[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by ZM2

How would you all rank the EBC Red, CT1521, R4S, and XR5 for hard backroads driving? I prefer to not give up much/any performance of the R4S, but would be great to have less dust for the street.

I’m sticking with PFC for the track, but will keep Cobalt in mind as a backup as I also do not like Pagid or Hawk.

The PFC z-rated compound is a great street performance pad but they don’t offer it in too many applications (offer x-rated for all of their track brake calipers). I never list it or recommend it because it’s impossible to find.

I’ve never tried any of the available EBC pads.

Cobalt says its direct competitor is the CT 1521. G-Loc was created by a split in the CT company because two groups wanted to take the company in different directions. Initially, their compounds were identical but it’s been ~12-14 years now so the G-Loc GR-1 was identical to the 1521 compound but it could be a different/improved version of the 1521 now.

The R4S will have better performance than any 1521-type. Cobalt XR4 should outperform the R4S but it’ll generate the same level of dust as the R4S.

Brake pads are tough to recommend because we all brake a bit differently and rank different pad characteristics differently. Over the past three decades, I’d say my recommendations have been liked approximately ~six out of 10 times (60%).

I’d give the XR5 a slight advantage over the 1521. The XR4 is a better overall pad than the R4S.

Higher performance, higher dust
1. XR4
2. DS2500
3. R4S

Street performance, lower dust
1. XR5
2. 1521/GR-1
3. isweep 1500 or 2000 (extremely popular on g8x, not sure they have f8x pads.

[tenaciousd]

Re the Hawk Performance Ceramic

Originally Posted by samsamdar

How's the wear, noise, and pedal feel with them compared to OEM? Do they have the cutouts for the sensors? And do they come with shims? I was definitely interested in those (based on how cheap they were compared to the 1521s) but I skipped them solely because I hadn't heard any reviews on them with the 2NH setup.

I don't know about wear because I've only had them a few months but there is no noise, pedal feel is the same (as OE Textars). Yes on the cutouts for the sensors, and yes for the shims.

Mind you, I'm sure you know, but they're a street pad. I've taken them to the Tail of the Dragon, but they're probably not for the track.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by ZM2

How would you all rank the EBC Red, CT1521, R4S, and XR5 for hard backroads driving? I prefer to not give up much/any performance of the R4S, but would be great to have less dust for the street.

I’m sticking with PFC for the track, but will keep Cobalt in mind as a backup as I also do not like Pagid or Hawk.

I'm not worried about Redstuff or 1521 for fast road driving. Unless you're trying to drive them like you would on track (max acceleration followed by max braking very repeatedly), they'll be fine.

At my last skidpad/autoX day this summer I left the 1521 in my M2C and had no fade. It was just me and 3 other friends on the skidpad so we could do as much consecutive time on the AutoX course we setup for ourselves as we wanted.

[medphysdave]

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

I'm not worried about Redstuff or 1521 for fast road driving. Unless you're trying to drive them like you would on track (max acceleration followed by max braking very repeatedly), they'll be fine.

At my last skidpad/autoX day this summer I left the 1521 in my M2C and had no fade. It was just me and 3 other friends on the skidpad so we could do as much consecutive time on the AutoX course we setup for ourselves as we wanted.

I might give them a try then. It makes me nervous, but likely worst case, I dial it back a bit. Best case it saves me a two pad swaps.

[ps2cho]

No complaints on Powerstop Z23 front pads here for street use. Decided to try them over Carbotech and glad I did. Almost no dust at all and barely any difference in pedal feel.

[Vulpe]

Been running the Hawk Ceramics for ~24k miles and 4 years ish?

Originally Posted by Vulpe

Yes actually. I was giving some time before I posted my experiences but I forgot to make an update.

So I went with the Hawk Performance Ceramic pads. Been running them since February. About 2800 miles on them now.

-Less bite.
-Much less bite for the first 2-3 stops in the morning.
-About the same stopping power after the bite.
-Wasn't getting any squealing until a month or two ago and I only get it backing out of the drive way. Never any while driving.
-Fitment is a little looser than OEM. After washing the car and I do my reverse and forward into the garage to shake water loose I hear a click as they move in the calipers.
-Rear pads don't have slots to put the wear sensor.
-Much much less brake dust.

In my opinion it's not worth it unless you REALLY want less brake dust. They work fine and I'll keep them in until I need to replace them. But then I'll go back to OEM unless Akebono releases pads for these calipers. The front calipers are a bit of a pain to switch out compared to the rear so I don't really feel the need to change them out until I have to.

This review I wrote awhile ago still sums it up mostly. I've started to get more squealing off and on while driving forward. Still wish Akebono made pads for us but no luck. And I think if I have to replace them I'd go for the 1521s people have been talking about now instead of going back to OEM.

[samsamdar]

Question for those who did aftermarket pads? How did you orientate them? OEM pads all have the wear sensor cutout on the same side so it only goes one way. These carbotechs have the cutouts on the opposite sides. I'm setting them up so that the cutouts are on the lower side of the pad. Is this correct? Or does it not matter as long as the sensor can plug into the slot?

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by Vulpe

Been running the Hawk Ceramics for ~24k miles and 4 years ish?



This review I wrote awhile ago still sums it up mostly. I've started to get more squealing off and on while driving forward. Still wish Akebono made pads for us but no luck. And I think if I have to replace them I'd go for the 1521s people have been talking about now instead of going back to OEM.

You just zip tied the rear sensor somewhere out of the way I assume? Also it sounds like you didn't transfer over the rear pad shim off the stock pad? Thanks for your update/input!

[Vulpe]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

You just zip tied the rear sensor somewhere out of the way I assume? Also it sounds like you didn't transfer over the rear pad shim off the stock pad? Thanks for your update/input!

Exactly what I did. I only learned about transferring the shim over after I swapped it and it doesn't annoy me more than my laziness. I honestly don't even notice the clunking anymore

Funny I ziptied the sensor years ago but just today I got my brake fluid flushed and they commented "Hey did someone do your brakes recently? The wear sensor wasn't attached." and I was like yeah there isn't a place to plug it in. Did no one notice it before? I've been getting service at the dealership every year since then.

Oh yeah they sent me an inspection video and the tech pointed it out, I'll grab a screenshot. Looks like I just ziptied it to itself.

[HP Autosport]

This is our best-selling M2C lower dust(higher dust than so-called dustless pads, but with much better performance) street pad:

https://hpautosport.com/product/port...s-f87-m2-comp/