[Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Grassroots Motorsports.]
Story by Per Schroeder
Going skydiving? You’ll want a parachute. In spite of everything, it ought to make leaping from that airplane a bit extra survivable.
After all, not all parachutes are the identical, and there’s extra to them than completely different colours. Parachutes are available quite a lot of airfoil sizes and styles, each suited to a specific jumper and scenario. Whereas they’re all designed to serve the identical primary goal, there are refined variations within the big vary of choices.
You’ll be able to consider brake pads in the same manner. Though there are numerous styles of pads obtainable right now, all of them do the identical factor: create friction to sluggish a automotive. After all, the sooner you go on monitor, the extra vital it turns into to have satisfactory stopping energy.
Excessive-performance brake pads are an important element for a automotive that sees open monitor time or race use. Not solely are these top-tier pads extra proof against fade, however they will even have a better coefficient of friction for faster stops. After all, that improved pad friction will solely assist if the tires are adequate to make the most of the elevated brake torque.
However what about autocross use? Are high-performance pads a bonus when battling the cones? Whereas the brakes often don’t get smoking scorching throughout a 60-second autocross run, they will nonetheless see elevated temperatures, particularly if there’s a co-driver including a second dose of abuse.
Extra importantly, most of us autocross on sticker-than-stock tires. Can will increase in brake pad efficiency assist these grippy tires yield sooner occasions?
To match these theories in opposition to the stopwatch, we pressed our 2010 Mazda MX-5 project car again into service. To see how brake pads influence autocross efficiency, we examined 4 completely different brake compounds: the OE Mazda pad, the street-performance Hawk HPS, the track-worthy Hawk HP Plus and the race-ready Hawk DTC-60.
Our Mazda’s KW coil-over suspension and fats Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires make it an incredible platform for evaluating brake pads. The automotive is simple to drive, and we’ve discovered the Dunlops to be very constant all through the day and over a variety of temperatures.
Tire Rack’s John Rogers and Chris Harvey served as our take a look at pilots for this train. They’ve logged hundreds of laps on Tire Rack’s personal take a look at course—which might once more function our take a look at lab—and have a substantial quantity of seat time within the MX-5 venture. A Race Expertise DL1 information logger dealt with the information acquisition for the monitor work, whereas a Vericom VC2000 recorded the 60-to-zero stopping distances.
We examined every of the 4 pad compounds on a separate set of brand-new Centric rotors. By testing every pad with contemporary rotors, we eradicated the potential for contamination between samples.
Every set of pads was bedded in utilizing the producer’s beneficial process. This included a number of stops from pace plus an acceptable cooldown interval between classes. The pads and rotors had been then faraway from the automotive and put aside till our day of testing.
We began with the inventory Mazda pads after which, so as, went on to the HPS, HP Plus and DTC-60 compounds. We completed off the day by retesting the unique pads; this can be a smart way to ensure the floor and situations have remained constant.
Every set of pads additionally went by way of the identical take a look at sequence, beginning with 4 two-lap runs. Instantly after logging these laps, we did 5 60-to-zero stops on a bit of degree asphalt.
Unique Gear Pads
- specimen: Mazda MX-5 authentic tools
- value (entrance and rear): $172
- 60-to-zero distance: 115.7 ft.
- peak braking: 1.167g
- lap time: 53.10 sec. (retest: 53.37 sec.)
The pads that initially got here on the MX-5 characteristic a ceramic-based compound and are significantly higher than the inventory items of yore. At this time’s ceramic materials yields each good pedal really feel and fade resistance with out the standard enhance in noise or mud.
Our drivers felt that the preliminary chunk and stopping energy of the OE pads had been higher matched to authentic tires than the high-grip Dunlops, nevertheless. “The OE pad requires reasonable to heavy pedal strain to get the braking effort wanted to haul the automotive down from pace,” John famous.
Chris backed that up with the same statement: “The Mazda pads exhibited the least preliminary chunk and required probably the most effort to scale back pace all through the brake utility.” The chunk, or lack thereof, indicated a lower-than-optimal coefficient of friction for our autocross utility.
