BlueRenesis82

Currently running stock rear pads with HP+ Hawks in the front. I was thinking about switching to Blacks or Blues for track days. Anyone have any experiance with the 8 and an actual race pad?

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

you mean actual race-only pads?

KYLiquid

I ran track only pads once, I changed them at the track and back at the end of the weekend, had about 10 miles of street use on them bettween day 1 and 2 from track to hotel. This was on the miata, it had better fluid and SS lines, otherwise stock...the pads were good, but not that much better than the porterfield pads that I ran on the street and track. definetly not good enough for the hastle of changing them, and you would have to...cause they worked well on a late brake deep into a corner, but sucked in stop and go....they really are for the track (high temp) only.

I would go with a good street/track pad on all 4 wheels, stainless steel lines and a good hightemp fluid.

BlueRenesis82

I have SS lines already, and Motul 600 fluid. I was wondering if I would see better results with a more hardcore pad. I'm coming down from over 120 mph to around 40-50 mph, so I need good pads.

BlueRenesis82

I was wondering if the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks that I would prob have to change the pads at the track before driving home or whatever.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

how is your HP+ holding up? if it's doing what it's suppose to do, i see no point to switch to race pads

the biggest advantage of race pads is its high-temp durability for a LONG TIME, not 20 minute HPDE time length, more like HOURS on the track at once :o

RX8SpdDmn

I thought HP+ was awesome. They were, when I was on street tires. I just went to Dunlop SP SS Race 255/35/18 and after BeaveRun this weekend, realize that I could use a more aggressive pad. They didn't overheat, but didn't always have the ability to engage the ABS when the tires were warm.

BlueRenesis82

yeah, I've been very happy with my HP+'s so far, I was just wondering if I would want to go to better pads.....

RotaryZZ

I use Mazdaspeed pad as its a great street/track combo pads. And it seems to last too.

tomfree

Hawk Blues are downright scary on the street. They need tons of heat to be effective, and they're also very hard on rotors when cold. That is definitely a "change at the track pad."

I'm currently a fan of Carbotech's street and track pads. The Bobcat is an aggressive street pad that can be used for light tracking. I've used this pad on the street and in auto-x on my old 1.6l Miata, and they were great. I've read of them being used with much success on everything from a WRX to a Corvette.

For a real track pad, look at the XP8 and XP9 compounds. I ran the XP8 in the front and the older Panther+ (also a track pad) in the rear of that same Miata. That combination, while noisy, works fine on the street and gives you plenty of grab at the track. I had around 2000 street miles and track 5 weekends on that setup when I sold the car in September. The front pads were gone, but the rears had about 40% left.

Obviously the RX-8 is a heavier car, but it also had much more substantial brakes than a Miata. I'd recommend the XP8 or XP9 in the front, and you may be able to get away with a Bobcat in the rear.

Give Matt or Larry at Carbotech a call - they love to talk brakes. Their prices are competetive and their service is top notch.

No, I don't work for Carbotech, but am a happy customer.

AlexCisneros

I have a street/race pad for daily driving and autoX and then switch to a "more race" compound for track days. The problem is that the Porterfield pads (the more track) need to warm up before they are effective which isn't too much fun on the street and ineffective at the autoX. The Porterfields I have aren't a hardcore track pad. I did this because I'd like to keep the rotors intact, and the car is light enough (the new wheels help) not to warrant different pads.

If you like to do several track events, then being able to switch out the pads would be good. You will be able to stop later and carry more speed into the turn (tires, suspension, and skills allowing). If you only do them once in a blue moon, the Hawk pads would probably be good enough.

Hope this helps

RX8SpdDmn

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!

HP+ are $60-$70 for a set!

DPE

iTrader: (1)

I can echo what tomfree said; we use Carbotech Bobcats on all of our cars on the street. One of the best street brake pads available. At the track, we switch to XP8s or Panther Plus on the front for the RX-8, and leave the Bobcats in the rear. This combination provides notably more bite, zero fade, and excellent rotor wear rates. (We also use ATE SuperBlue in both of the RX8s, and haven't had any fluid issues. One car has Goodridge lines as well, which aren't very noticable day to day but do provide for a firmer pedal at the track).

