I usually don't post new threads, I just try to search and get the info I'm looking for but I have searched and I still am not ready to make a decision. Here is my dilemma, I currently have a wilwood dynalite 11.75 front brake kit on my full weight integra. I bought the kit used with a used set of carbotech xp12 pads. I drive the car on the street durring the summer, and it sees many auto-x events and at the most 1 track day a year. The car makes around 275whp, I run 225 v710's on 8" wide wheels, and the xp12s have seemed to work very nice. My issue is that for how much I drive the car, the xp12s do not last long enough. I am due to buy a new set of pads and I am unsure of the best rout to take. I am okay with having two sets of pads and changing pads before an event but I do not want to change rotors, so to do this with the carbotech pads I would have to spend $300+ to get two sets of pads. I also have considered going to the xp8s and running them all the time, but I don't know how much more life out of them vs the xp12s. So anyone who has some insite on a pad that would do good for the street, auto-x and occasional track day, or pads that play nice with the same rotor to get a good set of race pads, and a good set of street pads, please help me out.
I also wanted to ask if anyone might have some insight on my loose rear end under hard braking, I have hp+ pads in the rear, and no abs. Under very hard, quick braking, the rear end will try to come around, my thoughts are that the hp+ are not a good match for the front brake setup. Any more info on this would also be helpful. Thanks so much for the help.

 

Integra no ABS? LS, GS, GSR you dont specify.
Do you have a 40/40 prop valve?
Lack of even brake distribution will cause an "*** light" effect.

The carbotechs are great pads but they are made for the track,and pricey.
They are less abrasive than most pads, and should give you decent wear on the rotors.
What you want is opinions, and we have many of those in the last 6 months.
There are a few brake pad posts we beat to death in this forum.
Google search "brake pads honda-tech" and start reading.
The search here is pretty lame.
Do your homework, and you'll find plenty to help you make an informed decision.
There are just too many combinations, and brands to tell you what to choose.
Everyone has their opinions on brands, and types as well.
You'll have to discover what works best for you.
Keep in mind a brake pad is a consumable product.
Dont expect them to last forever.
Sorry there is no "one brake pad fits all driving style answer"

 

It is a gsr, that is missing the front abs sensors so I pulled the abs computer, when the motor is out next, probably this winter, I will pull the abs pump and put a non-abs prop valve on it with the proper brake lines. Ill do some more searching in the forums and see what I can come up with, but so far I still don't know how much I would be giving up by going from the xp12 to the xp8, and if Ill get any more life out of the 8s, and I don't know what pads will work on the same rotor if Im going to go that route, the info I have found so far has not given any light to either of these questions. Thanks Dirty for the help.

Edit: Do the cobalt xr2 pads need dedicated rotors?, these would be an okay choice over the carbotech pads if I can use a cheap street pad with them. Again thanks for the help.

 

Yikes...
The cobalts are brutal on the rotors,
Id stick with the carbotechs, just move down to the 8's

 

 

 

 

I use Cobalt XR2 on the front with XR5 on the rear on an Integra. I have used them for years at about 8 - 10 HPDE days/yr. I switch back and forth to track and street on the same rotors. My rotors eventually get replaced for radial fine cracks as they go from visual to ones that I feel. HPDE friends and one Honda race guy get the same stress cracks/checking with other pads. As many track pads they dust a lot. I have not had a noise problem with them. They stop well enough cold to drive them to the track without panic stops. As noted you will get many opinions, just trying to answer your specific Cobalt question.

 

Really? I'd never heard the XR2s described as brutal on rotors. Hawk Blues, yes. I had problems with glazing when I tried XR2s but I think this was caused by other brake system problems. The rotors however looked great, with very little wear.

 

Yep really really.

 

I use Hawk DTC 60s up front with Hawk HP+ in the rear. So far I'm pretty happy with the setup although I find the front is a little too aggressive for my suspension setup and my car has a tendency of diving quite a bit under heaving braking. This is causing the rear of my car to get quite loose when braking down some longer straight aways.

