Another track/race pads thread (v. 2015)

[kaiv]

Curious what guys are using right now?

My favorite pad was the PFC01 (now discontinued) which despite its fast wear rate had incredible and relentless bite.

I've since been running PFC08 and it works OK but it's just not the same and I miss the 01. I don't know what to get next

[M3 Number 86]

oem FTW aka no brakes

Isn't the PFC11 the new 01 or no?

[okusa]

Cobalt Friction

[Jonathan@BimmerWorld]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I've since been running PFC08 and it works OK but it's just not the same and I miss the 01. I don't know what to get next

I personally do mostly endurance racing, so the 08s are my go-to favorite because of the longevity. It sounds like the PFC 11 is what you'd be looking for, however, as it's the new 01.

It's the go-to choice for our BimmerWorld race team in the 2.5-hour IMSA races, and most of our sprint-racing customers opt for the 11s over anything else.

[checkmate]

Pagid Yellows.

[ApexWheels]

I really like my Pagid Yellow's Kev (RS29), but then again I am not as fast as you. They have worn nicely with several track days and I have even left them in for light street use.

I have used the 08's as well, and prefer the RS29's.

- Ryan

[surlynkid]

I like Pagid 29. Wife like PFC 08 but they are gone so she uses PFC 11.

In SM with no abs, she uses a pad with less bite.

[Cloud9blue]

Originally Posted by okusa

Cobalt Friction

Curious to hear more about your experience with these. Which compound did you use? Hows the wear rate on the pads and the rotors? What about pedal feel and bite comparing to PFC 01 and 08.

[kaiv]

Well I found a couple last sets of PFC01 a vendor still had on the shelf so I guess I'm good for a short while

I'll be looking at Endless pads in the future. Everyone who has used them seems to rave about them.

Originally Posted by Jonathan@BimmerWorld

I personally do mostly endurance racing, so the 08s are my go-to favorite because of the longevity. It sounds like the PFC 11 is what you'd be looking for, however, as it's the new 01.

It's the go-to choice for our BimmerWorld race team in the 2.5-hour IMSA races, and most of our sprint-racing customers opt for the 11s over anything else.

Refer to http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=519632&page=3

[okusa]

Originally Posted by Cloud9blue

Curious to hear more about your experience with these. Which compound did you use? Hows the wear rate on the pads and the rotors? What about pedal feel and bite comparing to PFC 01 and 08.

Compound is XR2 front and XR3 rear. If never used the PFC but the Cobalt's are amazing. Initial bite is ridiculous and the wear is great. They changed the backing compound last year so now you can use them down to the core without them chunking. Only complaint (and it's minor) is grip is so high that pedal modulation post threshold could be better.

[DASm3]

Previously ran pfc08's on stock setup which I loved, now running pagid rs19's on stoptechs which I've been happy with thus far but only have 2 wknds on them.

[///Mobbin]

So I just switched back to PFC 08's after a stint with RS-29's (used PFC 08's before that). My thinking was that I wanted a return to a pad that was easier to bed-in and would last and last and not boil my in-caliper fluid (the RS-29's seem to generate some serious heat).

Then over the weekend (first outing in this car and with PFC 08's again), I felt that I wasn't as happy with the braking performance and pedal feel. Argh, just spent a small fortune on the PFC 08's and I am now thinking that I prefer the RS-29's.

Also though, another theory. Isn't brake feel a combination of tires and pads (among other things)? I was running the RS-29's with Cup 2's and the stopping power was incredible (and larger calipers). Now I am running PFC 08's with half-used RS-3's and they were getting overwhelmed in hard braking zones and locking up a bit with aggressive braking. Perhaps its the brake/tire combo that was leaving me wanting more? Thoughts appreciated.

[///Mobbin]

Originally Posted by kaiv

Well I found a couple last sets of PFC01 a vendor still had on the shelf so I guess I'm good for a short while

I'll be looking at Endless pads in the future. Everyone who has used them seems to rave about them.




Refer to http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=519632&page=3

FWIW I had a bad experience with the Endless hybrid offering, the mx72's, and pad deposited two sets of rotors with them. I simply won't use a hybrid pad again, my mistake. Perhaps their ME20's are better.

[kaiv]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Also though, another theory. Isn't brake feel a combination of tires and pads (among other things)? I was running the RS-29's with Cup 2's and the stopping power was incredible (and larger calipers). Now I am running PFC 08's with half-used RS-3's and they were getting overwhelmed in hard braking zones and locking up a bit with aggressive braking. Perhaps its the brake/tire combo that was leaving me wanting more? Thoughts appreciated.

