Has anyone ever shaved down pads?

[dparm]

I have been closely watching the PFC catalog to see if they would release any pads for my 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, but alas, they still have not. I'm still getting the runaround from them about "they're in testing". Seems really short-sighted not to make a pad for such a popular sports car.

I just chatted with their race support team on the phone and we did find a pad they make for the Nissan GT-R, part 4362, that is an extremely close fit: the overall length is correct (~189mm) and the annulus is very close (64mm versus my 65mm). The biggest hold-up seems to be pad thickness which is ~19mm, whereas mine typically calls for ~16.5mm.

PFC did think this pad would work if it could be shaved down slightly, and said that either Pro Systems of Mooresville, NJ or even Porterfield could do this. Some websites do list the pad as a fitment for my car, along with a few others like the CTS-V and C63.

I'm unsure if I want to try this given that those pads in the 08 compound are $650 plus the time and expense to get them shaved. That's more than double what my Hawk DTC-60s cost...and I'm doubtful they'll last twice as long or stop twice as well.

[P1zzaboy]

My machine shop has already shaved my dtc60 on the milling. Ran them without any problem

[Ximian]

Have you looked for a used set? I’d go that route first.

[ayao]

Have you tried reaching out to Porterfield to work out a custom pad fitment? I get the feeling it may not be as expensive as you’d think. I picked up a pair of Raybestos ST45 and am happy with the longevity, bite and release. And this is coming from someone who likes the PFC08 enough that I’d grind it up and eat it as granola.

[roastbeef]

Porterfield did it for me when the pads I needed were too thick. Great company.

[The HACK]

I’ve done it once for a set of Cobalt Friction XR3s that just seemed about 1/2mm too thick to fit in a fully retracted caliper. No big deal.

Had the machine shop in the warehouse at work do it, but most machine shop can just hook it up to a good belt sander and charge you an hour of labor.

[Estoril Blue]

While PFC is my pad of choice - why not consider a strong brand like Pagid?

I imagine pad development is a function of market demand.

[enycerz]

I might have a set front Essex 9668 kits for your car for sale soon.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Estoril Blue

While PFC is my pad of choice - why not consider a strong brand like Pagid?

I imagine pad development is a function of market demand.

Pagid RS29s cost the same as the PFCs.

The DTC-60 is hard to beat when it comes to consumable costs but I know everyone raves about the PFC 08 compound. So far, I'm not really overwhelming (overheating) the 60s so I don't see a huge reason to step up to endurance pads.

[SYT_Shadow]

PFC 11 is now my favorite compound after using the 08 and then the 12 (08's replacement) extensively. The 11 has almost no noise which is very impressive.

Anyway, back to your question, I've ground pads several times and it's doable. I was grinding them sideways though so the finish did not matter. If you were grinding down the actual pad it would have to be totally flat

It's frustrating that PFC is slow to market. The damn Porsche contract is ruining everything.
I'm still waiting for PFC to release DD rotors for the F8X M3!

[dparm]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

It's frustrating that PFC is slow to market. The damn Porsche contract is ruining everything.
I'm still waiting for PFC to release DD rotors for the F8X M3!

Their race guy claimed their current R&D was also being done on the Shelby GT350 and GT500...which I don't understand since those are way lower production than the Corvette.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by dparm

Their race guy claimed their current R&D was also being done on the Shelby GT350 and GT500...which I don't understand since those are way lower production than the Corvette.

PFC seems to be a race pad manufacturer that every once in a while makes something for regular cars.
The rest of the time they seem very focused on their race programs with manufacturers.

[The HACK]

If you're willing to venture out and try Cobalt Friction, they sell the FMSI D1405 pads in XR1-XR5 compound. XR3 is equivalent to Hawk DTC-60 or PFC-08 in bite and longevity. XR2 is probably closer to the PFC-11 compound. They have both the D1405 shape for the front of the non-Z07 calipers and the D1001 shapes. It takes 5-7 business days for them to ship.

Front:
https://www.cobaltfriction.com/produ...d65-17.5mm.htm

Rear:
http://www.cobaltfriction.com/produc...001-15.3mm.htm

It says "front caliper" but that's only because the D1001 shape is the same as what Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X front caliper uses too. I think.

[MasterP]

cobalt you can specify thickness as well.

I get custom thickness pads for my E92 from them.

[bigjae1976]

You could sand them but 2.5mm is a lot. I'd get them sawed or milled.

Gonna be a dust bowl for whoever does it.

[admranger]

True story: had a set of PFC-01's that just wouldn't fit the front calipers of my first race car, a 1987 325iS. Grabbed a file and started filing on them. No joy. Mucho dust and very little progress. Then I noticed I was standing on broom finished concrete. 30 seconds later I was good to go. That broom finished concrete is like 2 grit sandpaper. Made short work of the slight extra pad thickness. It wasn't 1/8" which dparm is talking about, but nevertheless, it worked out great! Try your neighbors driveway though. I think it left marks that lasted a long time out at Buttonwillow!

This just not in: PFC-08's ROCK! I've never run DTC-60s so I can't compare. Have you looked at Endless pads? They get good reviews from track rats.