Brake Pad Recommendations Please

Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:01 pm

I've used Mintex pads for as long as I can remember - certainly since the early '80s. I've never had any issues with them, but the latest set of fronts I'm using make me wonder if they've changed their material formulation - they don't have the initial bite I'd like. ....And I don't get very much more dust on the front wheels than I do on the back - even over 1000 miles.
In the past I've used M171 and the newer M1144 fast road pads and been impressed with them apart from they are VERY "dusty". It's only the fact my front wheels need a good wash after only a few miles that puts me off having M1144s again.
So, what standard or fast road pads do you all recommend? Ideally, I'd like a pad that bites well but isn't too dusty. I expect I'm asking too much as on the face of it a pad that is soft enough to give the friction characteristics I'd like is going to wear fairly quickly and wear = dust, doesn't it?
Are there any standard pads that have a higher friction coefficient than the current Mintex compound? What are the Pagid standard pads like in terms of bite and dust?
On the ECP website it says this about Green Stuff...........

Green Stuff pads are the first choice in premium street pads and designed for spirited street driving. ..........has a high initial brake effect and gives drivers confidence from the first application of the pedal. ..........you will notice a reduction in dust when compared to your original pads.

How true are the second and third statements? If they are really as good as these claims, they could be just what I'm looking for.

TIA
Stuart.

Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:06 pm

I've got green stuff on my 325, brake dust is as bad or worse than the standard pagid I've got on another car, they don't have a great cold bite and I'm not sure I'd buy them again.
I have been very impressed with the pagid blues I have on my m3, great cold bite, resistance to fade, low dust and no squeal but they weren't cheap . I haven't looked to see if they are available for the 325 but if they are they will be my next ones.

Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:11 pm

Thanks for that ^^^^^

Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:12 pm

I have red stuff on mine and pretty good on the dust front. A bit of a warm up and they are great. Not brilliant from cold.
A mate of mine uses carbotech and swears by them. He had used red stuff and now changed to carbotech all the way. Prob fair to say both are more spirited and track use orientated but I use mine as a daily and no complaints.

Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:16 pm

greens are good at low dust, not so good at braking. red stuff has much better braking, but not sure about the dust. My wilwoods must emit brake dust clouds under hard braking going by the state of my wheels

Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:27 pm

Greens are wank..

Reds.. Wouldn't touch.

OEM pads for road use imo.. Textar iirc.

Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:29 pm

Green Stuff are utter shit for the road- avoid at all costs!! They are great for dust free wheels but this is because they are crap when cold (which is usually on normal road driving conditions) so don't tend to shed until you're really on them- by that time you've nearly rear-ended the car in front!!
Avoid.....

Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:40 pm

By the looks of the comments here I'll be going back to M1144s and having to live with black front wheels.

Oh, well - c'est la vie.

Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:04 pm

Based on customer feedback, for a fast road car EBC Reds or Ferodo DS2500 are the best bet, EBC greens are not great.

I can't really comment on M1144's, although I think Gareth binned a few sets a in the past due to disc-chewing from memory?

Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:29 pm

e301988325i wrote:greens are good at low dust, not so good at braking. red stuff has much better braking, but not sure about the dust. My wilwoods must emit brake dust clouds under hard braking going by the state of my wheels

They squeal a bit too ;)
I thought MINE were squealing when you were behind me!

Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:44 am

his really is a can of worms, I have atrackday coming up but use my car everyday. Is it to be mintex, or reds.

For my purpose can i get away with just upgrading the front pads?

Anyone on here do deals on pads? I know a group on the mintex is currently underway... just wondering what is the best price on the reds - probably just buy the cheaper of the two.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:08 am

For fast road/occasional track use Ferodo DS2500's get my vote. Not too bad from cold, great when warm on the road and will take quite a bit of punishment on track before needing a rest. Oh, and they last really well too! Great all round pad IMO- fit and forget.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:26 am

too expensive for me i am afraid, EBC mintex ~ £60 front, ferrodos ~£110. thanks though.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:37 pm

RotE30 wrote:Anyone on here do deals on pads? I know a group on the mintex is currently underway...

Doesn't look like it's going to happen now. Not enough interest, plus I can't get my supplier to commit to a price.