What brake pads for NC MX5 for street and some track?

[DavidM]

Hi guys,
What brake pads would you recommend for an NC that's dríven hard ... and will see the odd track day?
- #1 priority is that they don't fade.
- #2 priority is no noise/squealing as the car spends 99% of the time on the road.

ps. Also is it enough to replace just the front pads ... or are the rears too soft/weak for the track?

Thanks.

[JBT]

I'm using Remsa at the moment. A bit dusty but very good stoppers. Very affordable too from Brakes Direct.

You only need to replace the pads that are worn. No need to do the rears if they are OK.

[Charlie Brown]

Is your NC modified or standard?

If your NC has no engine modifications then your stock OEM pads will be fine.
Once you start heading up the pad range into performance pads then dust and noise increases.

Unless you have slotted rotors stay away from Hawk HPS as they WILL fade after a lap or two. Otherwise they are quite and don’t dust and these are the pads I’m using at the moment for the road.

Hawk HP+ dust but are a road/track pad.
Hawk Blues are a track pad and can be noisy and dust heavily.

EBC Green are just a street pad.
EBC Red are a performance street pad , they dust and the manufacturer says they ARE NOT a track pad. Experience shows they are correct as the pad material rips away from the backing plate at the track
EBC Yellow can be used at the track and on the road but dust a lot.

Carbotech XP12 is for the serious racer and they don’t like slotted rotors. I swap my rotors and street pads for these on track days. They are dusty and VERY noisy at slow speed. They operate to 1200 degrees C. I noted on the weekend that they said the V8 Supercar pads only go the 1000C.
If your NC is stock you could use the Carbotech 1521 or if you want a little more the XP8.

But if you’re stock at the moment, the OEM pad does a fine job until you need to replace them when they are $$$ compared to aftermarket pads.

[DavidM]

Thanks for the info guys. The MX5 is stock with the exception of coil-overs. Though the stock pads seem to give up pretty quickly when driving 'spiritedly' on a twisty road. So looking for something little bit more resilient ... but as mentioned before - also quiet.

I have not heard of Carbotech or Remsa ... but will look them up.

ps. How much (roughly) are you looking it for a set of pads?

Thanks.

[mazmad]

I have used Carbotech XP10 and 12, with slotted rotors, with good performance. They do need to be bedded in and if you have used another pad on the disc beforehand you will need to work to bed them in.

[little decks]

I've used brand new XP12s on a stock NC around SMP south circuit, was really a bit of an experiment as we thought they might be too aggressive... took about a lap and a half of ferocious braking for them to come on but holy crap when they come on its a phenomenal feeling, but because of the heat range of them you really need to be very aggressive in your braking and using a semi-slick, I've only ever used the XP10s on an earlier model but they still perform well enough to send any unwelcome passenger through the front windscreen.

[little decks]

Although this is all just track stuff I should add, there are AX6s which are a road/track suitable pad.

[Deckspeed Racing]

Hi

Deckspeed Racing are the Australian Distributor for Carbotech.

We stock
1521 Low Dust
AX6 road and track
XP10 Track and normal racers without ABS
XP12 Experienced racers or anyone with ABS

We carry pads for all MX5s

www.deckspeedracing.com.au

[JBT]

Thanks for the info guys. The MX5 is stock with the exception of coil-overs. Though the stock pads seem to give up pretty quickly when driving 'spiritedly' on a twisty road. So looking for something little bit more resilient ... but as mentioned before - also quiet.

I have not heard of Carbotech or Remsa ... but will look them up.

ps. How much (roughly) are you looking it for a set of pads?

Thanks.

Remsa front pads -$108 in January 2013
OEM front pads - $176 in April 2011

The Remsas have done 6 track days this year and should be good for at least one more. Then I'll get a new set for NatMeet. They are dead quiet as opposed to the OEM which howled when cold after a while. Much more dusty than OEM though.

[DavidM]

Thanks for all the info guys ... much appreciated. Will read up on all of these.

Although this is all just track stuff I should add, there are AX6s which are a road/track suitable pad.

Anyone used the AX6? If so how are they with the occasional track day?

[JBT]

No, not just track stuff. My car is used about 90% normal use and the rest on track days. I will be getting Remsa pads to replace the current ones when they are worn to limits.

[little decks]

Thanks for all the info guys ... much appreciated. Will read up on all of these.

Although this is all just track stuff I should add, there are AX6s which are a road/track suitable pad.

Anyone used the AX6? If so how are they with the occasional track day?

They are the next step up from the Carbotech 1521 pad which are a high performance road pad, the AX6 is better for track stuff but every now and then some people report some minor squealing from them.

[DavidM]

The Remsas have done 6 track days this year and should be good for at least one more.

Any noise / squealing from the Remsas JBT?

[JBT]

No noises. They have a sort of rubberised backing on the pad plates to stop metallic noise (the OEM replacement pads howled when cold) and the pad material doesn't squeal either.

[craigj]

EBC Yellow Stuff on the front and Red Stuff on the back work great road and track. Hawk Track Day pads are brilliant for the track but sqeal like buggery on the road.

Cheers,
Craig