Brake pad recommendation for AE111 Levin

[Ninja25t]

I know that this topic has been discussed before, but as far as I can tell not for a number of years, so I'm looking for some more current advice/experience.

I have been doing a few track days recently and plan to do a few more, although literally only a few a year if I'm lucky. While the middle of the range pads I sourced from REPCO have held up surprisingly well for a couple of events, plus the daily driving in between, it feels like I have now pushed them beyond their limits.

My question is should I look to upgrade to a better pad/compound? If so what are people using and would recommend at present, and by people I actually mean those of you who have actually used the products please! Searching threw up Mintex, EBC, TRD and Hawk but with a variety of opinions on each, so not really helpful to me... Please note that my car is basically a standard BZ-R (recent engine rebuild, lowered springs and TRD front sway bar only) and will probably stay that way for a while. And importantly I don't want to sacrifice cold braking performance as I'm a volunteer firefighter in my spare time and when the pager goes and I have to respond to the station (at <50 km/hr of course) I need to be able to avoid the idiots who inevitably seem to want to get in my way

Or given the relatively limited track work I'm doing, and plan to do, should I just keep throwing sets of mid-range pads (~$60 for fronts last time I think) in it regularly? For reference I have been lapping Hampton Downs in the 1:28's so I think I'm working the brakes reasonably hard (at least as hard as my skill level and testicular fortitude permits!) but it has been difficult to tell how I'm going as there are rarely any other AE111's (or similar) circulating.

Any advice greatly received. Thanks,
Shane

[Grrrrrrr!]

Two sets of pads, track pads and road pads.
Swap the roads pads out a day or two before your track day to give the track pads a chance to clean up the old transfer layer and bed them in on the way to the track. Throw your road pads in the tool box and take them to the track in case of emergency.

Used mintex pads in an ae101 with superstrut, so similar weight and power, never got them to fade even the slightest amount. They did a real number on my rotors using them on the road, apparently the rotor wear when cold is huge. They were only slightly wooden when cold, but two or three mild braking events later they were good, and basically got better the hotter they got.

[1I1]

My question is should I look to upgrade to a better pad/compound? If so what are people using and would recommend at present, and by people I actually mean those of you who have actually used the products please! Searching threw up Mintex, EBC, TRD and Hawk but with a variety of opinions on each, so not really helpful to me... Please note that my car is basically a standard BZ-R (recent engine rebuild, lowered springs and TRD front sway bar only) and will probably stay that way for a while. And importantly I don't want to sacrifice cold braking performance as I'm a volunteer firefighter in my spare time and when the pager goes and I have to respond to the station (at <50 km/hr of course) I need to be able to avoid the idiots who inevitably seem to want to get in my way

There is a Hawk HP+ that is real close to fitting, just needs a slight trim up. Ran these on my Corolla but never really felt happy with them, just didn't have the bite I was expecting (where as others have used them and found them great). Those TRW/Lucas pads from Repco coupled with decent fluid (TRD/Motul RBF600) and no backing plates should be ok for daily duties and a bit of fun. Are the pads not giving enough bite? Falling apart?

Have you looked into ENDLESS? Quite spendy compared to those Repco pads but I know of a few guys running them in 86's and loving them.

[85AW20v]

I'm using Remsa pads in the AW and don't have any braking problems but have removed the backing plates as well. They're rated to about 600 degrees so don't fade on the track. Can't tell you if they're good on the road though.

[Ninja25t]

Are the pads not giving enough bite? Falling apart?

Thanks for the replies, primary problem is the pads are now lacking in bite, they otherwise appear to be holding up OK. I'm running about 1 month old TRD fluid so that side should be OK at the moment.

no backing plates should be ok for daily duties and a bit of fun

Does removing the backing plates assist with heat dissipation? Are there any downsides to this, other than removing the squealers, which wouldn't bother me?

Two sets of pads, track pads and road pads.

That might be option which I hadn't thought of (doh!).

Cheers

[1I1]

no backing plates

Does removing the backing plates assist with heat dissipation? Are there any downsides to this, other than removing the squealers, which wouldn't bother me?

Sorry, meaning the stone gaurds

[Ninja25t]

meaning the stone gaurds

Thanks, I should have realised

[Bazda]

Znoelli for a pad which is rated up to 550 deg C. Had some guys use them with great success and they are only around $120 a set.

[Flannelman]

EBC Green are my pick.

Little bit dull with the first stop in the morning on the road (just push harder down) but get them hot and they get better.

Managed to pull -.81G under brakes, even with the discs glowing red. (Dont run stock rotors, they crack)

Manfield race track I was able to use the 50m mark as a braking point.

This experience was in my own AE101 Levin, single piston brakes, 256mm disc size. Stock suspension and road tyres too.

[Ninja25t]

Thought I would give a bit of an update. I decided to go for Endless MX72 front pads. They weren't cheap but so far I have put 2 track days at Hampton Downs on them (around 2.5 hours track time) and they have performed flawlessly without a hint of fade. Second session was with R888 semi-slicks so they got a good work out

The pads alone were good for at least a 1 second reduction in my lap times. I say at least a 1 second because I picked up an intermittent miss (later discovered a failed plug lead) and it was hard to tell what effect that had. Pad and tyres were good for about 2-2.5 seconds a lap, probably more once I sort pressures and maintain a bit more consistency.

I have been daily driving on them since, they are still performing at least as good as OEM from cold, and much better once warm.

I checked the pads and discs when I changed the semi-slicks on and off and the pads look like they have barely worn, no issues with the discs either. So they seem to be working out perfectly for what I need.