To give you an idea of how streetable these pads are, our tech director drove with Panther Plus in front for a solid 4 months, including his daily commute. This is not advisable as they will wear your rotors out quite a bit faster than street pads, but the fact is they work well enough cold that you CAN drive them on the street without being concerned for your safety. And we had six track events and a couple spirited mountain runs over that period that we were either sponsoring or just going to for fun, so swapping back and forth didn't make much sense .

Anyway, we've got XP8s for the front in stock and ready to ship, as well as Bobcats for the front and rear. Let me reiterate that we don't advise running race pads all the time, and in addition to the extra rotor wear they have a tendency to squeak, but with Carbotechs you can certainly leave them in for a few days at a time and not have to worry about swapping pads at the track or anything like that.

One last tidbit, don't bother with the shims or caliper grease with race pads. Save your shims for your street pads to help with noise. There's no use for them other than to help with reducing noise, and if you have track pads on presumably that isn't your priority.

BlueRenesis82

How much are the XP-8?

dmp

I used Axxis Ulltimates on my Miata. UnFreakingBelievable. I love em, and plan to use them on my RX8.

BlueRenesis82

So far what I've heard is that Carbotech is a great selection, and that a true track pad isnt needed for my application

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

^and that is a very good conclusion you just made, good job :D

BlueRenesis82

lol, looks like I go pad shopping pretty quick, the only thing is that I get money off for my NASA membership if I buy certain pads, and IIRC Carbotech isnt one of those manufactures.

Imp

I have a track day coming up this weekend (NHIS) and I should have my XP8s and Panther+ (ordered from Carbotech) on the car in time. It's my 1st track day and might be too much as it is as I'm a novice when it comes to tracking... but then again, I'm not a novice to performance driving.

I'm thinking that since I have enough meat on my stock brakes they might be fine as they are. I'm not competing, it's my 1st track day... do I even need better pads?

--kC

BlueRenesis82

depends how hard the track is on brakes, also you will want better fluid in the master cylinder

tomfree

KC: Are you planning to run street tires or R compounds? If you have decent street tires, I'd suggest them for at least day one so you can hear them as you get close to the limits. It's no different than auto-x in that regard - it's easier to learn with the lower limits of street tires.

As for running the stock pads vs the race pads - you can never have too much brake. I ran my first school with street pads, and they weren't very confidence inspiring. I've run every school since with race pads. You may not "need" them, but they absolutely will not hurt.

Imp

Yeah, after talking to my instructor and whatnot, while he says pads can be stock, it won't hurt anything to put the better pads on.

I'll be swapping the brake fluid thursday (Motorcraft High Performance... 550 boiling point and $3.75 bottle... and can be gotten at any Ford dealer). Great reviews for those that don't mind bleeding brakes after each event.

Looking forward to a good weekend. Mostly on the streets too. I'll bring my Rs in case I feel like pushing the limit... but I doubt that'll be the case 1st time out.

---kC

tuj

I don't think fluid or pads are needed for just HPDE events. I changed to HPS just to have some fresh pads. If you are new to track events, just check your pads and make sure they have plenty left.

I'm surprised the OP had problems getting into the ABS. At mid-ohio off the back straight on Dunlop SSR's, I could get into it just fine all session with stock fluid, HPS pads, at about 118 mph.

RX8SpdDmn

You obviously don't drive as hard as me

willhave8

I suppose it may be dependent on how you drive, but my experience was the OEM DOT3 fluid did not stand up to two days at VIR. Pedal was soft late the second day and was a little disconcerting on the way home.

Changing to Castrol GT LMA DOT 4 cost like NOTHING and stood up to two days at Watkins Glen without any problem. OEM pads in both cases worked fine. I will move to 'better' track pads in the spring just to see how they help me improve my driving.