I read a really really good 5 page thread about what pads to go with and it basically turned into a favoritism thread with a bunch of people with their panties in a bunch saying bad things about larry at carbotech and the people who like carbotech and larry flaming people who said ill things about him.

I pretty much got lost in all of that bullshit so...

my brake pads are wearing down and I need to replace them mind you I have an 5lug conversion on my em1 so I figured the r forum was the best place to search for a nice streetable replacement pad. But im very confused now.

Should I just replace my pads with oem brake pads
*seems to be the most reasonable option*

Or give a different pad a try, I was thinking along the lines of axxis ultimates, but I see the metal master pads dont create so much dust and having white wheels brake dust is ******* annoying with my stock brake pads. I hear axxis pads dust like a **** and can be noisy.

I saw that carbotech has some REALLY nice streetable pads called the Bobcat that dont make a lot of noise on the street and have little to no dust issues which is a big selling point for me.
However I dont see where he sells them on his site so I have no idea what part number to ask for.. muchless I dont know if I need SHOES as well as PADS color me stupid.

I see cobalt pads are highly recommended on here too however I failed to see anything about cobalt pads to run on the street. They all look like track ready pads from the posts I read and obviously their prices compared to the bobcats price wise its a silly investment.

I dont have stainless lines on my car yet, no need to change them to ss lines either since I dont plan on tracking my car anytime soon, however I was curious if I should run a different brake fluid besides honda fluid.

ATE super blue seems to be looking pretty attractive since Yoshi doesnt like Motul 600 lol.

so many questions and very unclear answers lol.

if anyone could give me some recommendations which way to go with the street pads id appreciate it.

 

If you don't use your car for anything but street, use OEM. Even Raybestos dust-free are pretty good (and, dust free, if that's important to you.) Those are the only non-track pads I have experience with on the R. I've also used Performance Friction Carbon Metallic on another car, it was fine. A little dusty.

I run Cobalt Spec VR's on the street, but I'm nuts.

Carbotech XP8's (and XP9's) are a little less nutty on the streets. They have awesome bite/coefficient of friction. They are really a track-only pad too.

Absolutely, positively, stay away from SS lines unless you're committed to inspecting them periodically and replacing every other year. They're a wear item. You might be able to get some additional brake pedal feel with a master cylinder brace, if that's what you're in to.

Porterfield R4S are a good double-duty pad for track and street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I saw that carbotech has some REALLY nice streetable pads called the Bobcat that dont make a lot of noise on the street and have little to no dust issues which is a big selling point for me.
However I dont see where he sells them on his site so I have no idea what part number to ask for.. muchless I dont know if I need SHOES as well as PADS color me stupid. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've heard good things about the GT Sports. Actually, call Andie at Cobalt Friction and he can recommend something good for your exact needs.

You need Pads. Disc brakes get pads. If you had rear DRUM brakes, you'd need SHOES that go inside the drum.

http://www.cobaltfriction.com/...2.y=6

EDIT: Regarding brake fluid, don't waste money on Motul, or even super blue, unless you're planning on taking it on a track this year. Valvoline makes some decent stuff that is also overkill for the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually, call Andie at Cobalt Friction and he can recommend something good for your exact needs. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what I did. As a matter of fact I have to call him too. Expo is soo close

 

I don't drive a type r, but I've got cobalt gt-sports on my civic and I love them. They are fine for street pads, but dusty, and squeak a lot (it's worth it). Also very good at the autocross (i'm yet to get on track with them). I'd reccomend them to anyone, but it's like Chris said, if you're just driving on the street, no hpde/auto-x, oem can't be beat...

Good luck with your choice.

 

I want to get it to a track event later this year but I dont want some 150 dollar pads to wear out in 30 thousand miles lol.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I want to get it to a track event later this year but I dont want some 150 dollar pads to wear out in 30 thousand miles lol. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would trade $150 for 30k miles any day....

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> </TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha, my brake budget for last year was $500. (Actually more, but I'm embarrased to say. Three sets of front pads, 2 rear (didn't wear any out, just switching compounds), and two sets of front rotors, one set of rear.

 

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

Haha, my brake budget for last year was $500. (Actually more, but I'm embarrased to say. Three sets of front pads, 2 rear (didn't wear any out, just switching compounds), and two sets of front rotors, one set of rear.</TD></TR></TABLE>

YOWZAH!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I see cobalt pads are highly recommended on here too however I failed to see anything about cobalt pads to run on the street. They all look like track ready pads from the posts I read and obviously their prices compared to the bobcats price wise its a silly investment.
.
.
.
if anyone could give me some recommendations which way to go with the street pads id appreciate it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I am using Cobalt Friction's GT Sport brake pads and I LOVE THEM! I like using the same pad on the street as well as on the track, so I need a pad that has a nice bite and grips well for the track (and stands up to the heat of track use), yet doesn't squeal like a pig and doesn't need warming up. The GT Sport does all of these! Great grip, and yet they almost never squeal at all. They dust - all brake pads dust, in my experience (but if dust is really important, just get OEM).

Call Cobalt and talk to the folks there. They're very helpful, very high level of service as well as good prices. They carry other brands as well, so they can tell you how the GT Sport compares with other pads, and they can help you choose the pad that best meets YOUR needs.

Cobalt Friction

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Haha, my brake budget for last year was $500. (Actually more, but I'm embarrased to say. Three sets of front pads, 2 rear (didn't wear any out, just switching compounds), and two sets of front rotors, one set of rear.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can beat that. In the past twelve months, I have driven 1469 actual track miles in my ITR and have changed front pads four times and rear pads once. In the same period, I have also driven 1179 actual track miles in my other track car and have changed front pads twice and rear pads twice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 137 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I dont want some 150 dollar pads to wear out in 30 thousand miles lol. </TD></TR></TABLE>

More like you'll waste your rotors. But I understood what you meant.

What Ken said below is all that really needs to be said:

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

Call Cobalt and talk to the folks there. They're very helpful, very high level of service as well as good prices. They carry other brands as well, so they can tell you how the GT Sport compares with other pads, and they can help you choose the pad that best meets YOUR needs.

Cobalt Friction
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

How many track events have you done?

If none, then just use the stock pads for your first track day, they'll hold hold, cause your not fast enough to damage them. Save your money.

If you have done a few, try the Axxis ulitimates but make sure they have a lot of meat for events.

don't buy a pad that your not fast enough to build heat in, or it's a waste

 

Cobalt GT-Sports. Best all around pad IMO. Awesome braking at any temp, yet to notice any fade at all. They are very streetable without any issues, and they hold up awesome on the track.

 

Who here has removed the front brake splash/heat shields?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who here has removed the front brake splash/heat shields?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't do it personally but both my fronts and rears are no longer.

por que?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who here has removed the front brake splash/heat shields?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not me, I have yet to fade any pad other then Ulitimates with less then 3mm of pad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who here has removed the front brake splash/heat shields?</TD></TR></TABLE>

They are still there on my ITR.

On my other car, they're still there; a hole has been cut in them, and a flange welded, which is the mounting surface for the ends of brake cooling ducts.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who here has removed the front brake splash/heat shields?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yo!