Porterfield vs Hawk, Brake Pad Sound Off... Options

[yeahmag]

I'm hoping to start campaigning the car in autocross again soon, but need to pick a new pad. The Porterfiled ST-43 felt great, but absolutely ate my rotors. I'm considering the Hawk HP Plus. Has anyone had any time with this pad?

-Aaron

[ChrisFoley]

KFP

[MikeSpraggi]

I use Pagid Orange and love them, though I don't do autocrosses, just vintage racing.

[yeahmag]

KFP

Chris,

I know nothing of that brand and the website is beyond terrible. Any recommendations on compound?

[yeahmag]

I use Pagid Orange and love them, though I don't do autocrosses, just vintage racing.

I've run Pagid Orange before and it wasn't for me. Not a high enough friction coefficient. Felt wooden and old.

[brant]

KFP

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)


Super rotor friendly
I'm running the same rotors I installed on the build in 04
On track from 2005 - 2017. No significant wear I've run 3 compounds with temp paint to determine operating temps

[brant]

KFP

Chris,

I know nothing of that brand and the website is beyond terrible. Any recommendations on compound?

What weight
Hp
Top speed
Tires
Brake mods

Probably the golds, they work well in the widest temp range

lower hp might like a lower operating temp range though

[ChrisFoley]

KFP

Chris,

I know nothing of that brand and the website is beyond terrible. Any recommendations on compound?

For autocross only, I would go with the Blue (P4211) compound.
They do require a little pre-heat to work best but have the highest coef. of friction of the pads I sell.
For hard track use I've always used the Golds, and I have dual use pads (Silver) in my street car.
The Silvers bite well on the second pedal press, but not necessarily on the first.

The rotors should be replaced or cleaned really well before switching brake pad compound. A little remaining friction material on the rotors can negatively affect braking performance with the new pads.

I've been using KFP exclusively since the early '90s with positive results.
That's why I selected that brand to keep in stock.

[Cory M]

I think you mean Raybestos ST-43, not Porterfield. The ST-43 is a great race pad and easy on rotors but maybe you aren't getting them hot enough in auto-x and you need a softer pad. I recommend calling Porterfield Enterprises and asking for their opinion. They sell Porterfield, Hawk, Raybestos, PFC, and many more brands and have always given me good advice.

[stownsen914]

I've been using KFP exclusively since the early '90s with positive results.
That's why I selected that brand to keep in stock.

Chris,

I heard that the KFP golds are pretty much the same pad as the old Cool Carbon blue compound. Is that your understanding?

Scott

[brant]

I've been using KFP exclusively since the early '90s with positive results.
That's why I selected that brand to keep in stock.

Chris,

I heard that the KFP golds are pretty much the same pad as the old Cool Carbon blue compound. Is that your understanding?

Scott

Scott,

I'm not Chris and not trying to speak for him
but my local distributor did tell me that same thing about 15? years ago
I used to run the old CC blues prior to KFP
brant

[yeahmag]

I keep meaning to write back to this...

The car is somewhat dual purpose in that I like to drive it around town from time to time. I also tend to drive it (with slicks stacked up everywhere) to and from the events. So, the pad needs to be kind enough to not kill my rotors in just a few miles on the street.

Think the KFP autocross pad (like the blue or silver) can sever double duty or will I need to change out pads?

[brant]

I keep meaning to write back to this...

The car is somewhat dual purpose in that I like to drive it around town from time to time. I also tend to drive it (with slicks stacked up everywhere) to and from the events. So, the pad needs to be kind enough to not kill my rotors in just a few miles on the street.

Think the KFP autocross pad (like the blue or silver) can sever double duty or will I need to change out pads?

the beautiful thing about KFP pads is they will never kill your rotors
they are very gentle on rotors.

I've run dozens of sets of Golds, quite a few blues, and currently race on reds on my trailered race car, and all on the same rotors I installed in 2004-ish... probably 20 sets of pads over the last 12 years of racing this car.

what you will experience though is a race pad that is running too cool on the street and not be at its best when you apply the brakes at first. So the danger is that you don't have all of the braking you might need on that unexpected cold panic stop on the street.

still... I run race pads on the rear of my street car. You can be fine. Just drive accordingly and know that your brakes won't be as good as they are on the track, warmed up to temperature in anger.

[stownsen914]

When I drove on Cool Carbon blues (supposed to be the same as KFP golds based on feedback here and elsewhere) in my 914 street/track car years ago, they were fine on the street. I didn't notice any need for warming them up before they grabbed during street driving.

Scott

[ChrisFoley]

KFP originally used the Cool Carbon name. After Ferodo semi-metallics, they were the next race pads I used, and I've never used anything else since.
I've discussed the history with a family member of the company ownership.
I don't recall the reason but they dropped that name and someone else chose to pick it up, I suppose to leverage off the good reputation.
I like the fact that the pads are manufactured in the USA too.

The silver pads are the best for dual use. They bite pretty well on the first press and really well after that.
Blue and Gold pads require temperature before they do much work.
However, since the C/F is so high, even when cold they may feel as good as some of the cheapo pads out there.

[Eddie914]

I used to switch between Porterfield race pads and street pads on my dual-purpose 914/6 and BMW M5 track/street cars. Pad material transfer was a BIG issue. Cold pad performance was a much, much smaller issue since the cars have such big Wilwood and Brembo brake packages. I just keep the race pads on all the time and learn to live with a little noise. The race compound was easy on the rotors.

The key, is the MENTAL issue when switching between driving the family SUV and the 914/6 (although the SUV has bigger brakes than the 914/6 ... but it does weigh more than twice as much!). The 914/6 takes a LOT of force but the modulation is so good ... even without ABS and all the other electronic nannies.

[Krieger]

The reality for autocross is that stock pads work great. A 914 does not need to use much brake at all. When autocrossing, my battle sometimes is figuring out how much less braking to do on course so I'm faster.

[yeahmag]

That may be true with a stock car on 200+ tread wear tires, but my car is moderately modified and can use the extra braking ability.

[yeahmag]

I'm trying the HP+ pads. I'll follow up after I've had some time to test them.

[Joe Ricard]

I have Pagid Black on my M3 and really like them. Have put Porterfield R4S on most everything I used to own and never had a lack of brake. Including 2316-210 in a caged 1500 pound 914 XP class cone dodger.