Hawk pad compounds

[AC Bill]

Looking up front pads in the Hawk website catalogue, and I see they have the HPS, HP+, and the HPS 5.0 compound available.

Has anyone done any comparisons between the compounds?? If so, in your opinion, which compound would be the better one, for a non-power brake roadster, where you want fairly aggressive brakes?

Thanks

[Railroad]

A note, not all compounds are available for all styles of calipers.

[CDXXVII]

I am running the Hawk HPS pads and they are much better than the Carbotech pads that FFR provided with my 15 year anniversary kit. I will say that they do dust quite a bit but stopping power is acceptable.

The brakes that came with my kit are the 2004 Mustang Cobra calipers and 13" rotors.

[ptstew]

I am running HPS on manual 91 Mustang calipers and rotors and a modified pedal. They are much better than the stock Ford pads I started out with. They do need a bit of heat to get to best performance so I take it easy the first couple of miles. Dusting is light for my mostly urban driving.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

HP+ stop better but dust like crazy. You give up very little with HPS pads & significantly reduce dusting. Side note ArmorAll Outlast is an excellent product for removing brake dust.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/700x525/80-dirt_472bccfa9b3e91aaed5330250c52a8acd68af07c.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/700x466/80-dust3_3051b18579050f6a510fa687ac98a9c88ad8359e.jpg

Just wipe with a dry paper shop towel.

[CraigS]

I have had all three. HPS is the long time standard improvement over most regular pads. The HPS5.0 seems to be a new (3-4years now) version of HPS. I couldn't tell much difference between them and HPS but went w/ them just because I figured that a newer compound must have been brought out for a reason. HP+ is another leap up in grip but they do dust more for sure. Before I had balance adjustable MCs, I used HPS front and HP+ rear as a way to help gain rear brake performance. The first time I installed them I went on a drive to do their breakin procedure. I couldn't believe it when I hit the brakes the 4th time and the rears locked up. I also found the ArmourAll to be excellent. I bought a small shop vac ( 2 gal?) and kept it handy w/ the brush end on the hose just for dedusting wheels.

[GThompson]

I have HP+ pads on my M3, bought them for autocross performance. Yes, VERY dusty. Yes, fantastic performance. The one thing I’m surprised no one has mentioned is how noisy they are! I’m planning on putting them on my gen1 Daytona after I paint it and get new tires (going to try Hoosier TD in 25.5-8.5-15 and 25.5-10-15).

[jcrumpley]

I have the hps 5.0. They are way better than the cheap parts store pads I used just to get the car finished. My brakes went from questionable to very good with just the change in pads. I have irs with 13.0 inch rotors on the rear and 13.0 inch cobra brakes on the front with wilwood pedals, manual brakes, and bias adjusted appropriately.

[AC Bill]

Thanks for the reviews fellows. Better to get first hand knowledge from those that actually used them, then from the product promo's.

I can get all three Hawk formulas for my front calipers, but they only list the HPS, or HPS 5.0, for my rears, (T-Bird). I have no bias control valve, soI'm a little concerned about using two different formulas front, and rear, and how it may affect the handling under braking. Hate to be diving into a corner, apply the brakes, and have the fronts locking up
Although dusty, the HP+ sound like the most aggressive overall. To keep them same front, and rear, I should probably go the HPS 5.0 route.
Much of the driving I do is on rural country roads, with very little traffic, and few stop signs or traffic lights. I would like brakes that work well, even when cold, for when a deer, or a bear suddenly jumps out of a ditch.

I knew about the dust factor with the Hawk brand, but wasn't aware they could be noisy, as mentioned by George. I'm wondering if this is exclusive to his set up, as that factor wasn't mentioned by anyone else. Is everyone using an anti-squeal paste, or shims?

[CraigS]

I have had groan noises from time to time usually in the rear. Apparently the caliper somehow goes into a harmonic vibration. This was fairly common w/ the old Mustang GT or Mustang Cobra rear calipers and could be reduced by adding anti groan brackets. I don't think they have been available for several years though. The groan was a little annoying but never a real problem because it only happened once or twice a month. Here is an article so you can see what they are.
http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-to/wheels-tires/24698-rear-disc-brakes-anti-moan-brackets
If you want to try a search these are the part #s
F9ZZ-2C366-AA & F9ZZ-2C367-AA fit Mustang GT rear brakes w/ the 10.6 rotor

1R3Z-2C366-AA & 1R3Z-2C367-AA fit Mustang Cobra rear brakes w/ the 11.65 rotor.

There are two part numbers for each size since left and right are different.

AC Bill, I'd go for the HPS 5.0 on front and rear.

[GThompson]

The HP+ pads being noisy isn’t just my setup, it’s documented all over the internet on all different platforms.

Mustang: https://mustangforums.com/forum/s197-handling-section/671987-hawk-hps-hps-plus-feedback-noise-inquiry.html

Subaru: https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2484833

Volkswagen: https://www.vwvortex.com/threads/hawk-hp-plus-pads-very-noisy.1158472/

Corvette: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-tech/2628463-squeaky-hawk-hp-plus-pads.html

The HP+ pads are simply racing pads. They stop great but are dusty and noisy, regardless of what vehicle they’re put on. I found they stop well enough that the bedding-in procedure made me car-sick, AS A DRIVER!!! ������