running hawk hps pads, not a fan as there's no initial bite. just feels like they're sliding basically. looking for suggestions for a pad that'll offer a nice initial bite, doesn't matter to me if it's a standard pad or ceramic or anything like that. and as long as they'll last me about 3 years (i'm pretty easy on the brakes), i'm happy.

 

you sure your rotors are not just glazed? that can cause the initial bite that your saying.

 

Try EBC pads.

 

yup. rotors are brand new. there was bite the first day, but by the third day they were pretty much exactly the same as they were with the previous rotors, maybe slightly better. i've tried the bed in, didn't really help, though i did find the braking limits of my snow tires. lol. think i'm going to look into posi-quiet ceramic pads. i've heard less than favorable reviews about ebc. hell, i've heard mostly good about hawk, and i'm not a fan.

 

did some bedding today, yeah, now they're worse. was thinking i may have glazed them a bit, but the pedal feel just isn't there. now the brake pedal goes further to the floor, with less bite. gonna actually look into stoptech ceramic pads, was reading reviews of stoptech pads on some message boards and they had positive reviews.

 

do a brembo swap bada bing bada boom lol

 

You must have some other issue, i've run sets of hawk HPS pads on my cobalt and now on my Z and they bite nicely.

What rotors are you using?

You really have to follow the bedding process though, for them to work right. I always have, and they have treated me great as a result.

 

running r1concept slotted and drilled. i was running standard royalty rotors, but they were exactly the same.

i'm curious right now as to whether or not the pad is extending enough into the rotor, if it's sitting too deep in the caliper. i feel a bit of a bite, but it's like i'm just bearly touching the brake pedal, when in fact i'm pushing it down a decent amount. trying to work this out with one of my buddies who's good with this stuff, but any help or suggestions here would be awesome.

everything i've rear about hawk hps pads, they should bite. these do NOT bite... at all. i've run these pads a year this month, just changed the rotors. would love to not have to change the pads, but i'd rather change the pads to something that bites than go like i am now.

 

check brake fl, and flsuh system, sounds like you have possible air in system

 

i'm thinking it's definatly a fluid issue. last year went to the dealer to do my brake job. yes, i'm an idiot... cost both arms and both legs, plus they screwed it up. i did pads, rotors, and steel braided lines. they had issues getting the stock line off the left front caliper, couldn't get it off, so they replaced the caliper (with one that didn't match. different model caliper, also was black). when i redid my rotors last week, i had a stock lsj left front caliper that i used to replace the black one, and my buddy who did the job said there was a different sized banjo bolt installed with i believe a smaller hole, plus they over tightened it so the bolt broke on him. ordered new banjo bolts for the lsj from crate engine depot, should be here tomorrow. going to head to his place tomorrow after work and try switching the bolts, and maybe bleed the system again. the pads feel fine, it's the pedal feel that's definatly off right now.

btw, is there any place i can find torque specs for brakes? about to do a google search.

 

i run hawk hps pads on r1 slotted/dimpled rotors. i will admit, they dont have a lot of initial bite. i find they need some heat to work well. when im on the freeway and i see brakelights and i step on the pedal it start slowing, but not fast. generally ill let up on the pedal, step on them again and itll almost throw me through the windsheild. if i stay on the pedal itll all the sudden start to slow down quicker as they get some heat built up.

if the pedal is traveling further to the floor, something else is wrong. pads arent going to cause the pedal to travel further. either you have air in the system, a leak, brake fluid that has been boiled, a bad brake hose, or a bad master cylinder.

 

What torque spec do you want?

banjo bolt 35 ft-lbs
guide pins 25 ft-lbs
caliper mounting bracket bolts 85 ft-lbs

 

think that's perfect, thanks man!

 

^this, I have HPS's and feel the same way. not so much bite when cold, but once they heat up a little they bite hard. something i had to get used to, but now im pleased

 

i can definatly feel the pads improving as i put some miles on the new rotors and the pads wear into the rotors. definatly starting to feel pretty good. hopefully changing the banjo bolt so the right amount of fluid getting in will fix the pedal feel, though even that's starting to feel a little better. i have hope. lol.

 

No problem man! Hope it works out for you, I love my HPS + R1 slotted rotors

 

any updates dude? wanna see if my diagnosis was correct lol

 

sorry for the delay, was on my honeymoon the past week. i went back to my buddy's, we rebled the brakes, but didn't flush the system. there was no air in the lines at all, everything looked fine. the only possible issue is the banjo bolt on the caliper line is a different size than stock, but the hole is larger i believe for the brake fluid the travel through, so i don't see how that would hurt my brakes, so to speak.

my thinking is the harder rotors (both the original replacements as well as the r1's) are harder, combined with the different material brake pads, as well as the steel braided caliper hoses, all these changed my braking characteristics so much that i really feel something is wrong, when there may not be an issue. i'm gonna run like this a little longer, and maybe look into new pads, just to try that. sometimes the pads feel like they bite, sometimes they feel like they're just slipping, and it's really annoying.