Brake pads for Autocross and infrequent track use?

So this is probably similar to the classic truism “cheap, fast, or reliable. Pick two”, but can anyone recommend a brake pad that’s capable of autocross and mild track use?

The reason I’m asking this and not just going ahead and ordering a specific set for each is because I doubt that at least for the next year or two I will get out and do more than 1 or 2 instructor session HPDE events in a summer. I’ll probably go out to Gingerman Raceway in West Michigan and try out an event or two this summer, and that’s about it. The one event I was thinking for registering for advertised eight 20 min. sessions for the weekend. I don’t see myself really focusing on HPDE events until I get comfortable with doing it.

So with that being said is there an autocross orientated brake pad that would possibly be sufficient for that and doing autocross?

If so, will it be a screeching, rotor eating, black dust spewing nightmare on the street?

It’s definitely not a DD, but it will be a weekend cruiser and I may on occasion put on a 300-500 mile trip to a car show.

I’ve read good things about the Ferodo DS2500s and Carbontech AX6 pads. Any votes of confidence or condemnation for those or other pad recommendations?

The car in question is an 84 VW GTI (est. 2,100 lb curb weight) with a stock motor, upgraded 10.1 rotors, SS braided lines, and Direzza ZII Star Spec tires.

Carbotech AX6 is a good choice. If dust is a big deal look into EBC Redstuff.

BTW I'm sad that CSI has accidentally led to the exhumation of orientated/orientating etc..."orientation" is useful but the others are just redundant ugly stepsisters of simpler words (oriented, orienting etc).

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Every single set of EBC pads I've had have dusted something fierce. They're inferior to Hawk even in terms of braking force.

To the OP, those carbotechs are about on par with Hawk HPS, so they're a decent option for what you want. Just keep an eye on their wear during track days.

I've been DD-ing the Jeep with the SUV version of the Hawk HP+ on the front (they call it the HP superduty) and the HPS on the back. The fronts dust like crazy, but they stop well and I've never gotten a single bit of noise out of them. They do take a half-second to warm up and start to bite if you stab them hard in cold weather though. The rears only dust a little, but they do occasionally squeal a hair under very light braking.

EBC makes a lot of different brake pads, most are very dusty but also very good performance-wise, the Redstuff is supposed to be a low-dust "sporty" brake pad.

Axxis ULT is another good pad to look into.

rslifkin wrote: I've been DD-ing the Jeep with the SUV version of the Hawk HP+ on the front (they call it the HP superduty) and the HPS on the back. The fronts dust like crazy, but they stop well and I've never gotten a single bit of noise out of them. They do take a half-second to warm up and start to bite if you stab them hard in cold weather though. The rears only dust a little, but they do occasionally squeal a hair under very light braking.

HP+ held up well at Road America and The Milwaukee Mile--and lots and lots of parking lot events.

What about a set of Porterfields? Love the ones I threw on hte Forte last spring. Great cold bite, good fade resistance etc. Light dust compared to my old HPS's I ran on the Elantra.

I vote hp+. Lots of good experience with these on an infrequent track car.

I've been pretty happy with the Hawk HPS on the Rx-8.. It took me 3 or 4 track days in that thing to start to exceed their limits.

And then I realized I was dragging the brakes too much, and so I stopped pressing them as much. Didn't really have another problem after that. I'd go with those, and I daily drive on them.

Bobzilla wrote: What about a set of Porterfields? Love the ones I threw on hte Forte last spring. Great cold bite, good fade resistance etc. Light dust compared to my old HPS's I ran on the Elantra.

Another dark horse contender that I know about, have heard good things, but I've never tried them. We have a couple guys road coursing SHO's who swear by them.

WOW Really Paul? wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: What about a set of Porterfields? Love the ones I threw on hte Forte last spring. Great cold bite, good fade resistance etc. Light dust compared to my old HPS's I ran on the Elantra.

Another dark horse contender that I know about, have heard good things, but I've never tried them. We have a couple guys road coursing SHO's who swear by them.

You get a chance try them on the Forte. Even with old fluid (that gets changed this year) they are very good/consistent.

My rabbit gti did well with the hawk hp's for autox and hpde events.

