Choosing brake pads for Brembo GT Big Brake Kit

[bmw m3 s50]

I wanted to get some options on brake pads. I am looking to replace the brake pads on my Brembo GT kit that uses 4 piston calipers front and rear. I am using 355mm rotors up front and 345mm in the rear. I am currently on Ferodo FM1000 which are not bad but are pretty noisy and dust a lot. I was thinking of trying out some other pads and wanted to get some options. My m3 is used as a weekend only car and never daily driven, but driven very spirited and canyon type driving when driven. The car will not most likely not see the track unless its maybe an occasional autocross or HPDE.

The pads that I have been looking at buying are:

• Carbotech 1521 pads
• Porterfield R4-S High Performance Street pads
• Ferodo DS2500 Club Race pads
• Hawk HPS 5.0 high performance street pads

I am looking for in priority order:

1. initial bite
2. pedal feel
3. low noise
4. low dust

Most reviews say stay with OEM pads for street cars, but since I am running the BBK, that's not an option, Any experience with the above pads and any recommendations?

[bigjae46]

I've used the Porterfields and liked them. It is as close to an acceptable dual purpose pad as I've ever used. They didn't sound like a garbage truck was screeching to a halt. Not sure about the dust though.

It was years ago but I could easily find them on eBay for $100 or less.

[repoman89]

The Brembo pads that come with the kit new are slightly tweaked DS2500 IIRC. Thats what I’ve got on the GT kit I recently put on my E39 M5. They are OEM-like all around, what you’d expect on an M car. No noise, good bite and feel, plenty of dust however.

[bmwfnatic]

I am not an expert on brake pads by any means, but I can provide input on the Hawk HPS I had in my GT kit and I absolutely did not like them, initial bite and pedal feel were terrible, not what you want on a street car, felt more like a track pad despite being marketed as street.

[bmw m3 s50]

I've used the Porterfields and liked them. It is as close to an acceptable dual purpose pad as I've ever used. They didn't sound like a garbage truck was screeching to a halt. Not sure about the dust though.

It was years ago but I could easily find them on eBay for $100 or less.

I heard the same, but I also heard that a few high speed hard stops will cause them to fall off pretty quickly. Not as bad as the Hawks but still drops off.

[bmw m3 s50]

The Brembo pads that come with the kit new are slightly tweaked DS2500 IIRC. Thats what I’ve got on the GT kit I recently put on my E39 M5. They are OEM-like all around, what you’d expect on an M car. No noise, good bite and feel, plenty of dust however.

I have been hearing good things about these as well. I heard that they are pretty noisy when driving slow or cold much like the FM1000. Another issue is these are the most costly pads.

Any experience with Carbotech 1521 pads?

[bmw m3 s50]

I am not an expert on brake pads by any means, but I can provide input on the Hawk HPS I had in my GT kit and I absolutely did not like them, initial bite and pedal feel were terrible, not what you want on a street car, felt more like a track pad despite being marketed as street.

My research on Hawks is confirming your feedback on them. Any experience with the other pads? Which pads do you run now?

[repoman89]

I have been hearing good things about these as well. I heard that they are pretty noisy when driving slow or cold much like the FM1000. Another issue is these are the most costly pads.

Any experience with Carbotech 1521 pads?

No squealing or grinding noises driving down into the 25-30 degree range (using new Brembo J-hook style rotors). They are as quiet as the stock brakes. Maybe the slight tweaks on the Brembo OEM variant make them quieter, idk.

[bmw m3 s50]

No squealing or grinding noises driving down into the 25-30 degree range (using new Brembo J-hook style rotors). They are as quiet as the stock brakes. Maybe the slight tweaks on the Brembo OEM variant make them quieter, idk.

That's good to know. I think that I am currently between the Ferodo DS2500 Club Race pads and the Carbotech 1521 pads.

Just don't know which one to go with.

[Estoril]

Don't consider the Hawk HPS or anything promoted as a "race" pad unless you are spending a lot of time at the track (I wouldn't use the HPS or HP+ in any case). Choose a pad based on the 98% use of the car - not how you "might" use it some day or "plan" to use it 2% of the time.

[Obioban]

The sport pads that Brembo offers are the best street pads I've ever experienced.

For track... IMO Peformance Friction is best. PF01s if you can find them somewhere, 11s if you can't.

Obviously not the same pad for both, as that would be terrible at both.

[bmw m3 s50]

Don't consider the Hawk HPS or anything promoted as a "race" pad unless you are spending a lot of time at the track (I wouldn't use the HPS or HP+ in any case). Choose a pad based on the 98% use of the car - not how you "might" use it some day or "plan" to use it 2% of the time.

Yeah, that is what I have been reading "Don't Get The Hawks". Choosing a pad on 98% of the car use is definitely the route I am trying to go. It seem like it should be a street / light track pad at this point.

[bmw m3 s50]

The sport pads that Brembo offers are the best street pads I've ever experienced.

For track... IMO Peformance Friction is best. PF01s if you can find them somewhere, 11s if you can't.

Obviously not the same pad for both, as that would be terrible at both.

Thank you, Ian.

Which sport pads where you referring to: the FM1000 or the DS2500 that Brembo offers?

[bigjae46]

I heard the same, but I also heard that a few high speed hard stops will cause them to fall off pretty quickly. Not as bad as the Hawks but still drops off.

I didn't experience that. I wouldn't call the pedal firm but it's not a high temp pad either. If you want the bite and feel there's really no other choice than a high temp pad. You're asking for attributes that are contradicting each other and the tech hasn't caught up. A high temp pad is what gives you the bite and feel because, in it's operating temp range, it sticks and grabs the rotor which gives the bite. This same trait is what causes noise and high wear during street driving - the pads are extremely abrasive below their temp range.

The closest you'll get are the brake pads on the G series M cars - those are pretty damned good in both environments. Not sure if they come in the pad shape you need.

[Obioban]

Thank you, Ian.

Which sport pads where you referring to: the FM1000 or the DS2500 that Brembo offers?

It's been years now since I had the Brembo GT kit, but I'm 95% sure it was the FM1000s that were my favorite ever street pad.

A track pad it is not.

That said, if you try to get the same pad for both, it WILL be bad for both. There's no street pad that's good on track, there's no track pad that's good on street, and any pad that works will on the track will destroy the finish on your street wheels if you leave the dust on them.

Half the reason to get a BBK is that it reduces pad swap time by 75%, when you go to the track. Swap pads when you swap tires, be happy, don't make the car bad at everything all the time.