I'm gonna say it might be the combo or actually the tires. I've definitely experienced that before with RS3s (and PFC). I've yet to experience that with NT01s.


In regards to the topic of this thread. It's become painfully obvious after the past two track days that my stock brakes with race pads aren't up to the task for such a heavy car. Looking at the classifieds here, BBKs go for 4-6k+ ? Yikes I guess I'll just put up with crappy braking for a while >.<

[///Mobbin]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I'm gonna say it might be the combo or actually the tires. I've definitely experienced that before with RS3s (and PFC). I've yet to experience that with NT01s.


In regards to the topic of this thread. It's become painfully obvious after the past two track days that my stock brakes with race pads aren't up to the task for such a heavy car. Looking at the classifieds here, BBKs go for 4-6k+ ? Yikes I guess I'll just put up with crappy braking for a while >.<

Good to know, thanks.

If you want an economical solution you should go PFC rotors *will fix the cooling aspects of it* or go for Stoptech fronts from Joe @ Trinity, he has great Stoptech pricing (that's what I did). By going BBK I think you're getting the cooling fixed and the pedal feel as well as a slight bit more braking force (my opinion). The front ST-40 kit was low-low at a bit over $2k and it served me incredibly well over the weekend (despite overwhelming my tires). I don't think doing the rears too is necessary and am happy with the OE rear setup for now at least (makes pad swapping easier too as I just leave Stoptech street performance pads in the rears all the time). This is my second car with a front-only BBK setup and I am good with it, no desire to add the rears yet.

[kaiv]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Good to know, thanks.

If you want an economical solution you should go PFC rotors *will fix the cooling aspects of it* or go for Stoptech fronts from Joe @ Trinity, he has great Stoptech pricing (that's what I did). By going BBK I think you're getting the cooling fixed and the pedal feel as well as a slight bit more braking force (my opinion). The front ST-40 kit was low-low at a bit over $2k and it served me incredibly well over the weekend (despite overwhelming my tires). I don't think doing the rears too is necessary and am happy with the OE rear setup for now at least (makes pad swapping easier too as I just leave Stoptech street performance pads in the rears all the time). This is my second car with a front-only BBK setup and I am good with it, no desire to add the rears yet.

I agree with you with just about everything you say -I've also ran front only bbk in the past- but the other thing to consider is pad knockback with those fixed calipers. I've experienced it both with Stoptech and Brembo (4 pots both) when pads got under halfway worn. Nothing like spending $ on a nice brake kit and create a new issue that's absent from the stock calipers

Looking at the Essex/AP racing kit which has anti knock back springs on both the caliper (piston) and rotors but we're up to $3500+ by then ah.

[evilspiritM3]

While the PFC 11s are the "new" 01s, they definitely have a different feel, and in my experience are not as aggressive as the 01s. That being said they wear a little better and are kinder to my PFC rotors.

I am running the 4 pad per caliper setup on the PFC Z31 caliper/372 mm rotor.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I'm gonna say it might be the combo or actually the tires. I've definitely experienced that before with RS3s (and PFC). I've yet to experience that with NT01s.


In regards to the topic of this thread. It's become painfully obvious after the past two track days that my stock brakes with race pads aren't up to the task for such a heavy car. Looking at the classifieds here, BBKs go for 4-6k+ ? Yikes I guess I'll just put up with crappy braking for a while >.<

Just get the front Z54 bbk. You want those fat pads!! And they work without a rear bbk

Zero knockback and I took the front pads to zero at VIR as I wanted to prove one set of pads could last one season of double-duty track days

[kaiv]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Just get the front Z54 bbk. You want those fat pads!! And they work without a rear bbk

Zero knockback and I took the front pads to zero at VIR as I wanted to prove one set of pads could last one season of double-duty track days

I would love to but $3800 is a bit hard on the wallet LOL. Also PFC stopped making my favorite compound

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I would love to but $3800 is a bit hard on the wallet LOL. Also PFC stopped making my favorite compound

I have $100 that says the pfc13 compound is even more to your liking than the pfc01

It is an expensive bbk, but so awesome

[kaiv]

I have some nice brake parts FS if anyone is interested (new PFC01, BW solid guides etc)

www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1204463

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I have some nice brake parts FS if anyone is interested (new PFC01, BW solid guides etc)

www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1204463

Which BBK you going to?