RX8 Brake Pads

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Django91
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RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Django91 »

Hello resident rotor-heads,

Looking for brake pads for fast road, and occasional track use.
This is a topic that divides opinion, how do you choose a good set of pads?

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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by shroom »

Django91 wrote:Hello resident rotor-heads,

Looking for brake pads for fast road, and occasional track use.
This is a topic that divides opinion, how do you choose a good set of pads?

Toby
Previous experience, performance, price, availability all factors that will play a part in your choice.

A lot rate the Mintex 1144 if you can get a reputable supplier

Other more mixed on the EBC pads but I find my yellow stuff excellent and easy to source.



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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Dr. FrankenRex »

I really enjoyed Hawk HP+ for track.

Ultimately the RX8 is quite over-braked, so most OEM pads will do as long as you have some good, fresh brake fluid.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by New Duke »

Yeah, first decide on your budget and go from there. There's hundreds of £££s difference in choice for what you're looking for. Otherwise you're going to get a dozen different answers. It's just like tyres.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Ollie »

I was looking into getting some Mintex 1144s. After contacting Mintex they told me to try a local supplier. The cost came to about £200 quid total for all round which isn't the worst in the world. Otherwise I was considering EBC yellows too.. I'd suggest trying one brand this time round and another brand the next. As long as it meets OEM standard you'll always be braking enough but you may find different amounts of braking hot/cold and dust etc not being to your liking.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by jondkent »

The Mintex 1144 are great pads, really good feel and speed reduction. Only problem is they can be very dusty, and can be noisy if you are unlucky.

I tend to use EBC redstuff pads, to day-to-day, leaving the Mintex for track.

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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by TheJDMStereotype »

From my experience I would also recommend EBC yellow stuff

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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by warpc0il »

Just one word of warning when buying brake pads, many brands, such as Ferodo, Brembo & EBC are commonly faked.
Some sellers of fake parts have now realised that "too cheap" is a bit of a give-away, so they're asking very nearly as much as legitimate sources.

I've been very happy with the Pagid pads that I bought, in an emergency a couple of years ago, that have done two track days since without issues.

Follow this diy how-to https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/v ... 30&t=48895
as getting simple things wrong can ruin the braking performance, regardless how much you spend on the pads.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Django91 »

New Duke wrote:
Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:06 pm
Yeah, first decide on your budget and go from there. There's hundreds of £££s difference in choice for what you're looking for. Otherwise you're going to get a dozen different answers. It's just like tyres.
So ideally it wouldnt be too much above standard OEM replacement pads. Very much focused on function and not overkill

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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Conan »

Hi and as you have found there are lots of opinions on brake pads.
The OEM pads were actually very, very good, ( The Formula woman race series used them ) all the cheap pads available are not as good as OEM. ( I was surprised by them )
The truth is simple : ( one size does not fit all ) horses for courses
For you and your requirements I would recommend the Mintex 1144,s I had these made for the club the first time around as they were not available in our calliper size. Cheaper than yellow stuff and a better feel although there is not a big difference as both compounds have to comply with E - 90 regulations on cold stopping compliance. ( euro regs )
You should be able to pick a car set up for around £130 to £150
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Django91 (Tue Oct 08, 2019 3:08 pm)
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by xamtex »

another vote for 1144s here,work well hot and cold...road and track days.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by dac69er »

i did a trackday on stock discs and pads and never had any complaints. no fade, no funny smells and braking was plenty good enough.
i personally wouldnt worry about anything better unless your wanting to compete or the car was heavily modified.

you would have to be going some to max out the stock brakes on the road!
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by warpc0il »

One advantage of the OEM pads is that they always fit without jamming or filing down the sides.
That's not be the case with many aftermarket pads that I've fitted, or others have struggled to fit during a trackday lunch stop
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by bigpete8 »

warpc0il wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2019 10:40 am
One advantage of the OEM pads is that they always fit without jamming or filing down the sides.
Mostly... my Mintex OEM spec ones didnt.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Django91 »

warpc0il wrote:
Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:13 pm
Just one word of warning when buying brake pads, many brands, such as Ferodo, Brembo & EBC are commonly faked.
Some sellers of fake parts have now realised that "too cheap" is a bit of a give-away, so they're asking very nearly as much as legitimate sources.

I've been very happy with the Pagid pads that I bought, in an emergency a couple of years ago, that have done two track days since without issues.

Follow this diy how-to https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/v ... 30&t=48895
as getting simple things wrong can ruin the braking performance, regardless how much you spend on the pads.
So are these OEM spec Pagid pads or a higher performance pad? I believe Euro car parts do OEM spec pads from Brembo/Pagid, good discounts as well!

Toby
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by warpc0il »

Just the standard Pagid pads, probably the same as ECP offering.

Get some Ceratek while you're there.

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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by New Duke »

Django91 wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2019 12:14 pm
warpc0il wrote:
Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:13 pm
Just one word of warning when buying brake pads, many brands, such as Ferodo, Brembo & EBC are commonly faked.
Some sellers of fake parts have now realised that "too cheap" is a bit of a give-away, so they're asking very nearly as much as legitimate sources.

