's carbon kevlar pads....... I blew a set up in a 20min lapping session.