Nevertheless, the inventory pads didn’t have any actual unhealthy habits. Chris thought the modulation and pedal really feel weren’t a problem on the restrict. He additionally didn’t encounter any noticeable fade. “They had been easy, quiet and clear, as they went about their enterprise with none drama,” he added.
John summed up the inventory pad’s efficiency with some surprisingly sort phrases: “These pads present reasonable preliminary chunk and have a really linear really feel. The braking effort modifications up and down instantly in relation to pedal effort. General these pads have good brake really feel, they simply require plenty of leg effort for peak deceleration.”
Efficiency Road/Autocross Pads
- specimen: Hawk HPS
- value (entrance and rear): $136
- 60-to-zero distance: 114.5 ft.
- peak braking: 1.175g
- lap time: 53.13 sec.
Hawk Efficiency HPS pads are seen as a step up the efficiency ladder from the inventory items. These performance-minded pads are constructed from a carbon-based friction materials, and in keeping with the producer they provide extra stopping energy with minimal will increase in noise and dusting. In addition they have a better warmth vary than most OE pads, making them appropriate for high-performance road, autocross and lightweight monitor use.
Each of our drivers observed that the HPS pads delivered a pleasant enhance in preliminary chunk and stopping energy over the OE pads. Chris applauded the HPS’s habits: “These traits encourage driver confidence when pushing the automotive to the extremes of the efficiency envelope.” He discovered that the HPS’s faster response time and stronger braking energy higher matched the modified MX-5. “The robust preliminary chunk and flat brake torque curve is sort of a pleasant handshake with the tires’ contact patch, permitting the driving force to really feel the restrict with out going unexpectedly past,” he famous.
John added that the HPS pads are additionally simpler on the driving force. “These take a lot much less bodily work on behalf of the driving force to make the most of all of their efficiency,” he famous.
Monitor Day Pads
- specimen: Hawk HP Plus
- value (entrance and rear): $170
- 60-to-zero distance: 114.7 ft.
- peak braking: 1.162g
- lap time: 53.08 sec.
The Hawk Efficiency HP Plus is a much like its “little” brother in that it’s meant to be a multipurpose pad. Nevertheless, the HP Plus favors larger warmth functionality on the expense of elevated noise, rotor put on and dirt. In response to Hawk, the HP Plus is designed to be a track-capable pad that may handle the drive house. It’s additionally meant for the intense road and autocross fanatic.
In comparison with the HPS, the HP Plus delivered a big leap in preliminary chunk and significantly extra stopping energy. Nevertheless, this newfound braking efficiency got here with an sudden outcome: Our drivers slowed an excessive amount of and misjudged their braking factors.
The extreme slowing was compounded by brake-torque ramp-up—because the automotive dove deeper into the braking zone, extra braking energy was generated with none enhance in pedal strain. “This trait initially led to over-slowing for the turn-in level, however was straightforward to adapt to,” Chris famous.
“This pad has a considerably rising price of friction,” John defined. “The braking power climbs gently even with no further pedal strain utility. This instills confidence, because the braking effort is reassuring.”
General, each drivers loved the HP Plus. Braking inputs required a effective contact and have become extra of a thought course of than a muscular motion, Chris famous. He added that the extra energy was very reassuring however a bit abrupt for this utility. Whereas many drivers may simply adapt, this pad could also be higher suited to a heavier automobile or higher-speed functions, he defined.
“With out being utterly calibrated to the pedal really feel, it’s straightforward to decelerate an excessive amount of on the finish of the slalom and into the ultimate flip with the HP Plus,” John stated. “Nevertheless, merely assume the phrase ‘brake’ and the automotive slows. You’ll be able to work the pedal along with your toes and ankle, not the large muscle groups of your leg, permitting you to essentially fine-tune the brake pedal strain.
Full-Race Pads
- specimen: Hawk DTC-60
- value (entrance and rear): $308
- 60-to-zero distance: 115.3 ft.
- peak braking: 1.151g
- lap time: 53.26 sec.
The DTC-60 is certainly one of Hawk’s many race-specific compounds, merchandise that don’t have any enterprise getting used on a street-driven automotive. For one, these pads are solely meant to work between 400 and 1600 levels Fahrenheit. Till the pads attain that temperature vary, they’re robust on rotors and create copious quantities of noise and dirt. They’re merely designed to deal with the trials of monitor use.
