Looking for brake pad recommendations for my usage

[apl360]

I live in Colorado and we experience real winters here. Come spring and summer, about 4-6 times a year. Me and a few friends hit the mountain pass. One of our favorite routes is about 5-5.5 miles uphill. Then that same route in reverse, downhill after some pics and milkshakes

I’d like a brake pad that isn’t so loud it’ll be embarrassing. Has to work in winter. And won’t fade quickly

so far I’ve tried (on many different cars over the years), with proper fluid + brake fluid flushes every 18-20 months.

jurid pads. Great performance but damn scary in the cold. Super freaking scary in the cold.

the old and new red stuff pads. Can not recommend. Both formulations scorch some

old and new yellow stuff pads. Definitely an improvement over red stuff but not by much

blue stuff pads. Definitely more capable than yellow stuff. The initial clamp here is nice. But they didn’t hold up

hp+ even better initial clamp. But still not enough

anything anyone can recommend? I heard the spoon pads would do well. I’m just afraid of buying that without knowing folks that can recommend that. Also heard folks recommend endless, mu and a few others.

I found this: https://www.civicxi.com/forum/threads/brake-pad-manufacturer-model-compilation-thread.54351/

And it’s been a great resource. But I’d love to hear some recommendations from folks with experience

thanks!

edit: forgot to mention. Only went on the fun roads once with the type r-ish. The brembo pads were surprising! A hair better or almost as good as the jurids but sadly no cigar. Also, the amount of dust generated that day was out of hand. My god. Still, pleasantly surprised

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[Trap The Ripper]

The stock pads won't do all the stuff you just described?

 

[apl360]

The stock pads won't do all the stuff you just described?

Yes. Except the last bit of it. I lose a little pedal. More than likely due to temps. The perfect brake pad (for me)would basically be a slightly more capable brembo

 

[Trap The Ripper]

A soft pedal typically means that you're overheating the fluid, not necessarily the pads.

You can always try a higher temp fluid first.

Your post is also very confusing. It seems you've tried lots of pads on a bunch of cars, but not your current car.

And you call your car "type-r ish". So...what is it? An Si?

 

[apl360]

A soft pedal typically means that you're overheating the fluid, not necessarily the pads.

You can always try a higher temp fluid first.

Your post is also very confusing. It seems you've tried lots of pads on a bunch of cars, but not your current car.

And you call your car "type-r ish". So...what is it? An Si?

Oh sorry. I should’ve explained. I have a type s. It’s very type r-ish.

it barely has 3k miles. I’d rather get solid advice before landing on pads. I haven’t tried pads cuz I just got the car and I don’t wanna swap pads in the winter. That sucks.

the dot3 stuff keeps me from going to a more capable fluid. I don’t want to have to flush every 12 months. The pedal isn’t going super soft or anything. It’s a hair softer sure but that’s expected. I just hate losing bite and modulation

 

[Trap The Ripper]

I doubt the pads are your problem.

And there's no point reminscing about other pads on other cars.

The Type S is a 3200LB car with massive brakes with floating rotors. A milder than usual pad will be fine.

I doubt your issue is pad related anyway.

 

[PointByPatrol]

I doubt the pads are your problem.

And there's no point reminscing about other pads on other cars.

The Type S is a 3200LB car with massive brakes with floating rotors. A milder than usual pad will be fine.

I doubt your issue is pad related anyway.

I agree with what this guy is saying! Sounds like it's time to swap the factory brake fluid out for some Castrol SRF! Factory pad should be perfectly fine for your wish list and use case!

 

[Trap The Ripper]

yep, or just step up slowly

I can't imagine that fresh synthetic DOT3 or even off the shelf DOT4 won't work for OP.

 

[apl360]

This is what I’m here for. For advice

thanks. Both of U. Besides srf, anything y’all can recommend that’ll last at least 24 months? From my understanding you typically want to flush srf every 12-18 months, no?

 

[PointByPatrol]

This is what I’m here for. For advice

thanks. Both of U. Besides srf, anything y’all can recommend that’ll last at least 24 months? From my understanding you typically want to flush srf every 12-18 months, no?

