I installed (well eluder200k did just about everything, thanks again) the cobalt gt sports right before expo. They ran great at the expo, no fade and not much wear. Well ever since expo, I have been getting loud squeaking/screeching. I'm not sure what I should call it, its more like very very loud squeaking. I have also noticed that I do not have as much braking power as I did before. I have tried a few hard stops and it just doesn't stop as quick as before. I am planning on removing the pads, clean everything up, and then reinstall them tomorrow. I figure to go rebed them as well. I'm not sure if this will fix my squeaking, but i hope it does. I do know the gt sports make some noise but this is rediculous, you could prob hear my squeaking from .5 mile away or a lil farther. Anyone know what I should do, any help is appreciated...Thanks!

 

The squeeking is normal.. They are an aggressive street/track pad, it's too be expected.

as for the stopping ability declining, that shouldn't be happening. I dare say it's your imagination because you are irritated w/the squeeking noise .

..I could be wrong though

You could have "glazed" them, and how is your brake fluid?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DsR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The squeeking is normal.. They are an aggressive street/track pad, it's too be expected.

as for the stopping ability declining, that shouldn't be happening. I dare say it's your imagination because you are irritated w/the squeeking noise .

..I could be wrong though </TD></TR></TABLE>

I tested the braking distance with my friend's STI. With new GT sports, i stopped quicker. Now i stop about 7-8 feet after him. Big difference to me

My brake fluid was replaced right before expo, so i have maybe 1k miles on it now. Can someone define a "glazed" pad? I can't find out what it means (did a search)

 

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

I tested the braking distance with my friend's STI. With new GT sports, i stopped quicker. Now i stop about 7-8 feet after him. Big difference to me

My brake fluid was replaced right before expo, so i have maybe 1k miles on it now. Can someone define a "glazed" pad? I can't find out what it means (did a search)</TD></TR></TABLE>

how.. do you do this.

drive side by side and just decide to brake @the same time? or drive both cars?

There are alot of variables there either way, reaction time etc. etc.

did you bed the pads properly?

 

anti squeal to the mating surface of the back of the pad and the caliper
will cure everything
also the GT sports require a little heat, to get the full bite

also may not be a bad idea to flush the fluid

 

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

how.. do you do this.

drive side by side and just decide to brake @the same time? or drive both cars?

There are alot of variables there either way, reaction time etc. etc.

did you bed the pads properly?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Parking lot, get up to 70. Once we hit first spot (line), brake as hard as possible. Empty parking lots at 2am are helpful

The pads were definitely bedded in properly. I followed cobalt's directions. I didn't think it was my fluid because its new.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dan GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
also the GT sports require a little heat, to get the full bite
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The GT-sport temp range is

Temperature Range: 75-950F

That's the lowest of any cobalt pad. My initial bite is great, that's why I chose them.

 

but they do get better with a little heat

 

If you glazed them remove them and hit them with 60 grid sandpaper and re-bed them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you glazed them remove them and hit them with 60 grid sandpaper and re-bed them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

someone mind explaining "glazed" to me

 

when u take the pad out, if the pad is shiny, thats glazed

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dan GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when u take the pad out, if the pad is shiny, thats glazed</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks! I guess theres no way to tell without removing the pads? Will 60grit sandpaper be fine if they are glazed?

 

You should bleed/flush the brake fluid after track events also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Will 60grit sandpaper be fine if they are glazed?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JETYDOSA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should bleed/flush the brake fluid after track events also. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe

I never do unless I have to.

 

Mine are doing the same thing, but I know it's because I was lazy and didn't use anti-squeal, though I haven't noticed any performance drop

Brian

 

we put anti squeal on mine. i am pretty sure my pads are glazed. i don't see it as anything else. my rotors are fine. i'm gonna go buy some sandpaper and get to work. i'll let you guys/gals know how it turns out.

 

Well, if that's the case Nishant, now you can be one of those pad ****'s that's like, "Gt-Sports are crap, I glazed them after one event"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, if that's the case Nishant, now you can be one of those pad ****'s that's like, "Gt-Sports are crap, I glazed them after one event" </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think they are crap. I may have overused them at the track. Last second braking with pedal to the floor everytime *bangs head on desk* Maybe VR Spec's for Watkin's. *checks wallet* maybe not

 

1. check fluid (amount...and color)
2. check paids if glazed or not
3. clean rotors w/ parts/brake cleaner
4. bleed brakes
go drive

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DsR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The squeeking is normal.. They are an aggressive street/track pad, it's too be expected.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely NOT TRUE.

The whole idea behind a "street/track pad" is to get a pad that will stand up to track use - maybe not in competition, but autocross/HPDE - and, compared with pure track pads, sacrifice a little bit of braking power for a lack of squeal and moderate levels of dusting. A street/track pad should not squeal much, if at all. A track-only pad usually squeals like a pig.

