Brake Pad Purchase

[Hasdrubal]

Question coming from ignorance here, but are Porsche OEM pads known for being track ready pads? I don't necessarily intend to track my car, but if they are, it would explain part of the increased cost- I would expect that if I wanted to take a Civic to the track I'd need to spend more on good pads compared to Honda OEM or whatever they have at Autozone.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Hasdrubal

Question coming from ignorance here, but are Porsche OEM pads known for being track ready pads? I don't necessarily intend to track my car, but if they are, it would explain part of the increased cost- I would expect that if I wanted to take a Civic to the track I'd need to spend more on good pads compared to Honda OEM or whatever they have at Autozone.

In general, the answer would be yes, you can use OEM pads at a track day.

But...
The track and how you drive will have a major influence on pad life. If your track has several high speed straights followed by very slow turns, you're going to eat up pads regardless of what brand. If your track has fewer high speed sections along with sweeping turns, you'll use less pads. Some drivers only want to drive at lower stress levels to their car, while others wring out every last % of their car's abilities. Neither is wrong but will have a different result on pad life. When I started off in DE 11 yrs ago, I probably drove at 75% but have worked up to 90% (I drive my car to and from the track and I always keep that in mind when I'm on the track).

I did a DE at COTA several yrs ago. There was a professional driver there hawking his coaching services. His friend who introduced him said this coach could roast your pads (as in totally use them up) in ONE session if he drove 10/10ths with your car. Not sure that endorsement got him a lot of customers, but proves the point about how the track and how you drive makes a difference. COTA is tough on brakes and so was he.

Keep in mind an OEM pad on a Porsche has to check many boxes: quiet on the street, yet capable on the track and everything in between. Similar to an all season tire that's OK in the snow and OK at high performance driving but not great at either. Jack of all trades, master of none. Since the majority of Porsches won't see the track, Porsche can't supply OEM pads that are squeaky and dusty - 2 characteristics of track pads, so they're going to favor more street characteristics. But they have to assume there could be track duty so they make sure they'll work for a session, day, or weekend.

Brakes and tires are consumables if you plan to track your car.

[Bush Pilot]

There’s a reason that the OEM and race pads throw out a lot of dust. I don’t know but speculate that it’s a way if dispersing heat away from the brakes. I’m willing to live with that dust in return for better performance in a performance oriented car. I’d go with a pad made of the same material as OEM and made in the West, not China.

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Bush Pilot

I’m willing to live with that dust in return for better performance in a performance oriented car.

Good for you. There are 2 guys in my club that have great Porsches - one has a 2014 Turbo S and the other a 2019 GT3 RS. They both keep them spotless and their drives consist of taking them to the monthly Supercar Sat or weekly Cars & Coffee shows during nice weather season. They would complain mightily if they had to clean a massive amt of dust from their wheels after driving the 10 mi round trip.

Different strokes for different folks, but that's the riddle Porsche has to solve with their owner base. Some treat them as race cars, others as art. Porsche has to keep them both happy from the factory. With all the pad types available in the aftermkt, it's possible to choose the right pad that fits your specific needs.

[boxxster]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Good for you. There are 2 guys in my club that have great Porsches - one has a 2014 Turbo S and the other a 2019 GT3 RS. They both keep them spotless and their drives consist of taking them to the monthly Supercar Sat or weekly Cars & Coffee shows during nice weather season. They would complain mightily if they had to clean a massive amt of dust from their wheels after driving the 10 mi round trip.

I will shamelessly admit I fall under this category lol

To the OP, check out Akebono Euro Ceramics. I just bought a set (though haven't installed them yet) after a positive experience on my other car (BMW). They don't dust, like literally 95% less than OEM, and even then, the dust is lighter, not black, so it doesn't really show. People complain about a lack of bite, but honestly that was way overblown in my experience. Stopping power is still there. Only thing is ceramic pads are not ideal if you ever plan to track the car.

Honestly they're the best thing I have done to a car in recent memory. I love clean looking wheels and I hate cleaning them. Perfection.

[Bush Pilot]

Accepting lower performance in return for a less dusty wheel doesn’t add up to me and it doesn’t have to. As was said, to each his own. But following that same philosophy why spend all the money to get a real Porsche and then lower its performance? If looks are what matters, a VW chassis can be converted into a nice looking Porsche.