SRF is the longest interval between needed exchanges if I remember correctly, but it sounds like you get your fluid pretty warm, and I just don't think the factory DOT3 or DOT4 varieties can keep up. Motul varieties need exchanging much more often than other brands that I have looked into.

I used to exclusively use Motul, but got tired of exchanging it after every single track weekend, and I was also able to get it hot enough to experience a soft pedal. I switched to SRF and haven't looked back!

Funny story - your situation with mountain driving and the effect that it has on consumables takes me back to the time that I rented a Renault Logan 1.0L when I was in Medellin. Going up the mountain I had to stay in 2nd gear at redline the entire way because the car would bog and try to stall if I switched to 3rd. On the way back down I had to use engine braking in addition to the brakes in order to slow down. By the time I got to the bottom of the mountain all I could smell was clutch and brakes, and the pedal felt like crap. The brakes were smoking on all four corners, and I sat there wondering why that type of car would even exist in an environment like that!

 

[apl360]

SRF is the longest interval between needed exchanges if I remember correctly, but it sounds like you get your fluid pretty warm, and I just don't think the factory DOT3 or DOT4 varieties can keep up. Motul varieties need exchanging much more often than other brands that I have looked into.

I used to exclusively use Motul, but got tired of exchanging it after every single track weekend, and I was also able to get it hot enough to experience a soft pedal. I switched to SRF and haven't looked back!

Funny story - your situation with mountain driving and the effect that it has on consumables takes me back to the time that I rented a Renault Logan 1.0L when I was in Medellin. Going up the mountain I had to stay in 2nd gear at redline the entire way because the car would bog and try to stall if I switched to 3rd. On the way back down I had to use engine braking in addition to the brakes in order to slow down. By the time I got to the bottom of the mountain all I could smell was clutch and brakes, and the pedal felt like crap. The brakes were smoking on all four corners, and I sat there wondering why that type of car would even exist in an environment like that!

Dear god. I know exactly which road you’re talking about! I remember the van driver pegging it in second too!

beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Regrettably we weren’t allowed to drive during Lancero training. I would’ve loved to drive that road.

and yeah. Motul is great. Till U get it to 6-8 months….

I’ll try the srf in spring. Thanks again for your recommendation! I appreciate U and the other dude!

 

[PointByPatrol]

Dear god. I know exactly which road you’re talking about! I remember the van driver pegging it in second too!

beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Regrettably we weren’t allowed to drive during Lancero training. I would’ve loved to drive that road.

and yeah. Motul is great. Till U get it to 6-8 months….

I’ll try the srf in spring. Thanks again for your recommendation! I appreciate U and the other dude!

I tried to catch an Uber back to the airport from Bello, and the driver attempted to take the "old way" to the airport instead of using the tunnel, and his clutch blew out 1/4 of the way up the pass lol. We had to coast back down to the nearest plaza and find another cab driver. Made my flight by 10 minutes lol.

 

[apl360]

I tried to catch an Uber back to the airport from Bello, and the driver attempted to take the "old way" to the airport instead of using the tunnel, and his clutch blew out 1/4 of the way up the pass lol. We had to coast back down to the nearest plaza and find another cab driver. Made my flight by 10 minutes lol.

Translator forced me to wear long sleeve shirts. Cuz of tattoos. In the freaking summer…. Seems like U had it worse

 

[Trap The Ripper]

You may also be overheating your brakes or fluid because you have the stability control on.

It will drag the rear brakes relentlessly to adjust yaw.

 

[apl360]

You may also be overheating your brakes or fluid because you have the stability control on.

It will drag the rear brakes relentlessly to adjust yaw.

I thought of this. And it’s just gonna have to be that way bro. I have a type s. I have to do that pedal dance thing before I go and drive on a fun road. F that. I hit the button and put it in its reduced mode and that’s good enough for me. Respectfully I feel like I’m too old to be pedal dancing. I feel ridiculous

when I turned over 3k miles on the odometer I did get my sons calipers and measured the pads. The rears are definitely wearing faster. And that’s expected. I just couldn’t believe I could see such a difference so soon. Pads are consumables. So is the clutch. I’m cool with it. The rotation from clamping the rear is great

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