Powerstop track pads. Anyone use these?

[mark9661]

Originally Posted by mischiefbenz

Installed the Power Stop Track Day pads today. Install was relatively straightforward. Only small hiccup is that the shims that come installed on the front pads were not installed flush to the short edge of the pads. As a result, they wouldn't fit into the caliper. I had to hammer the shim flush to the pad edge and they slid in with no issues.

Took them for a short test drive around the block and they have tons of initial bite. They feel great; so far so good. Will drive them around town for a couple of days and will bed them in per Power Stops recommendation tomorrow or Thurs. night in preparation for this weekends event at COTA.

What is Power Stops bedding in recommendation?

[Insane435]

Originally Posted by mark9661

What is Power Stops bedding in recommendation?

I have these on my 435. Box said 10 60-10 and 10 80-10 stops.

[mark9661]

Thanks.

[rx7gslse]

Can anyone post the part numbers f/r for these?


I keep seeing the rears listed, but nowhere can I seem to find the fronts other than a couple no-name websites, but when I cross reference those p/ns it doesn't show it's for the M3..

[mischiefbenz]

Originally Posted by rx7gslse

Can anyone post the part numbers f/r for these?


I keep seeing the rears listed, but nowhere can I seem to find the fronts other than a couple no-name websites, but when I cross reference those p/ns it doesn't show it's for the M3..

Front = pst-1609
Rear = pst-1656

[rx7gslse]

Originally Posted by mischiefbenz

Front = pst-1609
Rear = pst-1656

Thanks! for some reason the 1609s are listed on the various sites as for 2015-2016 M3, but they don't show 2017, so they weren't pulling up on my search! Same pads however, so just a hiccup in their configurator I suppose.

Was just trying to compare prices.... These seem suspiciously cheap for trackable pads...

These are ~$175/set
EBC yellow ~$275

Everything else ~$600 (Pagid, Ferodo etc..)

I'm only running HPDEs a few times a year anymore, so I think I'm going to try these out just to see how they go.. Faded my stock pads at teh end of the session last time a little so gonna see what else is out there. Can't argue the price?

[Insane435]

Just an FYI, these things can be freight train loud and the dust level is HIGH. The noise never really goes away, even on the track they will squeal. Some days its worse than others. I have taken them off twice to re-lube the pins and pads, maybe i need more?

Anyone else notice this?

[Woodengun]

Originally Posted by Woodengun

1. I am incredibly inexperienced at track. I have 3 track days to my name and 7-8 autocross days. I managed to spin the car on turn 4 and luckily stayed away from any walls.

2. Same track but different days. Car was setup the same - tires, etc. MRLS.

3. Memorial Day was RS29 and 7/11 was Powerstop Track Day pads.

The PS pads held up fine. I cooked the front brakes enough to start turning the calipers darker/greener with PS pads on.

Putting pads in was similar to what others have noted - fronts need some assistance to get into calipers. The PS pads have large bevels on leading and trailing edges whereas the RS29 pads have no bevels. I did note that they put replacement springs for rear calipers with front pads and vice versa. But I'm still using the original springs.

At the track, I thought the PS pads needed more pedal pressure to get the same deceleration. Perhaps it is the bevels and/or compound. Or I could just be full of crap too. I could lock up my brakes heading into Andretti hairpin even after doing 5-6 laps at speed. For reference - my fast lap is 1:47 so nowhere near the limit but I'm not Sunday driving either.

There is the clunking with both PS and RS29 pads but the clunks are louder with RS29. The PS pads do not squeal during daily driving! They had just a very faint bit of squeal when new and only while doing slow stops from ~5mph to stop. They don't squeal at all now. I put PS pads in 7/8 and still have them in now. ~600 miles of daily driving and the track day.

A year later.

Most recent trackday was at Thill 5 mile. 2 group trackday with my son running group 1 as a first timer. I ran group 2. He had MDM on. Third session out for son was 25 minutes and came in with front rotors actually smoking. No brake fade. Switched drivers and went right back out. I drove another 20 minutes with no fade.

[mischiefbenz]

Originally Posted by rx7gslse

Thanks! for some reason the 1609s are listed on the various sites as for 2015-2016 M3, but they don't show 2017, so they weren't pulling up on my search! Same pads however, so just a hiccup in their configurator I suppose.

Was just trying to compare prices.... These seem suspiciously cheap for trackable pads...

These are ~$175/set
EBC yellow ~$275

Everything else ~$600 (Pagid, Ferodo etc..)

I'm only running HPDEs a few times a year anymore, so I think I'm going to try these out just to see how they go.. Faded my stock pads at teh end of the session last time a little so gonna see what else is out there. Can't argue the price?

I've use these pads many times at COTA with Bridgestone RE-71R's and they've withstood the challenge.

A buddy will be trying these out running Pirelli DH slicks in a couple of weeks.

[rx7gslse]

Originally Posted by mischiefbenz

I've use these pads many times at COTA with Bridgestone RE-71R's and they've withstood the challenge.

