mx5cartalk.com

The SE needs front pads and a disc skim next week before Sandown at the end of the month. Reckon the discs are the originals so every credit to them for doing 82,000kms. The rear discs are ok and the pads have 10,000kms left. The brake fluid has just been changed.

Lazy of me, I know, but in a hurry so no time to search and need to know what the best front pads are for up to 5,000kms per week on the road and four or five track days a year.

Your thoughts appreciated on the pads and on whether skimming these discs is ok.

Speedy replies appreciated as the pads are very low.

OEM pads - they served me well in the SE for road and track use.

Ferodo 2500 seved me well while the GM was a road/track car.

Not a turbo car though, what heat range do you need, and how much dust can you handle?

Could try the QFM A1RM Pads.
They have a very good heat range, are quiet and provide good bite from cold.
Not exactly dust free as claimed but not too bad.

I'm happy with mine after both road and track use.

Unfortunately the NB8B / SE is a custom pad and may not be in stock!

Good luck

Hawk HP Plus also good - having the rotors machined should be ok as long as they remain within thickness tolerance once done - so previous skimming, if done, will impact.

I use the HP+ on my SE and can recommend them as suitable for track but they do let off a lot of brake dust. They're not ultra harsh on the rotors as well which is nice for long term use.

I've recently put EBC Yellowstuff on mine and have done one track day on them. I have found them very good.

I'm into my 3rd set of Hawk HP+ now over about 20 track days. Much, much, much more stopping power on the track than OEMs or similar brands like Bendix Ultimates yet they work well enough cold to be good for street use. Dust is not really much more of a pain than stockers. The rotors are still good.

You should skim before going to a new compound, provided your rotors are still within Mazda tolerances.

Went with OEM pads.

The whole car, brakes included, was brilliant at Sandown, so thanks for everyone's thoughts.

Did about 50 laps with the only noticeable wear and tear being to the driver's side front tyre .....

.............. in contrast to some of the more exotic machinery there which lasted only a few laps before overheating tyres, brakes, power steering fluid etc etc.

The saddest case was a Merc 6.3 AMG thing that arrived with semi slicks on it and that the owner had to get an instructor to take out for a couple of hot laps to get some video as the owner wasn't able to get the tyres up to temp himself.

Had a few good laughs "matching times" (of course we weren't racing) with a tuned 3.5 litre Alfa 75. Then he drove me as a passenger and I also got an instructor to drive me to show me quicker ways round. After that the Alfa was no longer able to match me. Just proves that the quickest way to more speed is usually to improve the driver.

I have been using red stuff for track days and street driving.... quite good lots of bite a bit dusty though.

davekmoore wrote: best front pads are for up to 5,000kms per week on the road and four or five track days a year.

does you SE replace the Ghan when it shiets itself

wun911 wrote:I have been using red stuff for track days and street driving.... quite good lots of bite a bit dusty though.

The Reds on my fronts fell apart.
They just couldn’t stand the heat, besides EBC on the box it tells you “not suitable for trackday use”.
I’m now using the Yellows and if you thought the Reds dusted, multiply that by 2 for the Reds.

Regie wrote:

davekmoore wrote: best front pads are for up to 5,000kms per week on the road and four or five track days a year.

does you SE replace the Ghan when it shiets itself

??????