Any regrets with aftermarket brake pads?

[derbo]

Originally Posted by Fubar_M3

If you want a brake pad that's equal to OE on the street but can handle some light to moderate track abuse, go with Cool Carbons. Honestly they are a great compromise pad but trust me, though they say they can handle track days, they cannot. They barely lasted 1 day with me on a short technical track. Wore from brand new, down to 2mm thick in 5 20 minute sessions.

If they can't last a weekend, how could that be a recommendation? My experience with them on my old E46 was poor track properties. It gave a very nice juddering on the track and ate up way too fast. I ended up just swapping to track pads and keep OE for street.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by derbo

If they can't last a weekend, how could that be a recommendation? My experience with them on my old E46 was poor track properties. It gave a very nice juddering on the track and ate up way too fast. I ended up just swapping to track pads and keep OE for street.

I had zero juttering even after I overheated the pads severely. I had progressed to the point these pads couldn't handle the brake heat. For the average driver these pads would hold up.

I've progressed as a driver to the point I need a dedicated track pad. That's why these got ate up so fast. Not because of poor quality. I still run these as my daily pad ( I bought new ones)

[dparm]

Cool Carbon's website is full of red flags. Sorry, but there is no one pad that can handle street, auto-x, and HPDE without making huge sacrifices somewhere. They don't have some huge secret formula that the big brake companies have somehow missed over the last 50+ years.

[SYT_Shadow]

I only use oem brake pads for street use

For the track i use track pads

Low dust brake pads are a terrible compromise

[wyatth]

I don't track, nor do I do daily drive my car. I've been looking for a hybrid pad that would give good feel and control in the canyons, while minimizing the dusting on the ZCPs. Stoptech Sport and Ferodo DS2500 are at the top of my list. Endless MX72 sounds great, but $700 for a set of 4 is too much. Porterfield R4-S also a contender.
OEM pads are okay, but they aren't that fade-resistant, and they dust a lot. Their cold bite is nice, but that's about it IMO. I am hoping the DS2500s are just as good on feel/bite, while providing more fade resistance. The STs are probably a touch less dusty, but also less initial bite.