The definitive Hawk Brake Pad guide, with Low dust option

[kitkat]

I would say the hawk ceramics are a little less performant than the ebc red based on some weekend driving. It’s still fine for street driving but I was able to fade them quite easily in the mountains. It’s fine though, just brake less

 

[Anothernimbus]

I agree. Not for hard driving or on the track. I would probably change to the racingbrake pads for the track.

 

[kitkat]

It's also my opinion that the hawks have quite a bit more dust than the EBC Red -- but in specific hard braking situations only. The heat really breaks down these pads a lot -- I'd say under harder use they dust just as much as the stock pads.

 

[RoryBellows]

I really don't want to waste the stock pads but my car has the new gloss version of the diamond cut and in a 20 mile trip they are all matte looking from the dust. I'm gonna try to stick it out but Im not sure how long Ill last before I say screw it and switch.

 

[EatAHelicopter]

If anyone is looking for a US vendor that isn't a total ripoff, I just got mine from AWD Motorsports via eBay.

Hawk PerformanceCeramic Brake Pads For 12-14 McLaren MP4-12C HB585Z.660 Front | eBay

Part #: HB585Z.660. Part # HB585Z.660. Applications: 12-14 McLaren MP4-12C. With Hawk's PC, you can expect reduced brake pad wear, longer rotor life, and our quietest ride ever. Hawk Performance Performance Ceramic Brake Pads - Front.

www.ebay.com

Hawk PerformanceCeramic Brake Pads For 12-14 McLaren MP4-12C HB586Z.660 Rear | eBay

Part #: HB586Z.660. Part # HB586Z.660. Applications: 12-14 McLaren MP4-12C. With Hawk's PC, you can expect reduced brake pad wear, longer rotor life, and our quietest ride ever. Hawk Performance Performance Ceramic Brake Pads - Rear.

www.ebay.com

Just installed them today and they are a perfect fit. Drove about 20 miles so far and they are so much nicer than the stock pads (in terms of feel). Can't really comment on the dusting yet other than I cleaned my calipers when I changed them and they are still clean, which typically wasn't the case with the stock pads.

 

[MIGZ]

Since nothing was shipping I bought from multiple places and forgot then everything arrived.

Willing to part with set of hawk and the EBC reds.

 

[chirowolf]

Did the Hawk brakes yesterday. Everything went smooth. The only issue I had was the rear driver side. Could not get the piston compressed enough. I ended up taking off the shim and pad slid right in. Will probably leave it that way unless that brake starts to get noisy.
What is the best method of seating the brakes after the installation? I usually do some hard stops from progressively faster speed and that seems to work but not sure if that is best practice.

 

[ADC]

Did the Hawk brakes yesterday. Everything went smooth. The only issue I had was the rear driver side. Could not get the piston compressed enough. I ended up taking off the shim and pad slid right in. Will probably leave it that way unless that brake starts to get noisy.
What is the best method of seating the brakes after the installation? I usually do some hard stops from progressively faster speed and that seems to work but not sure if that is best practice.

I'd be inclined to follow the bed-in instructions from Hawk - https://www.hawkperformance.com/how-to

street pad bed-in​

1. To break in the new components, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30 to 35 MPH applying moderate pressure.

2. Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 MPH.

3. DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!

4. Allow 15 minutes for brake system to cool down.

5. Your brakes are now ready for use and can be driven normally.

 

[gcmak]

Got the Hawks in the car last night, street bedded them in today on a short drive. I like them and even with the bedding process the dust was minimal. The initial bite is grabby - in between EBC Blue NDX and OEM Brembos I had. Since this is a pad slap I cannot attribute brake noise to only the pads but when the brakes were warm/hot after the bedding process, it would be quite loud braking under 10mph coming to a stop. Once things cooled, I the noise diminished to nothing.

The photo attached are my set of rears for the EBC Blue NDX. As expected a lip formed on the pad as the are not the correct size nor the correct location of the holes for the retaining clips to ensure the pad material sits squarely on the face of the rotor. I guess EBC found an additional surface to grab onto...

1 track day, 1 very short autox day over the course of 800 miles...I say the EBC Blues wore quickly, dusted terribly, and the noise was not bad most of the time (silent actually) and randomly horrible. They seemed to hold up on track but just wear out faster - the front pads were more worn than the rears (as mostly expected).

Going to see how the Hawk pads do on the street and report back if there's any surprises.

 

[sixtyy]

I don’t care too much about dust. The OEM pads don’t squeak. What about hawk and ebc blue/red?

 

[Blackthought_]

I don’t care too much about dust. The OEM pads don’t squeak. What about hawk and ebc blue/red?

I’ve had the hawk pads on for like 500 miles and I’ve had zero squeaking at all. Minimal dust too. Super happy

 

[brainf18]

I don’t care too much about dust. The OEM pads don’t squeak. What about hawk and ebc blue/red?

The Hawk Ceramics make zero noise.

 

[kitkat]

My hawk ceramic have started making a little bit of noise.

 

[chirowolf]

I’ve had the hawk pads on for like 500 miles and I’ve had zero squeaking at all. Minimal dust too. Super happy

Similar experience here. Only about 100 miles but dust is almost nonexistent and the grabby brake feal is gone
I usually use just a little copper grease with the shim and that seems to keep noise down.
On one of the brake pads. I was not able to even use a shim so we’ll see if that brake pad gets chatty after a while. Easy enough to put the shim in after a little wear on the pad

 

[brainf18]

My hawk ceramic have started making a little bit of noise.

Mine are still very quite. Did you use proper Hawk caliper grease on the sliding surfaces and between the pad back and caliper pistons?

 

[kitkat]

Mine are still very quite. Did you use proper Hawk caliper grease on the sliding surfaces and between the pad back and caliper pistons?

Absolutely not because I’ve never put any behind any other pad in my entire life.

 

[brainf18]

Absolutely not because I’ve never put any behind any other pad in my entire life.

If the noise is bothersome, I think you'll find a very thin film of caliper grease works wonders and is normal practice even with OEM manufacturers. But up to you....