wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

That's a downright fair offer.

robertcope

Most definitely. I already have the next set of Carbotechs, but after that I will likely take him up on it!

robert

FatKao

I'm afraid to try Carbotechs with how many people have problems getting the rotors bedded. There are likely better pads than Hawk's, but between Hawk bux and a pretty high tolerance to bedding practices I'm sold.

jpreston

iTrader: (4)

I think the internet blows it pretty far out of proportion. I've been doing track days for close to 10 years now and have almost exclusively run carbotechs. Last year was the first time I've had bedding problems, and that was only because I strayed very far from carbotech's bedding instructions.

I'm probably going to try a set of PFCs next year, but I prefer carbotechs over all of the hawk pads I've tried. Brake pads are very much personal preference though. Don't trust everything you read.

wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

Cobalts are idiot proof in that they require no bedding, that's why I ordered them. But really, brake pads come down to feel and what each driver likes. No two people are gonna agree on everything.

JSpeed6

iTrader: (3)

I LOVED my PFC97's that I ran for about 2 seasons. Ate rotors up when cold, but lasted forever. iirc, it was their enduro compound?

I definitely would've bought another set, but I think the price was more than I wanted to pay..then I found hawk and have been content...haven't tried carbotech or padgid.

flier129

iTrader: (7)

Fair point.


So going from Carbotech to Hawk will I need to turn my current rotors(or put on my spare rotors if these fail my next inspection) since they have carbotech's "ceramic-kevlar compound" ?

FWIW I haven't had bedding issues with the carbotechs, I've ran them for the past 2 seasons in autox and track. I'm switching to hawk because hawk bucks

dasting

Way out of proportion. I've had no issues bedding in XP10s that I used to run. Great pads.

k24madness

iTrader: (6)

+1 on the Cobalts. Easy bedding, Wide temp range makes em ready to go out of the gate. Last a loooooong time. Easy on rotors and pretty cheap.

FatKao

This is mostly based on what I've seen in person at events. It could easily be confirmation bias, but either way... Hawk Bucks.

dasting

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

97 is the low tq compound. Good for smaller tires and SM guys love it. try a higher quality rotor and the pads won't chew it up. or run the $20 blanks and replace the rotors with the pads.

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

put our money where our mouth is.

k1l4m

iTrader: (2)

Too bad PFC pads don't come in sport brake size.

I'll probably go with XP10/XP8's again next time around. Has anyone compared these to XR3/XR5 pads? Any benefits other than being less picky with bed in procedure?

wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

The Cobalt XR3/XR5 are available for Sport Brakes. Based on Cobalt's chart, the XR3 compare to the Carbotech XP8.

k1l4m

iTrader: (2)

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

+1. I have used both Hawks and Carbotechs. I would have no issues running carbotechs again, except for the price difference.

Slider

XP10 would be closer to the XR2. I went from XP8s all around to XR3/XR4. Got a ton of life out of the Carbotechs and never took them off ran them for track, autocross and street. Iwould try to rebed them before a track day, street driving does get rid of the layer on the rotor.

The only big difference I noticed is brake dust, which is only an issue if you want to keep your wheels looking pretty. The Carbotech dust is black and Cobalt is gray, both wipe off fairly easy after a track day, not sticky. If you get the Cobalt dust wet and leave it, it will cake on and be very hard to get off.

I'm lazy so I would spray my tires down during autocross inevitably getting water on the wheels with brake dust. Then when I would get home I would just let the car sit for a week or longer. Carbotech XP8 dust would come off with water and a wipe, Cobalt would not, there's spots where it's still on the wheels, it's coming off very slowly by scraping it with a credit card but I haven't gotten all of it off. Wiping off the Cobalt dust the same day will get it off but definitely don't let it sit if it's been in contact with water.

z31maniac

^I let Carbotech 10/8 dust sit on my wheels after a wet track day for close to a year.

Little soap and a mitten in the driveway pulled it right off with no damage to the wheels.

flier129

iTrader: (7)

You lucky s.o.b. I've let carbotech dust sit on my wheels on the wet drive home and I couldn't get it off! **** baked on there for good!