Hi,

I am looking for a new set of brakes eventually. What I need is looks(dust free if possible), durability, and no SQUEEL NOISE. I was thinking of buying slotted R1Concept rotors for all 4 wheels. They are reasonably priced and seems to be very high quality. As for the pads, many people are using Hawk HPS. I don't know if those are for me. I don't need that braking power. I want somehting that will not eat up my rotors, if they can be low dust that's great and something that is not insanely expensive either.

Would R1 Concept rotors be an option with some cheaper pads?? I don't race or anything, and I think with the Brembo's anyway no matter what kind of pads I use I got above then average braking power. I use this car as a daily driver with some spirited driving here and there but nothing much.

Awaiting suggestions!!!

Thanks!

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2008 Cobalt SS Turbo W/ GMS1 and K&N Drop in
Sport Red Tint W/ Highrise Spoiler

 

If you want something low dust stick with the stock rotors just get new ones and go with a semi-metallic pad or go to NAPA and get the adaptive one pads they are reasonably priced and little to no brake dust I had them on my 350z and never saw any brake dust with them.

 

If you're looking for longevity, and won't be tracking your car, Hawk HPS pads are excellent street pads. You say you don't need that braking power, but the HPS (NOT HP+) are a great performing pad in town/on highways, price is reasonable and they've been shown to last for years (friend of mine put 100,000km+/60,000 miles+ on his without issue). As for rotors, stock blanks or R1s are a good choice.

 

If you want a low dust pad I would get the HAWK Ceramic's I think they make those for our cars. The HPS pads are a performance pad so it will dust a fair bit and even squeal the odd time.

 

ceramic pads will eat your rotors.

 

That's totally incorrect.

Many pads advertised as low dust are ceramic. Most of them aren't as high performing, but for daily drivers, they are consistent and have low dust or light colored dust.

Hawk HPS are pretty decent pads, but won't perform as well as the stock ones when they get hot. Hawk ceramics are great for daily driving. Low dust, and no squealing.

 

Don't spread false information. You don't know what you are even talking about.

Ceramic brake pads are actually less abrasive on rotors than semi-metallic pads. Ceramic pads are comprised of ceramic and organic fibers as well as copper strands, while semi-metallic pads are around 65% metal and 35% filler.

The advantage of semi metallic pads is that they are able to transfer more heat away from the rotors due to the pad having more metallic content. This allows the rotor to run cooler, and prevents heat related fade. Semi-metallic pads are more suited to performance use than other types of pad material.

Cobalt SS T/C's come stock with semi-metallic front pads.

The advantages of ceramic pads are they they are soft on rotors, they are quiter than semi-metallic pads, and they create much less dust. Ceramic dust is also a lighter color and doesn't stick to wheels the way semi-metallic dust does. Ceramic pads can be used in performance driving, but do not transfer heat as well, and will typically not last as long as semi-metallic pads.

 

So I have a question about the Hawk HPS pads then. If I were planning on some occasional dragging, autocrossing, and tracking, then what pads would be the best with the R1 Concepts Slotted rotors (front/rear)? It seems like the Hawk HPS pads are not good for anything but street driving. Is this true?

 

Stock fronts - excellent pad (once up to temp)
Hawk HPS rear (agressive enough for percentage of rear braking, won't smoke the rotors after 1 hard stop)

The HPS is not a track pad, if you are going to track it sure they'll work, but some have reported fading after a couple laps around. The other option (since the Brembos make it stupid easy to replace pads) if have pads dedicated for track, and pads for street, and swap them in/out at the track .

 

Stock are better than HPS for track use. Any rotor with holes in it are not good for track. Any slots or holes or dimples or whatever else have you is purely aesthetic.

HPS's have about 2 minutes worth of stopping in them on track, after that, they're over heated and will not be performing as well as stock. If you're serious about tracking, then I suggest Cobalt Friction XR1 pads for when you're at track, and HPS for the your daily commute.

 

^^^ what he said

 

IMO for what you are describing the best set up would be:

Front = Stock Pad
Rear = HPS

I don't know why people think brembo would put **** pads in their calipers the stock front pads in our cars are Ferodo pads which are an awesome pad.

I do a fair bit of auto-x and some 1/4 mile and that's the set up I'm running.