Bobzilla wrote: What about a set of Porterfields? Love the ones I threw on hte Forte last spring. Great cold bite, good fade resistance etc. Light dust compared to my old HPS's I ran on the Elantra.

Porterfield RS4s are tempting too. I found out they actually make RS4 compound brake shoes that would work on my car.

I'm a bit leery of HP+ after having them on my MK3 Jetta VR6. They squealed constantly and were very dusty. I'm kind of thinking it would be nice to try something new this time too.

2nd the Porterfield recommendation.

I have Porterfield RS4s on the Miata and like them a lot. Although they do seem to generate a good bit of dust. I logged about 8000 street miles plus 8 autocrosses and a vigorous weekend at The Dragon and they haven't given me any reason to doubt them.

After reading this previous post that I found on this board I'm souring on the Porterfield R4-S:

Has anybody used Porterfield R4S for mild track use?

Seems like they wouldn't hold up for track use.

EBC Redstuff pads are good for autocross, but I'm inexperienced with track days. They do kick out a good amount of brake dust, but it should be less of a problem for you since it's not your DD.

I dont think that there is a "Goldilocks" compromise street/track pad. All the street/track pads I've used dust like crazy. Street pads don't dust so much, but they cause exciting "E36 M3! No brakes!" Moments on track.

I suggest geting a compromise pad and just deal with the dust/ wheel damage or just swap pads before each event. That's what I'm doing.

Track pads are a little like shoes. What I love, you may hate. I love axxis ultimates and Hawk DTC 60/30s. I hate Porterfields and anything carbon/kevlar.

LuxInterior wrote: I dont think that there is a "Goldilocks" compromise street/track pad. All the street/track pads I've used dust like crazy. Street pads don't dust so much, but they cause exciting "E36 M3! No brakes!" Moments on track. I suggest geting a compromise pad and just deal with the dust/ wheel damage or just swap pads before each event. That's what I'm doing. Track pads are a little like shoes. What I love, you may hate. I love axxis ultimates and Hawk DTC 60/30s. I hate Porterfields and anything carbon/kevlar.

I went with the EBC Yellowstuff as a "compromise pad," something that would be decent on both the track and street. It has a laundry list of downsides - loud, dusty, hard on rotors, needs a little warm-up - but it's probably the best "compromise" pad if you want something that will do OK on both the street and track.

But a "compromise pad" is too aggressive for what the OP needs. He just needs an autocross pad. Those won't get gooey from a few hard stops, which is good enough for someone who is merely track-curious.

GameboyRMH wrote: hard on rotors

Right... I knew I was forgetting something in my pad review. The HP superduties (very similar to HP+) are pretty hard on rotors. In my experience, the rotors will be down to minimum thickness by the time you wear the pads out, or sometimes even before.

@Gameboy: really? The OP says he'll be doing 8 20 minute track sessions over 2 days. Sounds to me like he needs a compromise street/track pad.

LuxInterior wrote: @Gameboy: really? The OP says he'll be doing 8 20 minute track sessions over 2 days. Sounds to me like he needs a compromise street/track pad.

Perhaps, he will be working an autocross pad hard even without heavy late braking, but on the other hand these pads are mostly for street and autocross use, and a "compromise" pad will have many downsides there.

The CSPish Miata wears Hawk HPS front pads and HP+ on the rear. Two seasons of autocross and two tracknights under their belt and they look nearly new still. During track sessions I boiled tires, oil, and power steering fluid. Brakes were perfect thoughout.

Light car like yours should experience similar performance.

Dust might be a problem but my wheels are black so I never notice it.

LuxInterior wrote: I dont think that there is a "Goldilocks" compromise street/track pad. All the street/track pads I've used dust like crazy. Street pads don't dust so much, but they cause exciting "E36 M3! No brakes!" Moments on track. I suggest geting a compromise pad and just deal with the dust/ wheel damage or just swap pads before each event. That's what I'm doing. Track pads are a little like shoes. What I love, you may hate. I love axxis ultimates and Hawk DTC 60/30s. I hate Porterfields and anything carbon/kevlar.

what I've found (assuming I'm anal enough to follow through these days) is to pull the fronts off after each session (the rears usually don't have any/much brake dust on them) and clean them as soon as I come off track and get out of class