Brake pads - talk to me...

[tuscan_thunder]

I'm confused: I need new pads and have no idea what to get.

The car's not very powerful (135 engine) and it'll be 99.999999% on the road.

Have had Mintex 1144s in the past and also Green Stuff.

Pondering DS2500 Ferodo, Tut's mentioned RC6 Carbone Lorraine which sound good and Pagid always crops up as a great option (but I have no idea which spec to look at: what the difference between 14s and 42s? I know one'll be more tracky than t'other but don't know which)

I'm just putting in plain discs. Already have braided lines.

Any suggestions/experiences most welcome.

[Shug]

Everyone that's used CL RC5+ has raved about them. RC6 are more a track compound.

[mckeann]

if you can afford them, go for CL RC5+ as shug mentioned. They have by far the best pedal feel i have ever felt in an elise, and work well from cold. Pagid's feel wooden in comparison.

If you cant afford them, avoid all EBC's and buy anything else on your list.

[dirkpitt]

Everyone that's used CL RC5+ has raved about them. RC6 are more a track compound.

i have gone for a set of CL RC5+ on the front and so far so good...defo feel the difference from OE pads, but havent had chance to really get them up to temp, due to the weather.....a little bit of squeal at low speed, but will place some gel or copperslip to stop this....not too expensive and are put together well....got mine from elise shop £80 odd with P&P...

happy hunting!

[j2 lot]

Mintex 1144 offers best price/ performance choice imho. I haven't tried anything more extreme though so can't comment on CL etc.
They also work without squealing/ rattling which seems to be the compromise you have to make to get better performance.

[robin]

Brakes Pads. Talk to me. I need descriptions, are they still for sale, etc., etc. I've had brake pads in my family for forty-two years. No two pads are the same, let me tell you. It's got nothing to do with me, talk to the Russian. Give me a growl, like a tiger.

For all road use, save your money and get the Mintex 1144.

Cheers,
Robin

[tut]

What has Robin been taking?

tut

[Stewart]

In my S1 135 Sport I had EBC green stuff. Very wooden when cold and as I only used the car at the weekend they would take a few stops to re-bed again.

Mintex 1144 were good road pads and were better than the greens. On track in France the mintex were great with no fade and plenty of bite. Both times were matched with EBC turbo groove discs.

On the S2 exige I put on EBC yellow stuff. Total garbage, lacked feel and bite although I dare say the servo doesn't help. Like the green stuff, avoid.

On my S2 111S I have carbon lorraine RC 5. Now the only chance I had to try them was on a very wet an dark test drive when I bought the car. The bite and feel was great and if this snow ever clears I am really looking forward to see how they perform in the dry. However I only have the very limited experience with them.

In conclusion, I would stick with the mintex as best value for money

[simon]

I'm with mckeann, the RC5s I fitted to my old (Stewarts new) car were outstanding right from the start and better than the Pagid 42s I had previously. IIRC the RC5s are also cheaper than Pagids.

[SAJ]

Got RC5+ front and back coming soon, should have had them 2 weeks ago but the weather put a stop to that.

I'll update on the difference as soon as they get fitted, but all the Lotus forums are rating them as one of the best pads to upgrade to so let see. I haven't heard any negative feedback about them. Also Hoffmans who race the Europa recommended I go with the RC5+.

I have to say the brakes on the Europa are probably one of it's weekest areas so I'm hoping for a big improvement.

[Edin430]

I know the kind of work you do and would just like to point out that Mintex pads sh!t dust alllllll over the place. Never seen so much brake dust in my life and if you have powdercoated wheels like I do you'll need to wash them constantly.

Obviously you want pads that work - so no i'm not just bothered about that, but it did manage to put me off them.

[tuscan_thunder]

I know the kind of work you do and would just like to point out that Mintex pads sh!t dust alllllll over the place. Never seen so much brake dust in my life and if you have powdercoated wheels like I do you'll need to wash them constantly.

Obviously you want pads that work - so no i'm not just bothered about that, but it did manage to put me off them.

Had 1144s before - they were pretty dusty but that's not really a concern: whilst you're right with the type of work I do, it also means I clean the car quite a lot so should be ok to keep on top of the dust issue!

Erring towards RC5s at the moment I think.

[woody]

I know the kind of work you do and would just like to point out that Mintex pads sh!t dust alllllll over the place. Never seen so much brake dust in my life and if you have powdercoated wheels like I do you'll need to wash them constantly.

Obviously you want pads that work - so no i'm not just bothered about that, but it did manage to put me off them.

Had 1144s before - they were pretty dusty but that's not really a concern: whilst you're right with the type of work I do, it also means I clean the car quite a lot so should be ok to keep on top of the dust issue!

Erring towards RC5s at the moment I think.

Check seloc -they're looking for people for a group buy.

[dirkpitt]

Everyone that's used CL RC5+ has raved about them. RC6 are more a track compound.

i have gone for a set of CL RC5+ on the front and so far so good...defo feel the difference from OE pads, but havent had chance to really get them up to temp, due to the weather.....a little bit of squeal at low speed, but will place some gel or copperslip to stop this....not too expensive and are put together well....got mine from elise shop £80 odd with P&P...

happy hunting!

just a quick update.....RC5+'s are no longer squealing....must of been the cold weather...........did a few hard stops today and they feel good........

[Scotty C]

Brakes Pads. Talk to me. I need descriptions, are they still for sale, etc., etc. I've had brake pads in my family for forty-two years. No two pads are the same, let me tell you. It's got nothing to do with me, talk to the Russian. Give me a growl, like a tiger.

For all road use, save your money and get the Mintex 1144.

Cheers,
Robin

Got to be a contender for post of the year.

Colin better watch out.