upcoming DE season! not your typical brake question

[tamadrumr88]

I understand the idea behind getting seat time before buying so-called "track" parts such as r-compound tires and race pads but this is more of a budget minded question...

HP Plus pads will serve me well (plus I can drive on them to the track), but there's also the option of the HP 9012 "Blue" pads. Mind you I have a set of almost bald Toyo RA1's on b6 wheels laying around but I'm holding off on using those until I do a few more HPDE's. In the mean time I'll be running on 225/45-17 Kuhmo all-seasons and the "Blue" pads will most likely cause the fronts to lock up. Ideally, I'd rather just purchase the Blue 9012 pads upfront and skip buying HP Plus pads altogether (but not if they're absolutely going to lock up on my all-season tires).

Is there anything between HP Plus and HP Blue 9012 pads? Ferodo DS2500? I'm sure I'm asking too much out of a single brake pad but ultimately I'm looking to combine fade resistant pads that won't lock up the fronts

[onemoremile]

none will lock up the fronts. they may be noisy on the street abd have no cold bite but that is it.

I run normal street pads (ultimate ceramic) and change to track pads a couple days before an event. this lets them rebed properly and they work fine. after th vent they squeal like a garbage truck.

[EBG 18T]

the hawk blues are not really approriate for our cars even for some track use. I have them and use them to scrub my rotors when i change between the DS2500's (street pads) and my ds3500's (track pads). The hawk blues are SUPER aggresive when cold and will destroy your rotors quickly.

Call raceshopper.com and talk to them about pads. They will advise you NOT to use the hawk Blue on this car, especially for anything less that pure high speed hot track use.

[HighDesertAudi]

Ferodo and Pagid are where it's at.

[tamadrumr88]

I talked to Edwin at raceshopper and they don't have a 3500? maybe you meant DS3000??

Anyways, he told me that the DS2500 is on par, maybe a tad better when hot, than the HP Plus pads... comments?

[EBG 18T]

I talked to Edwin at raceshopper and they don't have a 3500? maybe you meant DS3000??

Anyways, he told me that the DS2500 is on par, maybe a tad better when hot, than the HP Plus pads... comments?

yep. They are Ds3000's, not 3500's. I know i have said that wrong before. The 2500's are great all around pad. If you are going to be on street tires at a HPDE the 2500's will handle almost everything your street tires will handle. If you are running r compounds they 3000's will keep things in check for you.

I have never been a big hawk pad fan. The HP+ is a decent pad for HPDE's w/ street tires but it is very loud and not a great daily driver pad. It's cold friction is scary non-existant. The ds2500 has decent cold friction and is very linear as it heats up.

Personally i really like the ds2500 as an all purpose everyday pad and light HDPE pad. It is a little dusty but overall pretty quiet and has a good feel to it. They feel very predictable when hot or cold. They don't get as compressible as some other pads out there when they get hot.

The other pad that might work for you is the Pagid RS 4-2-1. I don;t have any experience with it but i have been told it is very similar to the ferrodo ds2500.