Brake Pad Info

[Pastor T]

This is certainly not a new topic. There is a lot of information on brake pads. It is very difficult to sort through it all. But I am looking for a short concise recommendation on brake pads. I drive my 2000 Boxster 2.7 base aggressively and spirited on the street and the mountain roads in northern California. I track my car about 5 times a year. What brake pads would you suggest.

[Racer Boy]

I only have experience with whatever generic pad came on my car when I bought it, and EBC pads.

The pads that came with the car were just fine on the street but dusted like crazy. I did one track day and they faded like easily (this was at Pacific Raceways near Seattle, which is very hard on brakes).

Since I would be doing more track days, I got EBC Green pads. They worked just fine on the street and hardly dusted at all, but they faded after about three or four laps. I could back off for a lap and they would come back, but then fade again in two laps. Again, this was at Pacific Raceways. I never tried them at another track that is easier on brakes.

My next step was to get EBC Red pads. They didn't fade, but I got a severe shuddering when the brakes got hot, as if the rotors were warping like crazy. Once the brakes cooled off, everything felt fine again. The Reds also didn't feel too good on the street, they had poor bite until they got a bit of heat in them. I replaced my cheap $100 for the set Chinese rotors I got off of eBay (drilled AND slotted!) with Zimmerman rotors, but the shuddering persisted at the track.

I read of others having this same experience with the Reds, so I got a set of front EBC Yellow pads. No more shuddering at the track, at least on the front; I kept the old set of Reds on the rear just to be safe, and they do shudder when hot, which makes it clear that the problem is with the pads themselves. I will now get a set of Yellows for the rear. The Yellows feel fine on the street. I don't know about dusting - the wheels got really black from my track day, but I haven't had a chance to clean the wheels and put many street miles on them yet.

What I've heard is that the Greens and Reds are trackable street pads, and the Yellows are streetable track pads if that makes any sense. I'd steer clear of the Reds. If you run at tracks that aren't too demanding of brakes, then the Greens may be fine for you. If you are really hard on brakes, then the Yellows could be just what you need.

Keep in mind that I have many years of racing experience and run in the advanced group at the track days that I attended, so it's possible that I'm harder on brakes than you may be, YMMV. My car is a 2002 base, the same car that you have.

Those that have experience with other brands of pads will probably chime in with more information.

[NewArt]

+1 on the EBC Yellowstuff pads. Good for track and street!

[AZ986S]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

I kept the old set of Reds on the rear just to be safe, and they do shudder when hot ...

From what I know, you will upset the front/rear braking balance when using different pads for the front and rear (unless that's what you want). Personally, I've use EBC yellows on all 4 and the balance and bite is excellent for track days. The yellows do need a little heat to be effective meaning you will initially need more brake pressure when using the car on the street and for the first lap or two. They also dust a lot. I'll be switching to my summer street pads here after the last event at AMP on May 20.

[JayG]

Brake pads are so super easy to change, so get a set for the street and a set for the track
Seriously, it takes longer to jack up the car and remove the wheel than it takes to change the pads.

I run powerstop ceramic for the street and EBC Yellow for the track

[Ciao]

No one seems to mention the required use of dampers when changing the brake pads; do we need them? Or is it an option? I understand if you don't change them the brakes will squeal!

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by AZ986S

From what I know, you will upset the front/rear braking balance when using different pads for the front and rear (unless that's what you want).

I started out using Hawk DT60's both front and back, but did not like the setup, too much rear brake bias with the stock MC. This could be due to changes in weight balance (SPB) as well as running a square wheel/tire setup. Once I dropped the rears to a less aggressive compound (Blue), the car was much more stable under hard braking.

[Anker]

Originally Posted by Ciao

No one seems to mention the required use of dampers when changing the brake pads; do we need them? Or is it an option? I understand if you don't change them the brakes will squeal!

When I replaced pads last year a couple of the dampers were stuck in the pistons and broke away from the backing plate, so I decided to do away with the dampers and use brake pad anti-squeal paste instead. Works like a charm. I bought the CRC brand. You smear a layer on the backing plate of the pad and let it dry to a tacky state and then install the pad. Infinitely easier than fighting the dampers.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Anker

When I replaced pads last year a couple of the dampers were stuck in the pistons and broke away from the backing plate, so I decided to do away with the dampers and use brake pad anti-squeal paste instead. Works like a charm. I bought the CRC brand. You smear a layer on the backing plate of the pad and let it dry to a tacky state and then install the pad. Infinitely easier than fighting the dampers.

Sounds like a reasonable solutions;

[Quadcammer]

Ive been using ebc yellow but they wear quickly when you star picking up speed. Im trying out pfc08. Pricey but said to be excellent

[Boxy_02]

Where is the best place to buy the EBC Pad's?
What Rotors are recommended to go with them?

[Quadcammer]

zimmerman or sebro rotors.

EBC, just find your part number and google search.

[NewArt]

I bought my EBC pads from Amazon. In Canada, this seemed to be the best option. In the US there might be better prices when shipping is included.

[maytag]

Can y'all help me with part numbers on the EBC Yellow pads? I'm searching, and I've found two part numbers, both of which day REAR, and I can't find any that say FRONT.
DP41208R
DP41514R

Waddy'all know?

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