A buddy will be trying these out running Pirelli DH slicks in a couple of weeks.

Good to know... Just ordered a set to try out myself... $151 shipped from RockAuto, can't beat that... I could blow through 4 sets of these at that price before a set of some of the others.

[drroc]

Originally Posted by Woodengun

A year later.

Most recent trackday was at Thill 5 mile. 2 group trackday with my son running group 1 as a first timer. I ran group 2. He had MDM on. Third session out for son was 25 minutes and came in with front rotors actually smoking. No brake fade. Switched drivers and went right back out. I drove another 20 minutes with no fade.

Do you daily drive the car with those pads, or do you swap them out for the street?

[Woodengun]

Daily. Too lazy to swap out, especially at the price point. They don't squeal in my car. No grease no shims just stick em in and go.

[drroc]

Originally Posted by Woodengun

Daily. Too lazy to swap out, especially at the price point. They don't squeal in my car. No grease no shims just stick em in and go.

Did you have to order a brake sensor wire? The rockauto website recommends it with this pad. I was under the impression that it should be a simple swap process.

[Woodengun]

I zip tie the sensors out of the way. They are useless. If you're running your pads that thin without knowing it.....

[Insane435]

Originally Posted by Woodengun

Daily. Too lazy to swap out, especially at the price point. They don't squeal in my car. No grease no shims just stick em in and go.

Lol how is that possible? My are so damn loud im about to ditch them.

[Kung Fu English]

Update on a new set of fronts after the last ones exploded.

2 track days total at Gingerman (1:45 ish track), 45 then 36 laps so 81 total laps. I also did not DD or run at autox in between.

Pads still have a ton of thickness. But they are cracked. All 4 front pads. Rear pads were getting low but still adequate, also cracked.

Not sure if it's a problem with my braking setup (fluid?), my technique, or the pads.

FWIW I got 130 laps and 5 months of DD and 4 autocrosses out of the first set of fronts before they exploded, so I should have replaced them at 100.

I'm going to take the rest of the year off and try to figure out how to get it right for next season.

[mischiefbenz]

Originally Posted by Kung Fu English

Update on a new set of fronts after the last ones exploded.

2 track days total at Gingerman (1:45 ish track), 45 then 36 laps so 81 total laps. I also did not DD or run at autox in between.

Pads still have a ton of thickness. But they are cracked. All 4 front pads. Rear pads were getting low but still adequate, also cracked.

Not sure if it's a problem with my braking setup (fluid?), my technique, or the pads.

FWIW I got 130 laps and 5 months of DD and 4 autocrosses out of the first set of fronts before they exploded, so I should have replaced them at 100.

I'm going to take the rest of the year off and try to figure out how to get it right for next season.

Interesting. From the pics, it looks like you've overheated the pads and that's what's cause them to turn redish brown and crack. What I don't understand is that you don't have that much wear. Heat & wear typically go hand in hand; so the hotter the pad gets, the faster it wears.

It could be technique related. Do you gradually get on the brakes and stay on them for a long time, or do you get on them late, brake hard and get off them? 1 typically gets your brakes hotter and therefor you are more prone to over heating. 2 is a better technique for managing your brakes.

I've run 6 weekends at COTA using the power stop track day pads (3 sets of front & 2 sets of rears) and have not seen the cracking that you are experiencing. COTA is known to be a tough track on brakes.

[ilikeboat]

I picked up a set of these from rockauto for only about $150 shipped, can't beat that. Will be back to give a report on how they did at Laguna Seca.

[PayamFSU]

Update - used these for a total of 6 track days. First on my M4 with RE-71 then the last day on my M3 with Nitto NT05. Never had any fade. The front obviously wearing faster than rear. The track I go to is only 1.5 miles but is hard on the brakes. I'm prob beginner - intermediate level. The pads were just now running low, the passenger side had a little more wear than the driver side. After looking at them looks like maybe some slight cracking ? I marked the images. Otherwise for the money these are money!

Also you can see the brake grease I use I never hear or rarely hear any noise from these, not sure why other people complain of the noise.

[OhioRiderAaron]

Any advanced or instructor-level drivers tried these pads?

I'm very happy with my Ferodos but they are quite expensive and can be hard to get since they come from Europe. These things are a steal comparatively so going thru 2-3 sets for the price of one might just be worth it.

We were at Watkins Glen a few weeks ago and a buddy ran these on his Z06 and I was pretty surprised how well they were holding up to the abuse. I think corvette's have better factory brake cooling compared to us so I'm a bit hesitate to try them myself.

[rezilient]

Hey sorry to bump such an old thread but I was wondering if anyone figured out a fix to the Powerstop Track Day pad fitment issue where when braking in reverse you can hear the pads slide forward and then braking while in drive you can hear the pads clank back.

If the holes for the guide pins are too large couldn’t you put something in them to hold the pads tighter?

Thanks.

[Suds]

Yep, that is called pad slap.
Most race pads do that.