EBC Red Brake Pad Review

[m3f_Zummie]

I recently changed out my brake system with new Brembo blanks, ATE gold fluid and brake pads. I bought my kit through Turner and got their Axxis Metal Master pads. It was their "recommended pad." I put the pads on and hated them. They had NO initial grip at all. I had them for about 500 miles and felt that my safety was in jeopardy. I had no brake dust for those 500 miles. I could barely engage the ABS with a full on stop from 45 MPH. I had to put the pedal near the floor to get them to bite. They had no dust, but I said screw this.



A buddy of mine with a WRX wagon that has ASTs, sways and 17x9s w/ DD Star Specs. He had Axxis Ultimates and didn't care for them. He then went for EBC yellows. He has really liked them so far. He said they were very fade resistant on down hill runs. He did complain of the dust though. I did some research and came to either getting the EBC Reds or Yellows. The Reds were a little less track oriented, better initial bite and less dust. They usually sell for $175 for fronts and rears. I found a guy on BF.com that selling a set for $90 with only 500 miles on them. I pulled the trigger and installed them.



I will have to say they are great! I have about 600 miles on them so far. They have good initial bite, not quite OEM, but WAY better than the Metal Masters. The stop better than the OEMs too. I can engage the ABS sooner and longer than the OEM pads. I am a HUGE fan now. I have yet to take them on a mountain run, but they are higher temperature pad than OEM. The dust creation is very minimal so far. I would urge anyone looking for an enthusiast/auto-x pad to go buy the EBC Reds. I just thought this would be a good review since the EBC brake pads are hardly talked about on this forum. Feel free to ask any questions.

[m3f_fiveightandten]

Good info. I'm due up for brakes...opps, I mean breaks, pretty soon. I've driven cars with lower dust pads and i've never been impressed with the initial bite. My OE pads have been great for the street and autoX. But damn do they dust!


Were you running brembo blanks before with your OE pads?

[m3f_hencini]

Interesting that your friend didn't like the Axxis Ultimates. I have them on my car with Brembo blanks and am very pleased with their initial bite and DD abilities. The only disappointment is that by the end of my second ever track day I think I was pretty close to their limits-- and that was on a relatively tight course with fairly short straights, lifting on the one long straight, etc.



I would still recommend them for DD use (even though they dust almost as bad as OEM), but I'm currently shopping for a track day pad so I can "enjoy" the car a little more on HPDE days... :-)

[m3f_hencini]

BTW, OP, I've always thought you had a very sharp looking, tastefully modded ///M... Just sayin'... :-)





:-)

[m3f_hencini]

Originally Posted by fiveightandten:

Good info. I'm due up for brakes...opps, I mean breaks, pretty soon.



:-)

[m3f_englishtom1596q]

interesting information. i too have heard axxis ultimates were cheap but good for DD and track days. brakes are about due for next season so any other feedback would be interesting

[m3f_angelr]

I prefer the yellows over the reds. They have a bit more temp in them with very little trade off in initial bite or cold performance. We run them in our bbk's, either reds or yellows, customer choice.

[m3f_aeronaut]

I just ordered a set of axxis/PBR metal master pads (from Turner). Any idea how they compare? I don't know what my car has now, but they feel pretty 'wooden', not a lot of pedal feel and I'd love more initial bite and then linear progression. Predominately street use.

[m3f_hencini]

Originally Posted by aeronaut:

I just ordered a set of axxis/PBR metal master pads (from Turner). Any idea how they compare? I don't know what my car has now, but they feel pretty 'wooden', not a lot of pedal feel and I'd love more initial bite and then linear progression. Predominately street use.



Axxis Ultimate / PBR ULTs. I've been pretty happy with them. Alternatively, OEMs. The stock brake setup was pretty solid on these cars.

[m3f_Zummie]

Originally Posted by fiveightandten:

Good info. I'm due up for brakes...opps, I mean breaks, pretty soon. I've driven cars with lower dust pads and i've never been impressed with the initial bite. My OE pads have been great for the street and autoX. But damn do they dust!


Were you running brembo blanks before with your OE pads?

I was running Brembo blanks with the OEM pads before.


Originally Posted by hencini:

BTW, OP, I've always thought you had a very sharp looking, tastefully modded ///M... Just sayin'... :-)


:-)

Thanks! I try to keep it stockish with some performace driving "aids". I am thinking about doing some upgrades when I renew the VANOS, maybe some shrick cams. The other thing I am debating about is getting some AST or GC SA coilover with low spring rates in the 350-500 range. I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.


The reason my buddy didn't like the Axxis Ultimates was all the dust and he felt that the temperature of the pads was too cold. His wagon would cause them to fade pretty quickly. He is very happy with his yellows now.


The other pads I was considering were the Stop Tech Street Performance pads. Obioban likes them for his E46 here on M3F. I had someone complain about their initial bite and decided to go for the EBC reds instead.


If I had to do it again, I would get the EBC reds over the OEM pads.