Brake Pads recommendations

[Sharkman]

The original brake pads on my Corvette Z06 are not so great. I went through 5mm on the front while driving Fontana (good news is my tires are in great shape)!

Anyway, what do you recommend for brake pads? The Vette is my Weekend driver as well as my Auto-X and track car. And, I really don't want to have to switch pads everytime I go from street to track and vice versa.

I have searched the Corvette forums and see Hawk and Performance Brakes, but figured you guys would know best. Thanks!

[Cajundaddy]

Hello David,

A monster car like that one would benefit from monster brake pads. My personal favorite: Raybestos ST-43. This is a race pad that is good to 1200F, lasts forever, and is pretty easy on rotors. When stone cold driving around town they stop the car just fine but get better when warmed up.

Downside: They are not the cheap and dirty solution and they are sometimes noisy when cold.

Porterfield in Costa Mesa has them and the ST-43 is one of the best pads they sell for the games we play. Check em out.

[Dan Chambers]

Hello David,

A monster car like that one would benefit from monster brake pads. My personal favorite: Raybestos ST-43. This is a race pad that is good to 1200F, lasts forever, and is pretty easy on rotors. When stone cold driving around town they stop the car just fine but get better when warmed up.

Downside: They are not the cheap and dirty solution and they are sometimes noisy when cold.

Porterfield in Costa Mesa has them and the ST-43 is one of the best pads they sell for the games we play. Check em out.

+1. The ST-43 is a very good choice.

Also, look into the Porterfield brand R-4 and R-4S Carbon-Kevlar pads. The R-4S is a street pad, the R-4 more of a track pad (R-4's squeak a bit on the street). I've used these for years on a 944 and my 911 w/ 930 calipers with great consistency. The R-4 is my personal choice. They are fairly low-dust, handle heat very well, will consistently slow you with very little fade on the track, are "cost-concious" and are easier on rotors than the Hawks. Hawks have a high metal content that 'eat' rotors a little faster. With your 'Heavy-Chevy' going as fast as it does, braking and brake fade are critical issues for safety and fast laps.

Talk to the folks at Porterfield, they are very helpful and knowledgeable.

Hope that helps.

[Sharkman]

Hello David,

Porterfield in Costa Mesa has them and the ST-43 is one of the best pads they sell for the games we play. Check em out.

I am going with the ST-43 for race and R4-S for street. Will the R4-S be sufficient for our Auto-Crossing events also? Or do i need to put on the ST-43 for those? Thanks guys!

[Cajundaddy]

The R4-S will work fine for street and AX. Those continuous lapping track days in 95F at Chuckwalla will let the ST-43s shine.