Cracks in street pads

[DreamTime]

Hello everyone,

I'm finally getting around to doing all the brake related work on my winter list, which includes swapping back to my street pads. (I experimented last season with a "streetable" track pad that worked okay, but ultimately was very noisy). Anyways, the ones I removed last year have small cracks going down the center, only on the fronts (see pics below). The cracks are only on the very top of the surface, they do not go all the way through the pad. These are the basic PFC carbon metallic street pads. Are they okay to put back on or should I just get new ones? I only ask because they have easily 80% thickness remaining.

If I do need to get new street pads - any recommendations besides OEM? I have about a week before I do the work so there is time to order anything I want, and I am interested to see if there are any options that people like.

Thank you.

[Ximian]

Cracking down the middle is normal, up to a point. There can be moisture retained inside the pad material and bedding in/burnishing brake pads can help get rid of it. Once you see a gap in the crack as thick as a sheet of paper, or it's all the way through, or if there is separation/chunking, that's the time to replace pads.

I keep my track pads and my street pads separate to extend the life of the pads and the rotors. Track pads are too abrasive on rotors when cold and street pads leave deposits on rotors when they're too hot.

[SAMM3Y]

Speed cracks.. they make you faster

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Cracking down the middle is normal, up to a point. There can be moisture retained inside the pad material and bedding in/burnishing brake pads can help get rid of it. Once you see a gap in the crack as thick as a sheet of paper, or it's all the way through, or if there is separation/chunking, that's the time to replace pads.

I keep my track pads and my street pads separate to extend the life of the pads and the rotors. Track pads are too abrasive on rotors when cold and street pads leave deposits on rotors when they're too hot.

That is really interesting thanks. Yeah, the crack is very thin and almost like a scratch on the surface so I guess it's okay.

I totally understand the benefits of separate track/street pads and if I was going to track my car again this year I was gonna just bite the bullet and add pad swaps to my track routine. I am just a very busy person and I thought I would experiment a bit with a "dual-ish" purpose pad and I was pleased enough with the results. If my car ends up doing double duty again believe me I'll do it the right way

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Speed cracks.. they make you faster

[roastbeef]

I'd run those on the street.

[DreamTime]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I'd run those on the street.

Awesome, that's the plan. These pads will see no track time. Thanks for the feedback!