Update:

So front HPS pads are on, along with newer R1 rotors.

Conclusion?:
I'd give them a 7/10. That's totally based on my preferences on brake feel though. The stock pads had a good initial bite with positive feel and quick braking ramp-up.

The Hawks feel completely linear. Not necessarily in a bad way, but just not exactly what I like. Although this is great for accurate modulation, I like the initial bite. When you start braking, they come on very lightly as you press and continue seemingly linearly to the point of ABS/chirping tires.

Jury still out on the dust. If they come through on the lack of dust, I'll bump them up to a 8/10, since they seem to be doing well in the wet too. lol

 

I'm going with Wagner ThermoQuiets front and rear. They're comming in soon and I'll provide my impressions then.

Link:

TQ EDGE : The Most Technologically Advanced Brake Pad for Today's Vehicles

 

Its not the bedding process on my car - I went through a whole bedding process on mine; this is something I've done quite a few times before this on other cars, including an SSBC set on my second-gen f-body and the autocross setup on my fourth-gen. And I had the rears turned, pads replaced and pins/e-brake lubed from GM, and its definitely not the backs - my head-out-the-window test confirmed it.

The stock pads are really bad when: 1 - I haven't used the car in a week or so; and 2 - Very cold weather. One or two hard hits on them will quiet them down slightly, but who wants to slam on their brakes every time they take the car out? None of my other performance set-ups even peep (they'll occasionally groan a little on very slow braking, but that's nothing).

As far as the dust-up, its nothing any worse than I've seen.

 

Try the ThermoQuiets I linked here...cheap too. They will definitely be QUIET. Do a web search and you'll see the positive feedback on noise levels of these pads.

Fronts MX1379
Rears PD1095

 

I bought the HP+ front and rear with R1 concepts premiums drilled/slotted and ftp brake lines, but i still have to install them

 

I'm curious as to the feel of the ThermoQuiets - I saw you were talking about them, but I wonder what the feel is. I'm happy with the stock front pads when I push them, and I don't want to give too much of that up to silence the banshee. If they're fade resistant and quiet, I'm in! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I won't be putting mine on for a while...prolly put fronts on first. I think the initial bite should be better than stock, but they can't hold up to continuous heavy braking like you would see in racing. For street use you should not see a drop in braking at all. These are only around $50 for the fronts and easy to install. If I were you, I'd go ahead and try em..hell, at worst case you'd only be out $50 to try em! That's my way of thinking.

 

I've heard the HP+ can be noisy for DD use. Let us know what you find.

I've been thinking about brake lines as well too. When we were working on the brakes this weekend, I was told that the brake lines were flexing quite a bit under pressure.

 

True, true!

Also true - my 'balt will likely be driven scarcely until the salt's off the road - I have the rusty Tacoma to take the nasty stuff in the meantime. I'm looking to Stage 1/tune/CAI the car 'round early spring - maybe the pads will be tested then.