The car: Pop's 2000 ITR
The driver's: Pop's and myself (and my 5 year old son, but just around the block )
The brakes: Cobalt Spec VR and OEM replacement rotors.

These were put on the day I got home from the EXPO, April 15th.

37- 20 minute track sessions and 2500+ miles on the street later, this is what they look like. (mostly Summit Point. one weekend at VIR-n)





3 NASA weekends
3 FATTS
2 drivers

37+ sessions and 2500+ miles on the street !

 

Damn!

 

Switched over recently myself from the H brand. To me, the Cobalt's have a little better feel. I don't know how to quantify....just better. No fade & little rotor wear. One of the really cool things about dealing with Cobalt is their experience & knowledge. Andie was able to make some really good suggestions to help me maximize my brakes.

 

Cobalt

 

Impressive. I think the wear (or lack thereof) of the pads in more amazing than the wear on the rotors. Looks like the pads are only half worn! Rotors look great, too. I am definitely picking up a set of Cobalt rotors next time around. Comparable price to the Brembo blanks, right?

 

Im just waiting to wear through my r4s pads to get some cobalt pads. Ive been wanting to order some for a while

 

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

Or did you guys get them from Andie @ Cobalt along with the pads?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The rotors came from Colbalt, too.

 

Impresive, after 25 sessions this year my pads (Cobalt vr) are worn more and my rotor (autozone) have more stress fractures. All those sessions were at Gingerman, which can be pretty hard on brakes.

Ryan-Who gives Cobalt

 

Your pad wear is pretty amazing. I'll squeeze out around 35 20-minute sessions with my XP's, but no more. How do the Cobalt Spec VR's compare in feel and fade resistance?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Batoutahell &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your pad wear is pretty amazing. I'll squeeze out around 35 20-minute sessions with my XP's, but no more. How do the Cobalt Spec VR's compare in feel and fade resistance?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A graph cant depict feel, but here is a visual comparison:

 

Once again Cobalt impresses.

Either that or George drives like a granny j/k

 

Yes granny driving would definitely be a point to consider. But, if you look at the color of the outer edge of the rotor, backing plate, and edges of the pad, you can see that they have been brought "up to temp" (aka hotter than hell.)

 

Jacob,

What Panther XP compound was used for the graph?

XP1107's?

Not starting trouble. Really! Just want more info about the graph/test.


John- who wouldn't trade the big '***** cat' his hood for nuttin'.

 

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

What Panther XP compound was used for the graph?

XP1107's?

Not starting trouble. Really! Just want more info about the graph/test.


John- who wouldn't trade the big '***** cat' his hood for nuttin'.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your not starting any trouble. Im not sure what compound was used, but that graph was created a few months ago so if Carbotech's new 1109 is brand spanking new, than I doubt that is what was used in the comparison. Best thing to do is IM Andie ("cobalt") or give them a call for a definite answer.

 

Yeah, not a bad idea.

I'd like to know the details that made up the graph. Was it a 'track' test or 'bench' test. If track, what car, driver/ team.... that kinda stuff interests me.

Maybe Andie will swing by.

John- who cautiously walks through the DMZ back to 'his' side

J/K, some of my best buddies run that other brand!!!!


Modified by JohnW at 1:39 AM 8/11/2003

 

I am almost positive it was a bench test, otherwise they would not be able to get accurate data on the pads Cf and fade temps. But yes, hopefully Andie will swing by and comment.

 

The friction compounds on the visual graph posted by siisgood were tested on a brake dynamometer, using an OE Acura ITR front caliper, rotor, and the D503 brake pad shape.

The Carbotech Panther XP is the 1108, which is/was the final compound resulting from testing of the 1107A and 1107B test versions back in the March-May 2002 period.

You will notice that the Carbotech Panther XP/1108 has a coefficient of friction that is very similar to the Cobalt IT-R.spec(B), but is approximately 10% more fade free (1250-1300F versus 1100F) than the IT-R.spec(B).

The Cobalt GT-R.spec(VR) compound has a much higher coefficient and MOT (1500F) than either the Carbotech Panther XP/1108 or the Cobalt IT-R.spec(B). The Cobalt spec(VR) is only appropriate for use on IT-class vehicles running OE brake hardware, due to the high(er) operating temperature range.

The key difference, aside from the technical/quantifiable characteristics (i.e. coefficient of friction and maximum operating temperature), between the Carbotech Panther (P+ and XP) product line and the Cobalt IT-R.spec Series and GT-R.spec Series of racing brake pads/compound is that the Carbotech compounds are more progressive, while the Cobalt compounds have a much flatter/linear torque curve.

Neither one (i.e. progressive versus linear) is necessarily "better" -- this is a matter of driver preference, which is subjective, and not quantifiable. That being said, the Cobalt product line was developed around feedback from professional and semi-pro race teams and drivers, who overwhelmingly voiced a preference for a very direct pedal pressure to braking torque relationship, or in other words, a linear torque curve.

I would be more than happy to run a similar dynamometer test on a "newer" version of the Carbotech Panther XP if the performance characteristics of this compound are significantly different from the XP/1108, and a test set of brake pads are provided for this purpose.

HTH... -Andie


Modified by cobalt at 7:13 PM 8/11/2003

 

Interesting....... thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cobalt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Neither one (i.e. progressive versus linear) is necessarily "better" -- this is a matter of driver preference, which is subjective, and not quantifiable. That being said, the Cobalt product line was developed around feedback from professional and semi-pro race teams and drivers, who overwhelmingly voiced a preference for a very direct pedal pressure to braking torque relationship, or in other words, a linear torque curve.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hah! Subjective? If anyone would rather mess around with modulating the hell out of the brake pedal, please speak up! I'll take the "point and shoot" method.