Originally posted by Litespeeds:
If everyone talks so highly of Andie Lin in regards to his knowledge of brake pads, then why would he recommend the Ferodo DS2500 and Axxis Ultimate pads for my 92 NSX?
Probably because he thought they would be best for your needs. However, in different posts, you have stated numerous different objectives, and as CiaoBoy rightly pointed out, there is no one pad that is best at everything. If you ask about one with low squeal, low dust, and works when cold, you'll get a different answer than when you say you're looking for one that holds up to occasional track use. Where are you willing to make a trade-off?
Originally posted by Larry Bastanza:
I am sorry if I am stating the obvious, but what is the problem with having "track pads" and "street pads"? Whichever pad you decide on, just keep a stock set for the off track time. Seems to solve all issues, right?? And not a very big job to swap them out either
Well, this is a personal decision. Maybe one person does all his own mechanical work, enjoys doing it, and doesn't mind swapping pads, which takes him maybe 30-45 minutes (all four corners) at the start and end of each track event. Maybe another person doesn't do much mechanical work, doesn't enjoy it, and it might take him twice as long to swap the pads, and he would prefer to live with some slight compromises (street and/or track) in order to avoid the time and hassle of changing pads twice at every track event. Different strokes.
Originally posted by 1BADNSX:
Ken, what are you running these days? I know you use to recommend the RM pads.
The last track event I ran in my NSX was NSXPO 2001, at which I used the RM Racing pads, which apparently were Hawk HP Plus pads, according to NetViper. Last spring I changed my front pads to Carbotech Panther Plus (which I purchased at that event), but with only a hundred street miles on them, I have not driven them hard enough to evaluate their performance yet.
I drove all my track events last year in my Integra Type R. I face the same issues and availability in that car as I do in the NSX, since I prefer a dual-use pad and its front pads are interchangeable with the NSX. So far I have used three different kinds of front pad on that car: the stock pad (I don't know if this is the same part number as the NSX stock pad, and if not, how they might differ), the RM Racing pads, and the Endless CC-X pad, which is another dual-use pad (low squeal and dust, high performance on the track) and is fairly expensive. I was pleased with the results I got from all three pads, on the street as well as on the track; however, I got twice as many track miles from the RM pads as I did from the stock and Endless pads.
Originally posted by 1BADNSX:
What do you consider the best dual use pad?
I really like the RM pads and the Endless CC-X pads. I have not yet tried the Ferodo DS3000, which Andie recommends as a dual-use pad with a bit more emphasis on the track use, or the Carbotech Panther Plus, although I will have my NSX at the track this year and will get a feel for how I like those. Unless I decide that the DS3000 or the Panther Plus are better, I will still consider the RM pads my benchmark; if I have to buy more, I will buy the Hawk HP Plus and verify that they are the same thing.
The "nice" thing about brake pads is that you wear them out fairly quickly (every 3-4 track events for front pads), so if you're not sure what you want, you can keep trying a different kind every time you wear out a set, until you find one that you really like.
I don't consider it an "absolute" to have the exact same brand and type of brake pads on front and rear. I
do think they should be similar in performance though. For example, if you had OEM pads at one end of the car, and whatever generic brand they carry at Pep Boys at the other end of the car, you might quickly find that the generic pads don't stand up to track abuse as well as the OEM pads do.
I agree with Hrant that the stock brake lines are just fine. However, since the Cobalt fluid is better than Motul and it's about the same price, I would get the Cobalt fluid.
Originally posted by matteni:
anyone have a logical explination why to run mixed pads when either type will fit all 4 corners?
I am constantly trying out different kinds of brake pads. When I buy brake pads, I typically buy 1-2 sets of front pads and 0-1 set of rear pads. I leave the pads on the car until they are too worn, and then I replace them. As a result, I often have different kinds of pads on the front vs the rear. It is not intentional, but rather, a function of the fact that I'm often trying out different kinds of pads, and I only change the end that is worn, not both ends.
