Stoptech pads- The current FFR Supplied brake pad

[ehansen007]

There are many threads about people needing to upgrade to Hawks or EBC or even the Powerstop rotor/pad combo (I did that on my Hot Rod and loved it but I want the 289 to remain solid rotor for vintage looks) but don’t remember the kits coming with Stoptech pads. I thought they were Carbotech or something but they were bad. Wondering if people are having the same issue with non boosted brakes and upgrading still or are these Stoptechs okay? They appear to have the same performance profile as the Hawks. Don’t want to buy new ones if I don’t have to. Thanks.

UPDATE: Spoke to Jim S at FFR and they chose updated to the Stoptechs for the initial bite over the older pads which needed to get up to temp. He said that since the switch they've had no issues and customers reporting bad stopping power like they did before. I think he said they did this about 5 years ago.

[weendoggy]

FYI, Carbotech pads are not bad. You have to figure out how you're going to use the car and decide on "compound" for the pads. I've been using Carbotech pads for over 20yrs and they give me very good braking, and some good dusting, depending on the compound you use. I also have no issues stopping my car and have non-powered brakes.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Hi Erik,
I got your text and was about to answer when I saw this so I figured I'd just put it here and allow the discussion to continue. My observation with the kit supplied pads (Stoptech?) is that they do not have much initial bite. I'd call their characteristics to be "progressive" rather than "linear" meaning that upon initial application it doesn't feel like much is happening but with more pedal they do come in. Personally I like to have a good hit right from the start.

Jeff

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Have a Stoptec kit on a manual brake car. Swapped out their pads for Hawk. Did not like the feel when first applied. No real sense that you are stopping.

[ehansen007]

Yeah I felt that way with the stock brake pads like so many have. Personally, I don't feel it's great to have to warm up a brake. To me that should be track-only because what good is that if you're driving around town? I did notice a huge difference in the Napa pads last time I did this. I think those are Akebonos. Seemed to be more than enough initial bite to get to and from shows, group rides and the monthly auto-x where there's no time to warm them up.

[ehansen007]

After doing way too much online research it appears as though FFR has fixed their stock brake pad problem and taken it up a notch with the Stoptech pads. I also tried calling Stoptech as one forum user suggested but found out that that they have been bought by Centric and there's now a phone tree the size of a great sequoia that I just wasn't up to climing on a Monday morning. However, across, Amazon, Reddit, Bimmer forums, and G35 forums, most seem to favor these Stoptech Sport pads over Hawk-mostly due to the better initial bite when cold which is perfect for a lighter car like we have. Therefore I'm going to run them and give it a shot! If they do indeed work out I will create a new post to let everyone know. Thanks for all the input everyone.

[CraigS]

I read though this thread and one thing stands out. Quite a few references to Hawk pads. Fantastic, Hawk makes maybe 20 compounds. Which Hawk pad is being referenced?

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Current HPS 5.0's. Have also run HPS & HPS front & HP+ rear. Main thing for a street driven car is they all have their effective optimum temperature starting at 100*F so car will stop easily pulling out of the driveway in the morning.

[ehansen007]

After doing way too much online research it appears as though FFR has fixed their stock brake pad problem and taken it up a notch with the Stoptech pads. I also tried calling Stoptech as one forum user suggested but found out that that they have been bought by Centric and there's now a phone tree the size of a great sequoia that I just wasn't up to climing on a Monday morning. However, across, Amazon, Reddit, Bimmer forums, and G35 forums, most seem to favor these Stoptech Sport pads over Hawk-mostly due to the better initial bite when cold which is perfect for a lighter car like we have. Therefore I'm going to run them and give it a shot! If they do indeed work out I will create a new post to let everyone know. Thanks for all the input everyone.

Sorry HPS+ and HPS 5.0 mostly. Some blue's here and there but most post complain about the dusting of those.

[CraigS]

Does Stoptech publish charts of grip vs temp for their pads? I have only used Hawks same as Bear so have no way to compare to Stoptech w/o charts. I use this to help w/ dust.
https://www.armorall.com/product/outlast-brake-dust-repellent/

[ehansen007]

Here's the only one I can find since Centric bought them.

205371

[CraigS]

This is why I stuck w/ Hawk. Those 7 sided things are pretty but nearly useless. Hawk street compounds w/ graphs that tell us what we need to know.
https://www.hawkperformance.com/compounds/street
Here is a chart put together by another company covering all(?) hawk compounds
https://www.harrisonmotorsports.com/images/Hawk/Compound-Graph.jpg
These are race compounds;
https://www.hawkperformance.com/motorsports
Although the HP+ is included here, notice it has the highest grip at 100F of any compound which, as Bear says, is the most important criteria for a street pad.

[ehansen007]

Good news is they swap in and out pretty easy! So we'll see.

[ehansen007]

UPDATE: Spoke to Jim S at FFR and they chose updated to the Stoptechs for the initial bite over the older pads which needed to get up to temp. He said that since the switch they've had no issues and customers reporting bad stopping power like they did before.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

UPDATE: Spoke to Jim S at FFR and they chose updated to the Stoptechs for the initial bite over the older pads which needed to get up to temp. He said that since the switch they've had no issues and customers reporting bad stopping power like they did before.

Good to hear. When I took my first shakedown run in Feb 2015 the FFR pads scared the crap out of me. Some of us were noting this here back then. Think everyone should use what they are the most comfortable with so good luck with whatever you choose.

[CraigS]

UPDATE: Spoke to Jim S at FFR and they chose updated to the Stoptechs for the initial bite over the older pads which needed to get up to temp. He said that since the switch they've had no issues and customers reporting bad stopping power like they did before.

This is good to know. W/o numbers, we have to trust the source, and I think Jim is an excellent source.