Performance Friction brake pads for track day

[Fen335i]

Hey Guys - I'm thinking of changing out my brake pads and fluid this summer for my HPDE track days. My thinking here is I'll "save" my street pads by not beating the hell out of them on the track, and also gain some braking power with pads that will be more resistant to brake fade...or mushy pedal.

For those that have changed out brake pads to a "race pad" like Performance Frictions Z-rated pad, do you notice a big difference in stopping power or brake fade? (assuming here you are using OEM calipers and rotors) Are they noisy at all (do they squeal a lot)?

Thanks

[Radiation Joe]

There is no comparison between PF-01 and stock pads. If you had ever overheated the stock pads, you would be able to make a very easy decision here. Trust me when I say you are making a very wise choice in flushing your brake fluid and putting in the PF-01s.

The PF-01s will make a lot of noise on the street and may accelerate rotor wear. Most people change them out for the track days only.

[Fen335i]

Thanks Radiation Joe...sounds like a good move for track day. Have others using Perf Friction race pads done damage to their stock rotors? I'll remove mine after track day..but I may be doing multiple days this summer, so I thought I just might leave them on (for about 5-6 weeks during the season)...but if that is going to lead to rotor damage, then I'll want to take them off right away. Why do they damage the stock rotors?

[mastek]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

There is no comparison between PF-01 and stock pads. If you had ever overheated the stock pads, you would be able to make a very easy decision here. Trust me when I say you are making a very wise choice in flushing your brake fluid and putting in the PF-01s.

The PF-01s will make a lot of noise on the street and may accelerate rotor wear. Most people change them out for the track days only.

+1
...and they are expensive @ $250 for the fronts and $200 for the rears...
so I would definitely change them out before and after track days.

[Fen335i]

Who sells them the cheapest?

Are Stoptechs just as good?

[RENN Spec]

Z-Compounds are just street pads. Which Stoptechs are you referring to?

[Fen335i]

Ok, I thought Perf Friction and Stoptech made a race pad (for track days). Maybe I got the model wrong...but that's what I'm looking for.

[SV Concepts II]

I believe OP is referring to Stoptech Street Performance pads, which are trackable but not as good as dedicated track pads such as the Porterfield Racing Compounds

[RENN Spec]

Originally Posted by Fen335i

Ok, I thought Perf Friction and Stoptech made a race pad (for track days). Maybe I got the model wrong...but that's what I'm looking for.

Well, they do make race pads but the Z-compound is a street compound. You want the PFC 01 like Radiation Joe mentioned. I haven't personally tried any Stoptech compound so I can't say anything about it. As of now though, I don't know any Porterfield compound that is cut for the M3. Your best bet will be the PFC 01. You can order these directly from us but you're better off ordering these from James@Bimmerworld instead.

[Fen335i]

Thanks Jason...great information.

[RENN Spec]

Oh, btw, PFC 01 is a race compound so it's not as friendly to your rotors as your OEM pads. However, it's not that it will damage it, it'll just wear your rotors out faster. You can drive it safely on the street but just be careful because these are race pads and will require high temp to get them to their operating temp (kind of like your engine). You'll also have a lot of squealing because of the metallic compound.

[bigjae1976]

Think garbage truck everytime you stop.

Basically you will torture any pedestrians on the street with the highly amplified sound of fingernails running down a chalkboard. Here is Seoul, people flinch, cover their ears, and start looking around. I've even scared the crap out of a couple of people.

Oh, you're neighbors will hear when you come home at night.

Which is why I love my PF01/97s!

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Think garbage truck everytime you stop.

Basically you will torture any pedestrians on the street with the highly amplified sound of fingernails running down a chalkboard. Here is Seoul, people flinch, cover their ears, and start looking around. I've even scared the crap out of a couple of people.

Oh, you're neighbors will hear when you come home at night.

Which is why I love my PF01/97s!

Wow, I knew they would be a little noisy...but didn't think they would be that loud!

Is there a brake pad out there that still provides better performance than OEM but is not as loud? Something that will last a full day's worth of HPDE? Really, we only get 20-30 minute sessions (4 sessions per day) Will these Perf friction race pads get warmed up in time to get the benefit out of them? Or should I look at something else?