Regardless of its hardcore nature, the DTC-60 labored surprisingly nicely on the take a look at course. “As a real race pad, I anticipated an enormous upward swing in preliminary chunk and stopping energy because the pad warmed up,” Chris defined. “This was not the case, because the pad responded strongly to the preliminary pedal utility and had stopping energy to spare, even when chilly.”
Two detrimental traits did crop up, nevertheless. The preliminary chunk was robust sufficient to momentarily lock the entrance tires till weight switch came about. This considerably delayed full braking, because the ABS laptop struggled to maintain up with the instantaneous brake power. The pad’s peak braking g-loads suffered, and the drivers may really feel the ABS system biking strain on and off.
The DTC-60 brake pad additionally lacked really feel and suggestions by way of the pedal. “The pleasant handshake of the HPS pad had became an iron fist,” Chris famous. “The pedal has a considerably useless really feel,” John added. “I discover it troublesome to learn what’s going on within the tires’ contact patch. Successive laps created some familiarity with the DTC-60 as I discovered how one can gently squeeze the pedal reasonably than jab at it.”
Coming to a Cease
The humorous factor about brakes is that the much less you employ them, the sooner you may lap an autocross course. The key to a fast run is figuring out precisely when and the way a lot to brake, then avoiding the pedal completely the remainder of the time.
Whereas our drivers observed apparent variations within the really feel of the brake pads, the information confirmed in any other case. There have been no important goal variations between any of the brake pads by way of the lap occasions, peak stopping forces, or stopping distances. This is smart, as we didn’t change the most important think about braking efficiency: the tires.
Nevertheless, good pedal really feel and consistency can undoubtedly assist driver consolation—which might then translate to confidence and higher efficiency. Our suggestion is to buy autocross pads primarily based on really feel reasonably than idea. And if you wish to crib from our notes, our drivers liked each the HPS and HP Plus pads—we’ll be working the HPS sooner or later.
Feedback
I am no racer, however certainly one of our extra constant native winners makes use of the most affordable natural pads he can discover for his Camaro within the cones. When he hauls it to a cease on the finish, you may see puffs of orange flames coming off the clouds of mud from the pads. His rationale is that the brief runs do not get them scorching sufficient to be a problem, and (since he drives it on the road) the natural pads do not shred the rotors. Any glazing he will get throughout the few runs he does are simply scrubbed away on the journey house and he is left with regular road braking once more.
That is simply an anecdote from one racer, however that was his story and he is sticking to it.
I take advantage of craptastical bizarre pads I the Datsun I street race. Be aware I’ve Z automotive brakes on a 1600lb automotive so warmth is not a problem. I am additionally not giving up and efficiency to folks utilizing excessive finish race pads. Once I raced a showroom inventory Miata I attempted each the Hawk Pads and the inventory Mazda pads and located the identical factor the take a look at did, the Hawk pads had higher really feel however the extra aggressive pad additionally went by way of rotors sooner. I went to the inventory pads for that reason. Principally I do not assume there’s a incorrect reply right here.
Very attention-grabbing. I’ve tried fairly a couple of pads on the FiST and located a lot of the identical to be true. Monitor pads labored nice on the monitor, however for autocross they had been lightswitches with no modulation in any respect. Some national-level of us really want the OEM pads from Ford, however even at that, there are two completely different half #s obtainable primarily based on 12 months and one is best than the opposite.
My WAG is grippier pads would solely be a profit with equally grippy tires. In any other case, you’re simply making an attempt to not lock up or have interaction the ABS as a lot?
And I am additionally stunned to see a submit by Per?
I am with Curtis on this one, though the camaro with race brakes that runs domestically does look cool in footage with the glowing rotors heading in the right direction.
I want R4S versus R4E for autocrossing, however when you get to larger speeds and longer runs when temperatures could be reached and held, my desire shifts to R4E.
Displaying 1-10 of 34 feedbackView all comments on the GRM forums
You may must log in to submit.
Trending Merchandise
