Toofasgtp

2ES

So the other day it it came on my mind again i need to get a different set of pads on the car. I had to hit the brakes not to a full stop but had to bring the car down quick. Could not even get enough bite to engage abs, Pedal is hard down and it slows the car down but not quick as i like.

About 3 years on Brembo blanks and Hawk HPS pads. Ever since my Regal I was not really that pleased with the HPS. But i was able to get them for the lexus for $20 at pepboys as they were clearing them out.

Thing i hate about them is they have no bite when cold. Sure they are ok when in the country and have a lot of curvy roads where they stay hot. But that is maybe 2-3x a year. I remember when i got the car i can do a panic stop from 10-15mph and abs would kick in. Now i cant even get it to do that unless the pads are hot or its wet out.

I thought about going with the wagner thermo quites but i hear they have the same issue. Even have first had experience with TQs with a P71 crown vic.

So what are some good pads that bite like hell when cold?

hypervish

Akebono pads.

MikeLex

+ 1

mitmaks

Try some stoptech, are you sure your master cylinder/power booster work properly? When was the last time you flushed brake fluid?

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I had Napa premium pads on my es when i sold it, they weren't bad and before that the akebonos, they were great. Just ordered a set of rear and front Akebono ultra performance pads for my new car. Its on OEM rotors so im not sure if there will be a huge difference, but if they have less dust and noise, i happy

juvenchan

i bought monroe ceramic pads for front & rear,,,
but did not have time to put them on, also thinking if i should get new rotor to reduce breaking sound since my rotor is the oem one ( i guess)

Toofasgtp

Flushed it when i did the brakes about 3 years ago.

I have tested the booster and cylinder per the FSM and working as designed.

Again the HPS bite but they have to be hot.

BDSL

I think you should check your brake calipers / pistons.
Under normal driving condition, your brake should be sufficient to lock up the tires causing ABS to kick in.

If your brake pedal is stiff and not sufficient to lock up the brakes, either your brake pistons are seized or calipers are seized. Usually, the tire is the weakest link....not the brake pads / rotors.

If you are lapping, that is a different story.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

did you even bed them properly?

And Thermo Quiets are awesome, IMO. I run them now, and have had various ones before though, these are best.

I got a set of powerstops for an RX, Rockauto sells complete kits that come with rotors/pads, and they're wicked as well. Very quiet and good quality parts by the looks of them.

Toofasgtp

I did the bed in process.

Guess i will try those Akebono pads and get my rotors turned. Hopefully i can get this done in the next month.

Again the hawks are awesome when they are hot. But suck when cold and that is the thing, Im not going to constantly ride my brakes to keep them hot.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Jesus, quit mixing and matching. Get something that people tell you is good.

Go to Rockauto and buy a "full" kit which consists of rotors and powerstop pads

rlx101

Suggestion:

Take an IR thermometer, do a few 0-40mph runs with stops, get the breaks up to operating temperature. Then take the thermometer and measure the temperature of each rotor. Look at how temp is distributed, this might give you some clues.




This video was pretty good about going into the details of break service, yes simple stuff but nicely put together tutorial:

BDSL

You shouldn't use summer tires on snow.
Then why are you using race pads on normal streets?

Get normal brake pads for normal use.
And if you are going to track, then swap to race pads.

Problem solved.

Toofasgtp

Hawk HPS are street use pads.

Toofasgtp

What the heck you talking about???? Mixing and matching.