What's best Brake Pads?

I use EBC Greenstuff pads on my 308,
and they are much better than stock.

Tirerack has a list of brake stuff for the 308, even big brake kits!...

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/results.jsp?category=Pads&scat=Pads&category=Rotors&scat=Rotors&category=BigBrakeKits&scat=BigBrakeKits&autoMake=Ferrari&autoModel=308&autoModClar=&autoYear=1977&brand=all&perfcat=premium&perfcat=perf&perfcat=track&x=69&y=6

 

You might want to see if Ferrodo has a DS2500 pad for your car. Rotor friendly, good initial bite, high friction coefficient, takes massive amounts of heat, streetable down here in texas wintertimes, less expensive than Ferrari pads. Use high temp (fresh) brake fluid to complete the package.

 

Dave,
how happy are you with your pads? i am going to put a set on my 348 this next week.

 

Like Dave, have EBC Green Stuff from Tire Rack. Seems to work great and are kind on rotors

 

FWIW, Ive been using Bendix Ultimates and am very happy with them. The new ones (no asbestos - carbon fibre) seem to be a bit gentler on the discs with the same stopping power. Seem to have a little less feel, or is it just imagination?

John

 

I put Porterfield R4-s pads on my 308 GT4. Cost was about $150 for the whole set (front and rear). Stops great.

I had the EBC's on my Alfa, and though they stopped OK, I noticed that you really had to press down hard on the pedal. So, it felt that more effort was required to stop. I've heard others complain of this effect with the EBC's on other car models. Don't know if any of you have expereinced this in the 308's.

Dom

 

Dom,

When cold the EBC do seem to need more pressure to stop, yet during spirited driving when everything is warm-n-happy the EBC are very good (for me). Of course brake feel and needed pressure is a personal preference. Guess it also depends how much your car weights (since the Euro 1985 308GTS QV here is on a "diet").

 

I have used Porterfields in the past and was very happy with them. This year I installed CarboTechs (sp?). I got the top-of-the-line Panthers (I think that is what they are called). They are not recommended for the street and have an amazing temp tolerance. Once they heat up, they bite so hard that I have actually worried about dragging my air dam (it's the deep one).
They are a bit noisy but otherwise are just fine around town. I initially bought them for the track but I liked them so much that I just left them on. I have the Brembo kit up front and use ATE's Racing Blue fluid. This package is more then enough for my car on the track or street. I love it.

 

Same here on the 328...been very happy with them.

 

Dr .Tommy Cosgrove...

 

Got DS2500 on my 328. I like them very much. I would go for them again.

Ciao
Peter

 

EBC pads are trash. The crumble and eat rotors.
I've run through the entire Carbotech line (with teh exception of the new bobcat) and really liked the Panther, Panther Plus, and the Panther XP race compound. However, and in my experience, there seems to be some consistency issues with the panther compounds ;some sets of pads were great, other left something to be desired. I've also tried the ferodo pads ds2500 and ds 3000; hawk blues/blacks; axis metal master; etc., and currently am most happy withe cobalt friction spec VR's. Amazing modulation. Amazing initial bite, and NO fade at all. I've gone through about 3 sets , and the consistency in the pad compound is 100% spot on between batches of pads. You can even drive to the track on these, but I would advise commuting on them -- just like any other true race pad, they simply do'nt come up to working temps on the street.
I highly reccomend the cobalts.

 

I have the Panther XP's.

 

Okay, this question is like asking which brand of gas or oil you prefer....but I'll chime in here...over on the BMW boards, one of the preferred pads for street use is the Axxis Deluxe Plus pad. This is a newer version of the original Deluxe pad. Details on the performance here:
http://www.zeckhausen.com/axxis_pads.htm

I recently put these on my 1987 328GTS (along with Goodridge stainless steel braided brake lines) and the pedal feel is great (firm) and I would say that these pads (while organic in composition) are slightly superior to the stock metallic pad I had on previously. The best part??? Very little dust, like 80% less! Very quiet, no sqeeks or squealing. According to the information on the previous link, these should be easy on rotors as well. I should qualify that I do NOT track, and only drive "spiritedly" on the street, for my purposes, these are working fine.

If you go tracking, then the Ferrodos, or the Axxis Ultimates are probably a better choice...but understand the super high performance pads are typically(but not always) a bit harder on rotors, and more likely chance they will squeal. BTW, Mitch is the "track master" so if he says the Ferrodos work well, you can trust that he know what he is talking about....

 

Do you know if the Brembo kit will fit with stock 16in wheels or did you have to go with 17in?

Richard

 

It works with the 16 inch wheels. It was the best investment I have made so far. I do a lot of tracking and it has really helped.

Good question - you have to have a 84 or up because of the caliper size.

 

I put those Kleen Wheels dust guards on my car while I am around town. It totally blocks out the brake dust from covering my wheels. ONLY for in town driving, though, because despite what the manufacturer says I do not believe they don't affect cooling. They come right off before track events.

 

I'm using Axxis Ultimates on my Miata currently. Great feel, stops that throw you out of the seat, no problem when cold, no squeal at all, but waaay to much dust. Yes it washes off easily, but makes the wheels look awful pretty quickly.

Cheers,
Jon

 

Anyone has experience with the Raicam pads offered by Superformance?

Regards
Harry

 

Hi............

Do you mean "would advise AGAINST commuting on them" ? Definitely not a good idea to use pads specified by the manufacturer "for track use" on the street. You may end up in someone's trunk or engine bay !!

Frank.........

 

I'm another fan of the Porterfield R4-S pads for street/track combination. I previously used Lucas/Axxis Metal-Max, but much prefer the carbon-kevlar.