Best Front Brake Pad?

[Scoobum]

Who sells the best front brake pad for the stock caliper for stopping power?

[Steve Wood]

good question...I think there are so many variables...su ch as from what speed, or how many times that it's kinda hard to define. Autocross is different from road racing is different from drag racing is different from highway driving is different from pulling a trailer driving....... .............. .......

I am gonna guess EBC or Hawk...and they both offer a multitude of pad materials.  Wilwood might make a good drag racing pad?

[Scoobum]

I gotta head into work early and pick up some fittings to hook up this electric fuel pressure gauge at the speed shop. I'm gonna ask the gentleman there that runs the shop his opinion as well. i'll check back here late tonite...maybe some of the guys have tried different pads.

[Steve Wood]

for street/drag  http://www.hawkperformance.com/motorsports/applications/drag.php

looks like the HPplus

[earlbrown]

I would imagine the bast pads are enough to shred a set of stock rotors.

[Steve Wood]

as cooling is very important, I would install a set of slotted rotors if trying to come down from 125 mph

[Scoobum]

I currently have a pair of drilled rotors...but I can grab some slotted. I'm gonna be testing in a couple of weeks for 8 hours at a private track rental...gonna try a couple different sets of pads. Got about 4 different sets of slicks and DR's I'm gonna try as well.I don't think you're far off Steve. I'm guessing 123-124.
 
 
 
 
 

[Steve Wood]

the truly drilled rotors sometimes can be problematic on the cheaper units as they may crack when they get hot and cool down.  I like the slotted or the slotted and dimpled.

If you are old enuf, you may remember those pads and shoes that came on like gangbusters when you hit the brake and then, about the time you got down to 70 mph, they went away and it felt like you had no brakes....I remember some heart stopping moments.

These cheap/soft rear shoes that some advocate probably have some tendency to do that

[Scoobum]

The rotors I got from Norbs...not sure of the brand. I've made a gazillion high speed stops with these things...so a new set of slotted rotors would likely be a good idea. Particular brand you recommend?

[Steve Wood]

Not really as long it is not an asian rotor because so many of them seem to be warp city after one hard stop

personally, I like the EBC brakes and they make two premium rotors.  One is the 3GD which is slotted and dimpled.  The other is the USR which is slotted and very quite.  Most of their rotors are made in the UK and finished machined in the states.  the 3GD are about $195 a pair from Summit.

Their house brand is about 110 a pair drilled and slotted.

Their PowerStop drilled and slotted are about $145 a pair.

They also have a summit slotted and dimpled for about $165 a pair...

They have a lot of rotors.

Not sure if it is factual, or not, but in the past I have heard that the drilled through could not, or maybe should not, be resurfaced.

Don't know where the Summit offerings come from other than the EBC

I also see summit has Hawk which usually has a very good reputation.  Not sure where they are made, but, they are slotted and expensive...ab out 105 each

[daveismissing]

Not really as long it is not an asian rotor because so many of them seem to be warp city after one hard stop...

Not sure if it is factual, or not, but in the past I have heard that the drilled through could not, or maybe should not, be resurfaced.

Perhaps the the holes should be eased/radiused which no one will ever do?

[Just a Six?]

I have the Hawk for Drag Racing/City with drilled & slotted rotors. They work well at the track but do squeal some in heavy stop & go city traffic. Not enuf to make me change them but enuf squeal that it can be irritating at times.

[Scoobum]

Not really as long it is not an asian rotor because so many of them seem to be warp city after one hard stop

personally, I like the EBC brakes and they make two premium rotors.  One is the 3GD which is slotted and dimpled.  The other is the USR which is slotted and very quite.  Most of their rotors are made in the UK and finished machined in the states.  the 3GD are about $195 a pair from Summit.

Their house brand is about 110 a pair drilled and slotted.

Their PowerStop drilled and slotted are about $145 a pair.

They also have a summit slotted and dimpled for about $165 a pair...

They have a lot of rotors.

Not sure if it is factual, or not, but in the past I have heard that the drilled through could not, or maybe should not, be resurfaced.

Don't know where the Summit offerings come from other than the EBC

I also see summit has Hawk which usually has a very good reputation.  Not sure where they are made, but, they are slotted and expensive...ab out 105 each

Steve, I can get any brand of rotor/pad that Summit sells at pretty much the same price in Canadian funds from my speed shop guy...and he can get the stuff overnite for me. It boils down to this. I need to knock 50-75 feet off my stopping distance bringing it down from 123 MPH. If it were you...which rotor and pad would you go with? If you don't think upgraded rotors and pads can accomplish this...then were gonna have to go with aftermarket bolt on calipers. They have to fit inside a GN rim. I've already added the 3 SS braided brake hoses...S10 wheel cylinders...an d all long pads a couple years back.

[Tim Hensley]

Hawk pad with there quiet slot rotter.
I have not used them on my GN
My 99 Jeep cherokee would not stop with my boat behind it.
They wore like iron were quiet and good peddle fell.
My GN will get these some day

[Steve Wood]

I would go with the EBC 3GD rotor and the Hawk pad I mentioned above as they show it for both drag and street. 

Beyond that, I suspect you would have to go to aftermarket dual piston calipers and probably a larger rotor which takes larger rims

Given that the front brakes probably handle at least 70% of the braking, there ain't much bang for the buck on the rears.  The larger rear cylinders are mainly good for launch and trying to kill you if you hit a slick spot when you stand on the brakes.