RangerMan Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 I am upgrading two major components this week. 1) Going from RE92 to Kumho SPT 2) Replacing the stock pads and fluid with Hawk HPS and ATE Super Blue The braking on the LGT has never been very confidence inspiring so this is going to be a big change. I almost rear ended a Dodge Caliber that locked 'em up in front of me (figuratively speaking). Basically a car pulled in front of them and then slammed on the brakes to make a hard right. My ABS came on, I stopped about 2' from the dodge's rear bumper (glad they don't have good brakes either I guess). Same day driving home I almost rotated the car taking a right hand turn at 15 mph. Thank goodness for AWD. So I said to myself and my wife, "Time for new tires" and figured since I am due for a brake fluid flush I might as well upgrade the pads while I'm at it. Thanks to the forum for helping me pick out my components. Should get the tires on Saturday and hope to do the flush and pads over Thanksgiving week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweasel Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Should make for a noticeable difference. Ber sure to bed in your pads... here's Hawk recommended method for the HPS pads ignore him, he'll go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qikslvr Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 The Hawk pads are great IF you bed them properly and allow them a little time to break in. No more front end shake when braking above 75MPH and instant grip at low speeds with little to no fade during normal road use. Let's kick this pig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 +1 hawk HPS FTMFW. OTM. Sorry I didn't mean to start a war which mainly forum people is all about . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerMan Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 Thanks guys. Yes, I have read the bedding procedures for the Hawk pads and will follow them properly. Pads should come today but probably won't get them on for another week :-( Something about finishing the back patio first :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy_y_tu Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hawks are great! I just wished I had put them on sooner. I thought the stock pads were acceptable...then I installed the Hawk's and was like . Bought a set of Hawk HP+ for the front too for track days. They do dust like a mother though. Funny, the first 5K miles or so they weren't bad then, bamm dusting like crazy. Still worth it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansGT Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Anyone else find thier HPS front pads to be really thick? I had to give them a few scraps on the concrete in order to get the calipers back over the rotors. Anyway....they work great when compared to stock. (HPS + Motul) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweasel Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hawks are great! I just wished I had put them on sooner. I thought the stock pads were acceptable...then I installed the Hawk's and was like . Bought a set of Hawk HP+ for the front too for track days. They do dust like a mother though. Funny, the first 5K miles or so they weren't bad then, bamm dusting like crazy. Still worth it though. Drove aroun on my HP+ pads for about three weeks after my last track day... too lazy to switch back to the HPS. Got spoiled with the amount of initial bite on the HP+... but I don't miss the the noise or the dust. ignore him, he'll go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcferon Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Anyone else find thier HPS front pads to be really thick? I had to give them a few scraps on the concrete in order to get the calipers back over the rotors. Yikes:eek: My HPS pads fit with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweasel Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Yikes:eek: My HPS pads fit with no problems. My guess... your OEM's were worn and the caliper pistons needed to be pushed further into the caliper before the newer, thicker pads were installed. Happens to me when I switch between my street and track pads. I can push the rears in by hand, but I need a c-clamp to do the fronts. ignore him, he'll go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 I ran Hawk HPS on my Forester they did better when they warmed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy_y_tu Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Anyone else find thier HPS front pads to be really thick? I had to give them a few scraps on the concrete in order to get the calipers back over the rotors. Anyway....they work great when compared to stock. (HPS + Motul) Yeah, mine were tough to get over the rotors. I had the pistons fully compressed too. I nearly had to resort to not installing the backing plates to get 'em on, but in the end it all went together.) Drove aroun on my HP+ pads for about three weeks after my last track day... too lazy to switch back to the HPS. Got spoiled with the amount of initial bite on the HP+... but I don't miss the the noise or the dust. I haven't had the opportunity to try the HP+ out yet but I'm hopeful this Spring will be it. Every time I try to sign up for Limerock it's full. This year I'm signing up in January when the schedule first comes out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetic1 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 I haven't had the opportunity to try the HP+ out yet but I'm hopeful this Spring will be it. Every time I try to sign up for Limerock it's full. This year I'm signing up in January when the schedule first comes out!! If you already have HPS, Id recommend something a little more aggressive. Swap out to a dedicated track pad for the track and you'll be MUCH happier. Free Sonax Cleaner Deal http://www.brakeswap.com Carbotech, Hawk, PFC, DBA Rotors, Motul, Wilwood, Castrol... Great service. No bumping required ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy_y_tu Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 If you already have HPS, Id recommend something a little more aggressive. Swap out to a dedicated track pad for the track and you'll be MUCH happier. ummm......I said earlier that I have HP+ for track duty and am already running the HPS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetic1 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 ummm......I said earlier that I have HP+ for track duty and am already running the HPS. You said you were waiting to try them out. Assumed you didnt have them yet Free Sonax Cleaner Deal http://www.brakeswap.com Carbotech, Hawk, PFC, DBA Rotors, Motul, Wilwood, Castrol... Great service. No bumping required ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy_y_tu Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 You said you were waiting to try them out. Assumed you didnt have them yet Yeah, they're like a trophy at this point, they've been sitting on my workbench for over 9 months now . I WILL use them this coming summer...this I swear!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerMan Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 I just got the pads and fluid today...should be on in a little over a week :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinh Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Do the Hawk HPS pads make noise under street driving? KevinH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 ^ I never heard any until about 4,000 miles in and I would start to get a squeal whenever I lightly put on the brakes.. That annoys some but not me. When new (I put on brembro rotors at the same time) they were silent until about 4K miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetic1 Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 They shouldnt make noise. If you want zero noise, the Hawk Performance Ceramic would be what you want. But with any performance pad, the chance of noise is going to be there. 1-2-3-4: Id suggest trying to re-bed them and see if that helps. Or try using some of the anti-squeal "goop" on the backing plate. Not the "grease", but the thick orange goop! Free Sonax Cleaner Deal http://www.brakeswap.com Carbotech, Hawk, PFC, DBA Rotors, Motul, Wilwood, Castrol... Great service. No bumping required ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Odd I used the anti-squeal stuff on the back of the backing plate :-/ but that was on the forester and I no longer have the forester but I'd buy the brakes pads again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinh Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 But do the ceramics eat up the rotors? KevinH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qikslvr Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 ^ I never heard any until about 4,000 miles in and I would start to get a squeal whenever I lightly put on the brakes.. That annoys some but not me. When new (I put on brembro rotors at the same time) they were silent until about 4K miles. There is a product at the parts store called "squeal medic" or "brake medic" or something like that in a silver/white spray can that you spray on the rotors (it sprays silver) and it will stop the squeal for a while. It's not the orange stuff or the spray used during assembly. I used to use it on my Porsche every few months beause the brakes would squeal, but only when creeping up to an intersection at low speed or in stop and go traffic. Let's kick this pig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 ^ yeah thats how it was for me too only when coming to a intersection light on the brakes. I will have to try some of that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetic1 Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 But do the ceramics eat up the rotors? Hawk Performance Ceramics are very easy on rotors. Carbotech Bobcats are more aggressive, but are still relatively rotor safe. Free Sonax Cleaner Deal http://www.brakeswap.com Carbotech, Hawk, PFC, DBA Rotors, Motul, Wilwood, Castrol... Great service. No bumping required ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.