I've been very happy with the Pagid pads that I bought, in an emergency a couple of years ago, that have done two track days since without issues.

Follow this diy how-to https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/v ... 30&t=48895
as getting simple things wrong can ruin the braking performance, regardless how much you spend on the pads.
So are these OEM spec Pagid pads or a higher performance pad? I believe Euro car parts do OEM spec pads from Brembo/Pagid, good discounts as well!

Toby
Those pads from ECP will be genuine and work fine. As you've probably seen during their numerous sales you can get a full pad set for about £50. Which is a bargain.

Those pads will be plenty on the road and pretty good on track. I used them for both for a few of years. You may find they wear out in a single very hot day on track and fade after a few laps. Or on cooler track days you may see very little wear or fade. They don't last quite as long as more expensive pads under extreme thermal loads (but we're talking: trying to set a fastest lap on a race circuit in 30+ degree heat). Plus at £50 they're so cheap who cares if they don't last as long. For 99% of scenarios they're the business. And anyone who buys more expensive pads but doesn't take the car on track is throwing away money.

I recently swapped to Mintex 1144s (which are better on track for my driving style with very little fade) but they're much more expensive. I usually track it every 2 or 3 months. In your case I'd suggest starting with the OEM euro car parts pads (I liked the Brembo ones, but they're all fine) and see how you get on. You may find them plenty. So much of brake wear is down to driving style. But if you feel later than you want something different then 1144s or Yellow Stuff are good alternatives, but cost more than double. That was why I mentioned budget being a factor earlier.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Django91 »

New Duke wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:52 pm
Django91 wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2019 12:14 pm
warpc0il wrote:
Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:13 pm
Just one word of warning when buying brake pads, many brands, such as Ferodo, Brembo & EBC are commonly faked.
Some sellers of fake parts have now realised that "too cheap" is a bit of a give-away, so they're asking very nearly as much as legitimate sources.

I've been very happy with the Pagid pads that I bought, in an emergency a couple of years ago, that have done two track days since without issues.

Follow this diy how-to https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/v ... 30&t=48895
as getting simple things wrong can ruin the braking performance, regardless how much you spend on the pads.
So are these OEM spec Pagid pads or a higher performance pad? I believe Euro car parts do OEM spec pads from Brembo/Pagid, good discounts as well!

Toby
Those pads from ECP will be genuine and work fine. As you've probably seen during their numerous sales you can get a full pad set for about £50. Which is a bargain.

Those pads will be plenty on the road and pretty good on track. I used them for both for a few of years. You may find they wear out in a single very hot day on track and fade after a few laps. Or on cooler track days you may see very little wear or fade. They don't last quite as long as more expensive pads under extreme thermal loads (but we're talking: trying to set a fastest lap on a race circuit in 30+ degree heat). Plus at £50 they're so cheap who cares if they don't last as long. For 99% of scenarios they're the business. And anyone who buys more expensive pads but doesn't take the car on track is throwing away money.

I recently swapped to Mintex 1144s (which are better on track for my driving style with very little fade) but they're much more expensive. I usually track it every 2 or 3 months. In your case I'd suggest starting with the OEM euro car parts pads (I liked the Brembo ones, but they're all fine) and see how you get on. You may find them plenty. So much of brake wear is down to driving style. But if you feel later than you want something different then 1144s or Yellow Stuff are good alternatives, but cost more than double. That was why I mentioned budget being a factor earlier.
Absolutely, I agree with you. I might just buy from ECP for now. Whom do you use to get your Mintex 1144s?
The one part I really want, but struggling to find used is the Racing Beat set of ARB's!
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by New Duke »

I jumped on a club group buy that you must have missed (I don't know if non-members can join in) which made them much more affordable. The other option I'd found was that some eBay sellers sell 1144s in the RX8 size, but that cost more than the group buy.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Ollie »

When I contacted mintex they told me to contact Questmeads sales team to enquire about them. Fronts were 105 rears were 70 quid odd. Which is more than the group buy.. But could be less than ebay.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by New Duke »

And more likely to be the correct compound/not fakes if Mintex referred you to them. With an eBay seller who knows.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Ollie »

Yeah exactly. They said Questmead supply to race teams etc so they'd have stock ready to go. I won't be buying them till next summer time probably so... who knows might have a group buy by then. :p
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by shroom »

Btw you can get 15% off at EBC with the club so the yellow stuff are £80 for the front...



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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Conan »

Yorindesarin wrote:
Tue Sep 17, 2019 6:40 pm
Yeah exactly. They said Questmead supply to race teams etc so they'd have stock ready to go. I won't be buying them till next summer time probably so... who knows might have a group buy by then. :p
Quest meads sister company make Mintex pads under licence from Mintex in small batches like the 1144’s
They supply the RX-8 race series with the 1144 pads which is why there is a rotor laser etched so the scrutineers can check easily. The two companies are owned by the same person, brake pads made ground floor and race sales first floor which really made me laugh when Chris Holmes informed everyone the pads had been delivered to the supplier.
The race series gets the pads cheaper than the group buy.
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Re: RX8 Brake Pads

Post by Ollie »

Ahh interesting to know that Pete!
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