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Fen335i

Wow, I knew they would be a little noisy...but didn't think they would be that loud!

Is there a brake pad out there that still provides better performance than OEM but is not as loud? Something that will last a full day's worth of HPDE? Really, we only get 20-30 minute sessions (4 sessions per day) Will these Perf friction race pads get warmed up in time to get the benefit out of them? Or should I look at something else?

There are a couple of E46 guys that use the Z rated pads on the track and claimed they never had an issue.

I never had a problem with mine and my setup is pretty loud. I compete with the huge busses for the most brake noise.

I use my PF97/01s on the street about a week before and after an event. And 20 minutes is plenty of time to get the pads up to temp. Let's put it this way. My hawk performance ceramics lasted 6 sessions and went through 18mm of pad (started out as 20mm). My PF97/01 (not sure which one is on the front) still has gone through 11mm of pad with about 16 sessions on them.

The hawks were probably the worst choice possible.

Its probably worth swapping pads. You'll have a good opportunity to check your suspension before and after the track with the tires off.

[RENN Spec]

PFC Z Compound is a great compound for the streets but depending on hard you are on your brakes or if the track relies on your brakes alot, you'll experience brake fade.

[Fen335i]

Thanks Jason...maybe I should look for something more agressive than the z-rated pads then. I wish there was a happy medium...something significantly better than OEM pads, but not as crazy loud as the race pads.

[RENN Spec]

There usually are but you're very limited because of the M3 pad shape/size. I might be wrong though; There might be a few out there that I didn't know about.

[Fen335i]

Thanks Jason. If anyone knows of any, please let me know!

[Radiation Joe]

Jason has been right on the money in every post. Even though the PF-01s are a bit more expensive, they last much longer than other pads. I've driven them on the street for extended periods of time and they do make a lot of noise. I still think they are about the best pad you can buy for what you are asking. Maybe Pagids at $800 a set might have similar performance.

I've also run PF-Z pads on the track. They can't take the heat from hard driving. They will fade. They fade gradually though. They are an excellent street pad.

[Radiation Joe]

Jason has been right on the money in every post. Even though the PF-01s are a bit more expensive, they last much longer than other pads. I've driven them on the street for extended periods of time and they do make a lot of noise. I still think they are about the best pad you can buy for what you are asking. Maybe Pagids at $800 a set might have similar performance.

I've also run PF-Z pads on the track. They can't take the heat from hard driving. They will fade. They fade gradually though. They are an excellent street pad.

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Jason has been right on the money in every post. Even though the PF-01s are a bit more expensive, they last much longer than other pads. I've driven them on the street for extended periods of time and they do make a lot of noise. I still think they are about the best pad you can buy for what you are asking. Maybe Pagids at $800 a set might have similar performance.

I've also run PF-Z pads on the track. They can't take the heat from hard driving. They will fade. They fade gradually though. They are an excellent street pad.

Thanks Radiation Joe. Sounds like the 01's are the best bet. Do you think my stock rotors will be ok after a hard days worth of use w/these pads? I'm going to use a high-perf brake fluid as well...and probably ss lines

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Jason has been right on the money in every post. Even though the PF-01s are a bit more expensive, they last much longer than other pads. I've driven them on the street for extended periods of time and they do make a lot of noise. I still think they are about the best pad you can buy for what you are asking. Maybe Pagids at $800 a set might have similar performance.

I've also run PF-Z pads on the track. They can't take the heat from hard driving. They will fade. They fade gradually though. They are an excellent street pad.

I agree, The PFC Z pad is a street pad and one of the better ones....................if you are buying your performance parts at AutoZone. :P

PF-01's are pretty well known as a track-only pad; But yes the garbage truck squeal and they eat rotors for lunch, plus not inexpensive. Short of a full track-only race pad, hands down the Cool Carbons are going to be the best choice "dual purpose" pad for HPDE days and daily driving duties.

Many very satisfied M3 customers; plus much of the original development work was performed on M3 vehicles. All of our employees are currently running the CCs on their M3s.