Performance Friction carbon metallic pads

[wushucivic]

i'm looking to replace my rotors and pads soon. i'm probably just going to do brembo blanks for the rotors but i've been researching what pads to use and i have seen these mentioned a couple places. the only downside i have seen so far is that they don't have a great initial cold bite. is there any other reason that you guys would suggest against them? it's probably between these and axxis ultimates but the carbon metallic pads are supposed to have very little dust which is a huge plus for me. help me decide guys.

[Bernanke]

hey wush, I have these pads and they are freaking awesome. initial cold bite is no worse than stock pads really, maybe only slightly less bite. but man when these things get warm... MY GOD, feels like theres a big brake kit in the car. The hotter the pads get the better they run and there is zero brake fade from my own personal experience and i was going pretty hardcore in the canyons. Bondurant Racing school only uses Performance friction carbon metallics so that says something when the best racing school in the country uses them exclisively. very little lust, you will probably only ahve to clean wheels once ever month to few months. once these pads are hot you can't beat them. it only takes one or two hard brakes to get them warmed up, not much. for street use they are totally safe and act just like any other stock pad pretty much. Autozone sells them for only $40 for the fronts with LIFETIME warranty, so you can replace them as much as you want, just return old ones with alittle bit left on them and they give you new free set. i only have mine on the fronts too, rears are still stock pads and they dust much much more than the fronts and the fronts are supposed to dust alot more b/c they are bigger. two thumbs up.

[Fraser]

Ditto.

I have to add though, that if you do a lot of driving when they're cold (either colder temperature days, or city/highway driving), they absolute eat rotors- and I personally think their cold bite is substantially worse than stock pads.

Get 'em hot though, and they are definitely a great bang for your buck.

[wushucivic]

you will probably only have to clean wheels once ever month to few months.
:buttrock :redspot :alright


Ditto.

I have to add though, that if you do a lot of driving when they're cold (either colder temperature days, or city/highway driving), they absolute eat rotors- and I personally think their cold bite is substantially worse than stock pads.
:(

so would you say rotor life is cut in two or thirds or what?

[Spencer]

I have them and like them as a dual purpose pad. You can run them at the track on street tires if you aren't too hard on the brakes. I have smoked them a few times when pushing the car hard though (no fade though, actually).

Cold bite isn't great, but isnt horrible. I drove an M3 with stock pads the other day and the stock pads defintely have much more bite to them. But like mentioned before, if you do heat them up, they will bite very well. Initial bite is like night/day at the track.

I haven't noticed any premature rotor wear after 2 sets but then again, I'm sure they do wear rotors when they are cold. Just the nature of dual purpose pads.

If you plan to track the car and dont want to switch pads, I would recommend these, but if this is just a street car, then you might want to go with the less agressive PF pads (dont remember the name) which will probabily have more cold bite and will be easier on rotors.

EDIT: This is for the PF Z-Rated pads, which I believe are also referred to as carbon metallic.

[eXpLiCiT]

^^^Actually the Z-Rated and Carbon Metallics are different. http://www.performancefriction.com/pages/pad_type.htm

[Spencer]

^^^Actually the Z-Rated and Carbon Metallics are different. http://www.performancefriction.com/pages/pad_type.htm

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like the Z-Rated is different. Weird, since they list "carbon metallic" on the box.

Looks like the C.M. is the more street oriented pad, so that might be a nice choice, especially with the autozone warrenty.

[wushucivic]

i don't do any track driving but i go back roads driving often enough that i would want something that won't fade too much with some heat. also like i mentioned brake dust is something i really don't want (but then agian who wants it).

[Bernanke]

there are two carbon mettalics, the regular carbon mettalics and the Z-rated. the Z-rated are not meant for stock rotors b/c they get so hot that they can actually warp rotors so i got the regular carbon mettalics which are a small step down, they have better initial bite but not as strong when super hot, they are still damn good.

[Pino]

bah, all these fancy words :eyecrazy

just go to the Group Buy section and get the Bembo blanks + axxis ultimates + sensors for $265 shipped....im ordering mine today :alright

good luck Glenn :wave

[jgerry2002]

there are two carbon mettalics, the regular carbon mettalics and the Z-rated. the Z-rated are not meant for stock rotors b/c they get so hot that they can actually warp rotors so i got the regular carbon mettalics which are a small step down, they have better initial bite but not as strong when super hot, they are still damn good.

The Z-rated pads work fine on the street with stock rotors (I've had this combination now for four years). I even ran them at some track events with stock backing plates and there where no heat or warping issues. Not sure where you got this information from but I assure you it is not true.

I will agree that they do lack a bit of cold bite, but they are fine even after a moderate stop. In really cold weather I'll sometimes ride the brake pedal for a few hundred feet to warm them up.

FYI, The Autozone "lifetime" warranty will allow you to get three sets of brake pads per purchase. I've used one set already. Still a good deal.

-Justin

[Spencer]

there are two carbon mettalics, the regular carbon mettalics and the Z-rated. the Z-rated are not meant for stock rotors b/c they get so hot that they can actually warp rotors so i got the regular carbon mettalics which are a small step down, they have better initial bite but not as strong when super hot, they are still damn good.

Thats just not true at all. Like jgerry2002, I've run them on the street and on the track without any issues.

These are just moderate dual purpose pads. They aren't anywhere near full track pads which can sustain much higher temps and work fine with stock rotors as well.

[Spencer]

FYI, The Autozone "lifetime" warranty will allow you to get three sets of brake pads per purchase. I've used one set already. Still a good deal.

-Justin

Where did you get that info? I just checked my warrenty info and it has no mention of a 3 set limit.

[jgerry2002]

When I replaced my set, I asked the question. According to the guy working the counter at Autozone there is a 3 set limit. Basically he said if you replace them more often then they figure you are abusing/racing etc the pads.

I'd be curious if you hear something different. 3 sets of pads will normally outlast most street cars, so I'd say that is still generous.

Calling Autozone directly may give you the ultimate answer.

-Justin

[natopotato]

does autozone stock these pads? i called they dont have them...?

[Bernanke]

they did when i went.

[jgerry2002]

The Z rated was usually a special order pad. At least, it has been every time I've ordered them. They usually don't take much more time then a few days to arrive.

-Justin