I'm considering upgrading the HT10s in the rear to see if I can balance the car back out. I'll also be upgrading my spring rates this winter which should help alleviate the problem all together.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong. The way I understand brake pads is this. There is a ton of different compounds out there. This questions about brake pads is just about the same as what kind of skittles flavor you like, or who is the best football player.
This questions just lead to more questions than answers.
Brake pads are made to specific temperature ranges and brake modulation , etc. So, for somebody to ask what is the best , I don't think you can answer that.
If you use a race compound on your street car, you have to get those pads to operating temps. if not you are just grinding your rotors, without any advantage from the pads.
The same if you install street pads on your race car, chances are you are going to fade the pads.
I will suggest you take a really hard look at what you are really going to be doing with the car and decide what pads you are going to use based on the usage of your car.
Just to say you have race pads on your car doesn't make it better.
If your car is driven 90% of the time on the street and sometimes on the track then go more for a street oriented pad, unless you want to be changing pads everytime you go on the track.
If you have a dedicated track car then use race pads, and even then there will be different opinions on what type you like.
I have said it before, the only way you are going to find what you like is testing. And if you don't want to spend money in racing and testing then the best next thing is an xbox.

 

Best for you to read August's issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. There's a comparisson between several brake pads with data to back it.

And no the best pads are not just a skittle flavor that you like, they are BETTER at everything and the track times prove it.

The problem many times are that you cannot get what you want for your specific application and have to deal with what you can find. But luckily the wilwood DL's have a wide range to sellect from.

 

QFT!!!!!

Im not sure everyone is really listening here Marcel.

We are trying to tell drivers to do your homework and experiment.
There is no one pad that works for all.
Despite them not wanting to spend money on several types, and brands they keep looking for the magic mushroom to make Yoshi go faster.
Its trial and error. Just like suspensions there is no one set up that works for all.
I realize everyone has an opinion, but not everyone drives the same way and not everyone races their cars on track. Some do street, and track, and some do auto x.
Not all our cars are the same either.
Opinions are great but they are as good as the person who gives it.
Experience levels are important.
Guys when we find a noob question lets refrain from throwing the noob bad advice and telling them you like this and you like that....
We need to guide them in the right direction and have them learn.
Not throw out 25 suggestions and not help one bit.

 

When I mentioned skittles is an analogy on different likes of what you can get. It is not to say pads are skittle flavor. That is what I got from the comment.
And even the test at the magazines is something I don't like and I take it with a grain of salt.
We go back to what one person, call it the "test driver" likes. And that is assuming the driver knows what he is doing.
I may like different feel than him or you. Just because they test something it means that is definitive.
One pad for one person is not the best pad for the next.
Take for example, Ferrari F1 was or is running two different compounds and brand on the cars, why? because one driver likes the feel of one brand and the other doesn't.
This is a team that can throw 500 million in the cars and still can not find one brand of brakes that both drivers like.

 

totally agree

 

Are you speaking hypothetically or trying to state a fact?

 

It was a fact well documented, I just don't remember exactly who were the drivers. I want to say Kimi and Felipe but not 100% sure.
I'm just trying to prove that even in the pinacle of motorsports there will be different likes. Same car, same team, same everything, except brakes and suspension setup.

 

Not trying to contradict you but this is not true. I'm sure you might've seen or read something to that sort but I work in the brake industry and know what Ferrari uses for their carbon and theres no difference in the characteristics. They use Brembo brand carbon which in turn in made by the American giant Honeywell. Others use Hitco, and Carbon Industries, but Ferrari runs the same stuff made by Honeywell.

But back to the original question, yes there's 2 main variations on how a good brake pad feels. Rising ramp and flat curve. That is assuming of course a GOOD brake pad. Those that dont stick to the disc giving terrible release and modulation. So that being said all else is a question of bite and torque preference.

 

Took me a minute to find, but Cobalts are not disliked by everyone. Toward the middle of this thread, comments both ways.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/road-racing-autocross-time-attack-19/pad-taper-wear-vs-brake-pedal-feel-2801465/

Nxstacy "Cobalt Friction brake pads are among the best in the business." That was after I was told to toss them.

 

Not trying to make this a pissing contest but I found this. I was wrong with the team and drivers but it happened.
"Currently, brake pads and discs are provided by a limited number of manufacturers, including Brembo, Hitco and Carbon Industries. Teams choose their own manufacturer, but sometimes there is a difference between each driver's car. At McLaren in 2007 for example, Fernando Alonso used Hitco brakes while Lewis Hamilton ran with Carbon Industries materials. The calipers themselves are provided by Brembo, AP Racing or Alcon."
So I was wrong on the team and drivers but it is a fact that it did happened. By the way I'm also in the industry. .