So the SeX (2010 Kia Forte SX Sedan 2.4) is running up the miles and a brake refresh is on the horizon. Since this is the toy as well as the Daily, it only makes sense to upgrade. Guess what? There is no upgrade. Fronts use the D1397 style pad, rear is the 1157 style pad. There's NOTHING out there unless I want to special order some EBC Greenstuffs. now, I've only tried EBC's twice and hated them both, so I'm not keen to spend $180 on a set of pads I will likely hate.
I want Hawk HPS. But hawk has told me to GFY (not literally, just figuratively with their lack of selection). What the hell am I going to get? Auto-x'er, daily driver and I would like to get it out to Putnam Park for an HPDE to see what it's made of. I don't need some crazy off the wall pad that eats rotors in a week but are perfect for an enduro.
Suggestions? Trying to keep this around the price I have always paid for Hawk pads ($70-80 for frt, $60-70 for rear).
I don't want to go slower.
skierd wrote:
Buy brakes off a Honda?
Don't think I haven't been through all our pads to see if something fits!
Bobzilla wrote:
I don't want to go slower.
Wait, I thought brakes slow you down? So good brakes would make you go slower.
Bob from everything i've seen, the EBCs are the best you have available, so... sack up and try them.
Otherwise, try some cheap semi-metallics and see if they give you some bite.
Give Carbotech a call. I think they do "custom" pads. No idea on cost though.
I'd call brake companies and see if they can reline your existing shoes with some better material.
Huh. Looks like you have the full EBC lineup. I'd skip straight to Yellows. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Step-1 Buy cheap pad that fits your car.
Step-2 Buy brake pads you want in the closest size available.
Step-3 Surgically remove pad material from "good" pads and JB Weld to the appropriate backing plates.
Step-4 Don't drive it through IL so I won't have to worry about them failing & you crashing into me. 
In reply to FSP_ZX2:
I absolutely HATED the redstuffs on hte Swift. It stopped better with cheap parts house pads than those UNLESS I kept my right foot on the brake for the first few miles or for half a mile before I needed them.
Porterfield will make any brake pads for any car.
It sounds like you would like their R4-S compound. It's a great street/AutoX/RallyX pad. The R4-S doesn't have the temperature range to withstand severe road course track abuse if you're fast driver, but the R4 compound does.
You can send them your worn down pads and they will reline the backing plates, or I think you can send them the dimensions and a trace of the pad and they can do it that way too.
I use R4 pads on my Fiero for track days and autocross, and R4-S on my Outback for daily driving and rallycross. I used R4 pads on the Fiero up through NASA HPDE2 at the track but once I got fast enough I burned through a set of new R4-S pads in one session and had to switch to R4. The R4 is holding up very well. I have never experienced any fade after the bed-in process.
CGLockRacer wrote:
Give Carbotech a call. I think they do "custom" pads. No idea on cost though.
They actually do that in the building right next to where I work.
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/pages/brake_pad_applications_nov06.pdf
Notice the rear brake on E46 BMW 330...D1397
The 1157s appear to match the fronts on RX3--should be able to find something good for that.
If you're just autocrossing it, then premium ceramic pads are good enough. Advance pads That's what I use, though mine are the Akebono brand. If you're running track days, those would overheat.
I would second the Porterfield R4-S. I've tried almost all of them and this is my favorite pad. I put it on everything.
FSP_ZX2 wrote:
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/pages/brake_pad_applications_nov06.pdf
Notice the rear brake on E46 BMW 330...D1397
The 1157s appear to match the fronts on RX3--should be able to find something good for that.
And this is why I posted this. I knew there had to be an answer to my "dilemna".
EDIT: Looks like Turner is wrong. Everywhere I can find shows a D683 for the rear pads on a E46 330.completely different.
Bobzilla wrote:
FSP_ZX2 wrote:
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/pages/brake_pad_applications_nov06.pdf
Notice the rear brake on E46 BMW 330...D1397
The 1157s appear to match the fronts on RX3--should be able to find something good for that.
And this is why I posted this. I knew there had to be an answer to my "dilemna".
Hope that is accurate/works.
trucke
Reader
6/12/14 1:58 p.m.
I have heard that Performance Friction will make pads for you. They do not list your application in the parts finder. Can't hurt to make a call.
http://www.performancefriction.com/About-Us/Contact-Us.aspx
Nope... it's incorrect. berkeley.
06HHR
Reader
6/12/14 2:12 p.m.
series8217 wrote:
Porterfield will make any brake pads for any car.
It sounds like you would like their R4-S compound. It's a great street/AutoX/RallyX pad. The R4-S doesn't have the temperature range to withstand severe road course track abuse if you're fast driver, but the R4 compound does.
You can send them your worn down pads and they will reline the backing plates, or I think you can send them the dimensions and a trace of the pad and they can do it that way too.
I use R4 pads on my Fiero for track days and autocross, and R4-S on my Outback for daily driving and rallycross. I used R4 pads on the Fiero up through NASA HPDE2 at the track but once I got fast enough I burned through a set of new R4-S pads in one session and had to switch to R4. The R4 is holding up very well. I have never experienced any fade after the bed-in process.
Looks like Porterfield has you covered http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/search.php
