poormxdad

Gentlemen,

I have been running XP8s on the rear since I started doing HPDEs in 2011. I was driving the Miata to (and usually from) events and the XP8s did everything well. First with non-Sport brakes all around, then Sport brakes up front with Sport calipers rear on non-Sport brackets with non-Sport rotors, then with Sport brakes all around, and now with the TSE Gen2 11.75" BBK up front. I experimented with a plethora of different tire and front pad combos depending on where I was going, if I was pulling my HF trailer and bringing slicks, and the expected weather. A Wilwood prop valve made setting up the brakes easy.

I finally purchased a car trailer last year, so I don't need to worry about driving her on the street. I need to purchase a set of rear pads, and I was astonished at how much the price of XP8s had gone up on the Carbotech website. I won't know the exact price until I call them, but it got me wondering what else is out there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not cheaping out, but I'm not racing. I instruct HPDEs and often have someone in the right seat. I believe she's putting down about 225hp. My best time at VIR Full in her current configuration is a 2:11.37 with DTC-60s up front and new 225 Nankang AR-1s. However, my last couple of VIR events were on 225 NT01s that were manufactured in 2017, trying to get every lap out of them I could, with Raybestos ST-42s. Those Raybestos are half what the DTC-60s cost. I was consistently in the 2:15s and had a ball.

The G-Loc R8 is an obvious choice. Is there anything else out there that might save me a few bucks? I've used StopTech Sports up front as my commute/rain pad, and pushed them pretty hard a few times when the rain didn't come. Power Stop has "Track Day" and "Track Day Spec" pads, but I cannot find a link to any temp or mu info. The Hawk alternatives are near as much as the Carbotechs.

I suppose the other looming question is should I go with a more aggressive rear pad now that I tow her to the track?

Thanks, and Happy Mother's Day to all your Families,

LeoNA

I’m running the G-Loc R10 in the front and the Track day in the rear. I daily the car and swap out the GLoc pads for wilwood’s on the street. If it were a dedicated track car I would run R10’s front & R8’s in the rear. The R10’s seem to wear fast. I would say these are by far the most expensive option but they do work well.

Roda

I run R10s up front on 11.75s and R8 on 11in sport rotors on the rear, both with Wilwood calipers. It's a great balance on my car, and the pads have been incredibly durable at 135hp. They're a little on the dusty side, but it cleans off pretty easily.

The right pad for the rear will depend upon the pad up front and your brake balance, but I've been very happy with the GLoc pads. They do make a street pad with compatible compound if you need to swap out for the street.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

I gave the Track Day Spec pads a try on my red car (normally aspirated, stock brakes). They work just fine with no signs of overheating, even at Eagle's Canyon. Good modulation. Very dusty though. I ordered another set 'cause they're cheap and I'm cheap. My car is ~130HP.

poormxdad

Front or rear?

I emailed Power Stop asking for more data about their Track Day and Track Day Spec pads but have not yet heard back.
The XP8s rears really are $180 plus shipping.
The easiest thing is the G-Loc R8s. I know the G-Loc lineage is from Carbotech, and the max temps for the R8s and XP8s on the respective websites are exactly the same.
It will bruise my soul if I don't get another set of XP8s.
...reaching for another beer...

YourEconProf

I'm neither as experienced or pushing as much power as you, but I ran StopTech 309s for the first time last weekend at Mid-Ohio. I drive to/from, and still do some street driving, so I didn't want to go full track pad, plus I'm so over budget on the car this year, I wanted to try something a bit more budget. Last 2 years I've been running Hawk HP+ on a ~125hp N/A NA6.

So far, I'm very very impressed. On the street, they are very drivable--almost no dust and no squealing. On the track, they don't bite as hard as the Hawks, but they stop very very well--I could use the 300' brake point doing 107mph on Turn 7 at MO with room to spare and never any fade. If they had more initial bite, I'd be building a monument to them. However, as they are, I still would be hard pressed to buy anything else. To top it off, for the NA8 brakes (which I use), they are $80/axle, and come with a full set of mounting hardware to boot.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

Both.

curly

iTrader: (25)

You might try Cobalt Racing Brakes. I typically run XR3 front, XR5 rear. My work runs them on pretty much everything, and most customers love how they don't require any break in, and very little warm up. Much more confident in the first corner, and that braking performance lasts the entire race.

On a lighter car like a Miata, as long as your commute to/from the track isn't heavy stop/go traffic, they do ok on the street too, just eventually chew up rotors. As with any pad, wash/dry your wheels after an event to prevent corrosion or rusting.

Doesn't look like it's an option for the sport brakes, but if anyone else is reading, the "cobalt optimized" pads are slightly larger backing plate and pad material that eliminates the OE spring hardware.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

$131 plus shipping from us for R8 rear. Essentially the same thing you've been running. We keep them in stock pretty much always.

If you try the track day spec thingies Hornetball recommended, report back

doward

+1 for Stoptech 309 "Sports"

I ran them to a few TT6 records and they're still on my BRZ daily/SCCA T5/TT5 backup car.
They behave like a GLoc xp6.5 in my opinion. Definitely less heat tolerance, as they ARE fadeable in a 135whp TT6 Miata, but they come alive quickly on the street and the dust has been less extreme as just easy to clean as GLoc.

Powerstop feel slike EBC with an influencer marketing budget. They paid/gave free stuff to a handful of buddies/gridlifers and none of them stuck with the product after the free stage. Kinda like Hawk, now that I put it in writing...

YourEconProf

I feel simultaneously seen and subtweeted.

doward

I didn't mean it in that way! Sorry.

They aren't race pads by any measure, but they're one of the best compromise pads i've ever used.

poormxdad

Gents,

I ordered (and have received) the G-Loc R8s from Supermiata. I'm betting I won't know the difference, but it did hurt me a little bit.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

Ah the pain of your wallet being $50 heavier.

poormxdad

$60, but I felt like I was ditching my steady girlfriend for the cheap date with the big jugs.

turbofan

iTrader: (1)

I don't mind being described that way.

Glad you like our jugs.

poormxdad

It will be a while before they're on the car. I have several spare XP8 pads to work through, but it was time to place the order. I don't like to be surprised.

I also ordered new Centric blank rotors to have a fresh start when the time comes.

msmola2002

I am disappointed I can't get them to suit Wilwood 7812 for my dynapro fronts. I did check with them and they are available to suit 7816/DR22 (309.80220) but nothing to suit the thinner 12mm pads.

poormxdad

Try the Wilwood BP-20s for the Dynapros. 68 bucks or so. I believe you will like them. They're what I used to take the place of the Stop Tech Sports when I switched to the TSE BBK. Track tested. Great as rain pads. Worked just fine in the dry, but didn't last when pushed hard. However, for $68, how long would they need to last???

msmola2002

Yep, that's what I have in there at the moment. I pulled out the HPS that were in the rear and have swapped in some 309s with 11" rear discs but the car hasn't moved since