Hawk Pads are Best Upgrade Ever

[kitkat]

Having used both the EBC Red and Hawk HP+, I much prefer the Hawk pads. They're a tiny bit more expensive but they have the same dust as EBC Red, much quieter, and no problem with the lip overhang.

Performance is roughly the same, and are both far, far below the stock pad threshold.

Thankfully Greg sells both

 

[Yukoncole]

How was fitment for the EBC reds? I recall reading somewhere on here, maybe it was @kitkat 's build thread that the pads were thicker requiring removal of backing plate. Whereas the Hawks fit more like OEM? Seeing if I should hold off and wait for restock on the Hawks or just go with the EBC reds.

Mine went in with no modification. I had to wiggle the caliper around a bit as they are a tight fit, but that just means they are not shorting you on any pad. Everything went together just fine!

 

[Yukoncole]

Having used both the EBC Red and Hawk HP+, I much prefer the Hawk pads. They're a tiny bit more expensive but they have the same dust as EBC Red, much quieter, and no problem with the lip overhang.

Performance is roughly the same, and are both far, far below the stock pad threshold.

Thankfully Greg sells both

I seem to recall you, maybe it was someone else, stating that the Hawks faded under heavy braking, while the EBCs did not.

 

[Orchardbike]

No noise from my EBC reds.

 

[kitkat]

I seem to recall you, maybe it was someone else, stating that the Hawks faded under heavy braking, while the EBCs did not.

No, both fade under moderate braking. My definition of moderate may be different from yours though. They’re fine if you want to drive your car to a cars and coffee or something.

They’re not okay for any hard canyon drives as I’ve faded them there. They wouldn’t last a single lap on track.

 

[Yukoncole]

No, both fade under moderate braking. My definition of moderate may be different from yours though. They’re fine if you want to drive your car to a cars and coffee or something.

They’re not okay for any hard canyon drives as I’ve faded them there. They wouldn’t last a single lap on track.

I am still under 1000 miles but have still done a few spirited drives through the canyon near me, and they seemed fine, nothing prolonged though, more than maybe 5-10 minute sprints while gapping traffic.

 

[roguenode]

Is there a pad out there anyone has tried that provides lower dust, not a ton of squeaking, and holds up for longer hard canyon/backroad drives? Not wanting a track pad, but wanting a bit more performance than it seems the Hawk Ceramics might provide.

 

[Yukoncole]

Is there a pad out there anyone has tried that provides lower dust, not a ton of squeaking, and holds up for longer hard canyon/backroad drives? Not wanting a track pad, but wanting a bit more performance than it seems the Hawk Ceramics might provide.

EBC Red, then Yellow, then Blue .... EBC Redstuff, which is a ceramic pad primarily for fast street use, EBC Yellowstuff (high-performance street/light track) or EBC Bluestuff (aggressive street/dedicated track). Yellowstuff offers greater cold bite and higher heat fade resistance than Reds, while Bluestuff provides superior track performance. Personally, I have found zero brake fade issues with my Reds, and I drive pretty hard, having done lots of track driving/instruction.

 

[roguenode]

EBC Red, then Yellow, then Blue .... EBC Redstuff, which is a ceramic pad primarily for fast street use, EBC Yellowstuff (high-performance street/light track) or EBC Bluestuff (aggressive street/dedicated track). Yellowstuff offers greater cold bite and higher heat fade resistance than Reds, while Bluestuff provides superior track performance. Personally, I have found zero brake fade issues with my Reds, and I drive pretty hard, having done lots of track driving/instruction.

Thanks, I'll take closer look at the EBC yellow and reds. I am beyond frustrated trying to keep my silver wheels and yellow calipers clean with the OEM pads.

 

[Yukoncole]

Thanks, I'll take closer look at the EBC yellow and reds. I am beyond frustrated trying to keep my silver wheels and yellow calipers clean with the OEM pads.

This is after about 60-80 miles of city driving....

 

[roguenode]

This is after about 60-80 miles of city driving....

Just ordered a set of the yellows from GRP.

 

[Yukoncole]

Just ordered a set of the yellows from GRP.

Keep us posted as to your thoughts after your bed/break them in!

 

[roguenode]

Keep us posted as to your thoughts after your bed/break them in!

The bedding process looks to be long, but manageable.

 

[papadop88]

The bedding process for the EBC Redstuff seems to vary on here vs what EBC says in their videos and instructions. Some of you go through the regular bedding process of moderate stops, then hard stops and be done with it. EBC specifically states that these aren't track performance pads that need any kind of thermal cycling so they recommend to just slap them on and drive mildly for the first 500 miles and the pads will naturally bed.

Why the stark difference and is one procedure better than the other?

 

[Yukoncole]

The bedding process for the EBC Redstuff seems to vary on here vs what EBC says in their videos and instructions. Some of you go through the regular bedding process of moderate stops, then hard stops and be done with it. EBC specifically states that these aren't track performance pads that need any kind of thermal cycling so they recommend to just slap them on and drive mildly for the first 500 miles and the pads will naturally bed.

Why the stark difference and is one procedure better than the other?

It also states you can later do a bedding process if you desire. I followed what you posted and have not yet done a bedding process - everything is great and brake dust is very minimal now at about 800 miles on them.

 

[papadop88]

It also states you can later do a bedding process if you desire. I followed what you posted and have not yet done a bedding process - everything is great and brake dust is very minimal now at about 800 miles on them.

So you just pad slapped and just been driving normally, and zero issues, correct?

 

[Yukoncole]

So you just pad slapped and just been driving normally, and zero issues, correct?

Correct, I only had 51 miles on my car when I swapped, but the red coating is meant to bed the new pads to the rotor, removing the old bedded compound. This is at least how I read it!

 

[cst]

I just saw this thread. I'm about to hit 1000mile brake in on my new car. Is it too late to switch to the Hawk pads?

 

[chirowolf]

I just saw this thread. I'm about to hit 1000mile brake in on my new car. Is it too late to switch to the Hawk pads?

never too late. hawk pads were a great investment. Not a big job to switch out pads (caliper can stay in place) and dust is down to a minimum. have not seen any degradation in stopping power and maybe a bit less "grabby"

 

[Yukoncole]

I just saw this thread. I'm about to hit 1000mile brake in on my new car. Is it too late to switch to the Hawk pads?

It may be worth looking at the EBC Reds, they have a special coating to help remove all pad bedding and then bed in the new pads, all with normal driving and no official bed-in process. I am over 1000 miles on mine now and absolutely love them. Just another option for you to consider, and they cost less, so win-win!