I am using the GT Sport pads and they don't make any noise at all. None on the street, and none on the track. I was told by Andie ("brake god") at Cobalt that they might make a slight squeal every so often, but I have not found that to be the case.

Incidentally, I DO use anti-squeal stuff on the back side of the pad's backing plate when I install them.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">someone mind explaining "glazed" to me</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can glaze pads by getting them really, really hot - hot enough that the surface melts. In my experience, this happens more often on the street (with a sudden, "panic stop") than on the track; I think this is because on the track, you are constantly wearing down the pad surface, and also the pads have a chance to cool better because of the greater speeds on the track.

Nishant, I think you are taking the right steps by taking them apart, cleaning them up (some embedded dust/dirt/rock particles may be causing the squealing, as could a lack of anti-squeal compound), sanding the surface lightly, and putting them back together. I think you're going to find that the squealing disappears after that. Good luck.

 

if there squeaking and not supposed to be...maybe there is some dirt or rocks or something between the pad/rotor that is making the noise...has happened to me before

 

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

Absolutely NOT TRUE.

The whole idea behind a "street/track pad" is to get a pad that will stand up to track use - maybe not in competition, but autocross/HPDE - and, compared with pure track pads, sacrifice a little bit of braking power for a lack of squeal and moderate levels of dusting. A street/track pad should not squeal much, if at all. A track-only pad usually squeals like a pig.

I am using the GT Sport pads and they don't make any noise at all. None on the street, and none on the track. I was told by Andie ("brake god") at Cobalt that they might make a slight squeal every so often, but I have not found that to be the case.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have delt w/GT-sports on 3 cars, my ITR, my Prelude, and a G35 coupe.

..guess what they squeel, on all 3 vehicles. I even know of street pads that squeel, so for you to make a gerneralization like that is kind of ridiculous. That's like saying Azenis grip great, and they will wear just as well as a normal street tire. The anti-squeel will help no doubt, and is probobly the main culprit, but even then I think you would see some squeeling.

How often do you drive your ITR Ken?

I guess to satisfy Ken I should say My GT-sports squeel.. but they shouldn't because they are a "street/track" pad, and I probobly installed them incorrectly.



Modified by DsR at 4:23 PM 8/7/2004

 

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

Absolutely NOT TRUE.

The whole idea behind a "street/track pad" is to get a pad that will stand up to track use - maybe not in competition, but autocross/HPDE - and, compared with pure track pads, sacrifice a little bit of braking power for a lack of squeal and moderate levels of dusting. A street/track pad should not squeal much, if at all. A track-only pad usually squeals like a pig.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

. the cobalt gt' sports squeal high pitch noises everywhere i go on the street. Once they are up to track temperatures, they dont squeal as much.

look at the other threads on H-T dude, they all correlate with squeal happy pads.

They are not as agressive as your run of the mill corrosive race pads, but they dust alot, and they work extremely well even through the braking abuse i put them through on the track.

i give them x 2

for the hell of it after these pads wear out, i'll use the rest of the axxis ultimates and see how fast i can make them melt

 

I have installed many brake pads including many manufactured by Cobalt Friction. I purchased and ran the GT Sports for my M3 and I could not get them to stop squeeling.... They were "wake up the neighbors" loud even with anti squeel stuff on the back plate. I took them off sanded them down, milled the rotors, reinstalled and bedded to Cobalt specs and guess what..... More squeeling. Since the noise was soo bad I only used them for the track and replace the stock pads for the street.

My friend's Spec VR pads squeeled WAY less, even when cold. I will be installing Spec VR's on my car as well as the R-compound tires this track season. I just couldn't justify full fledged track pads without RComp tires.

I did get better stopping and less fade with the GT Sports over Axis Ultimates... but the noise was ridiculous and incureable.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DsR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How often do you drive your ITR Ken?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Every day. It's my daily driver. And occasional track car.

I have just gone through a set of GT Sport pads on the front of my ITR. (They finally were shot and I changed them out at the Expo. And I've posted photos here of them.) During that time, I drove them 408 miles on the track, and 2,986 miles on the street. They have NEVER squealed. Never on the street. Never on the track.

I have used other pads on my ITR, that are generally considered track pads - including the Carbotech Panther Plus, and the Endless CC-X. Both squealed like a stuck pig on the street. So I am familiar with squealing brakes. In fact, that's why I changed from the track pads to the GT Sports.

I've gotten together with our Chicago h-t.com group several times during that period. All were smiling when I was using the track pads, because they could hear me coming a mile away. And no one even mentioned it at our most recent gatherings, because they weren't making a sound. Not a peep. So I've got plenty of witnesses, too!

Why do yours squeal? I don't know. But mine don't. PERIOD.

I've got another set of GT Sport pads on there, and they're just as quiet as my previous set. Feel free to come by our next meet in three weeks and listen to them.