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Old 11-27-2009, 01:24 PM   #1
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Default Stoptech "street performance" Pads. How are you liking yours?

I carry these now, and having no experience with them, I decided to pick up a set for my FXT. I wanted to see who else was running them and what they think.


So on to my impressions thusfar

Not bad, not amazing. They have a similar feel to Axxis Ultimates, very good initial bite, seem to modulate well (although I havent done any really hard high speed driving into turns and such yet) Noise under braking seems very similar to the OEM STI pads, so not much. So far they arent squeeking/squeeling. Dusting is almost dead on with OEM STI pads, definitely not as bad as Axxis Ultimates, but if you consider the OEM STI pads dusty, then you will consider these dusty. Plan on wiping your wheels down maybe twice a week if you like nice shiney spotless wheels.

This may lead you to think they are essentially the same pad as the STI comes with, they definitely arent, but I think it wouldnt be a huge stretch to say that they could possibly be just a more aggressive version of the same compound. Although if that was the case I would expect more dust. I would definitely call these a great autocross pad.
So far. More likely, they are a variation of the Axxis Ultimate compound, as they feel almost identical, and Stoptech used to include Axxis Ultimates with their BBKs, and now include these, but they arent as dusty.



So why buy them? Well, they are cheap. Dirt cheap. Cheapest good performing pad I have seen. For a lot of people, I think they are a great option, but I would say they arent for everyone. I cant decide if I would buy them again. The price is definitely awesome, they perform very well, but the vanity side of me, doesnt like them.



So, what do you guys think of them? I am hoping to hear from some people that have had them for a while, Im curious about longer term opinions.
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Old 11-27-2009, 03:29 PM   #2
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We have been really happy with the sti semi-metallic version for a long time. We have some of these that you mention on the way for ty's car for trial. I'll let you know our thoughts.

Clint
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Old 11-27-2009, 09:20 PM   #3
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Ooo??!? I'm getting new brake pads???
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Old 12-04-2009, 03:03 PM   #4
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New ST Street Performance pads are here. I'm going to try to get them on tonight as I have a road rally tomorrow that will be a great test.
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Old 12-05-2009, 12:25 AM   #5
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woooooo, im just about to do pads and fluid. look forward to your opinion for a DD pad that sees the autoX track a few times a year and some "for fun" road coarse driving.
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Old 12-05-2009, 12:41 AM   #6
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So far:

1) Dead silent, though every pad is silent immediately post-install
2) Far, FAR higher heat tolerance than the stockers, Carbotech Bobcats, or Hawk HPS. As in 4x as many 60-10 stops before the onset of fade and even once the braking force started to drop off, they still had 1-2 more stops before they really gave up, so you don't risk thinking everything is fine and then just having the brakes give up on you without warning when you need it.
3) Much higher initial bite that stock, HPS, or Bobcats. For me, almost too much. I think most people will like it because I prefer a pad with slightly less initial bite than many people.


Still to find out:
1) noise level long term
2) modulation
3) dust level
4) pad and rotor wear
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Old 12-05-2009, 11:49 AM   #7
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I was just about to ask about dust. I recommended the Posiquiets to an STi owner the other day but it sounds like these might be better...
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Old 12-05-2009, 10:23 PM   #8
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OK, had 200mi of rally miles on them today and I have mixed opinions. On the tarmac transits, I kind of liked them. They're a little bit touchy/grabby, but they allow you to really get on the brakes without having to mash the pedal so hard that it gets mushy. However, they're nearly un-drivable on gravel stages. The initial snatch is so hard that it makes it impossible to have any finesse. The minimum amount of braking force these are willing to administer is simply too large for driving on a slick surface. They actually caused me to spin at one point right at the beginning of a braking, which is a place my car is not unstable at all. However, beating on them all damned day, they never once gave any indication they were near their thermal limit.

Recommendation: Probably a great pad for AX, tarmac RR, Targas, and maybe casual track work if you've good braking technique. Strongly consider giving them a pass if you drive much on slick surfaces and use the brakes to help steer the car.

I'll keep running them a couple of months, though, to give a report on dust, noise, and wear.
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Old 12-05-2009, 10:46 PM   #9
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TiC needs to carry a few of these... At least for 06-07 WRX
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Old 12-05-2009, 10:53 PM   #10
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For the 06-07 WRX (4pot/2pot), TiC already carries the Centric Semi-Met pads which are extremely popular.
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Old 12-05-2009, 11:00 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by williaty View Post
OK, had 200mi of rally miles on them today and I have mixed opinions. On the tarmac transits, I kind of liked them. They're a little bit touchy/grabby, but they allow you to really get on the brakes without having to mash the pedal so hard that it gets mushy. However, they're nearly un-drivable on gravel stages. The initial snatch is so hard that it makes it impossible to have any finesse. The minimum amount of braking force these are willing to administer is simply too large for driving on a slick surface. They actually caused me to spin at one point right at the beginning of a braking, which is a place my car is not unstable at all. However, beating on them all damned day, they never once gave any indication they were near their thermal limit.

Recommendation: Probably a great pad for AX, tarmac RR, Targas, and maybe casual track work if you've good braking technique. Strongly consider giving them a pass if you drive much on slick surfaces and use the brakes to help steer the car.

I'll keep running them a couple of months, though, to give a report on dust, noise, and wear.

they sound like a good pad to use to adjust bias a bit
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Old 12-05-2009, 11:39 PM   #12
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Well, maybe, maybe not on the bias. A very light brake application shifts just enough weight forwards to get the car to steer enough to get the rear end to swing around and step out. A little more brakes gets the fronts to lock up too. The problem is that the Street Performance pads blow right through the weight shift to the point of lock up. Shifting the bias forwards would obviously make things worse. Shifting the bias backwards would make the understeer under braking better, yes, but I'm worried the pads are still snatchy enough to either just lock up all 4 or make the car unstable when trying to brake in a straight line.
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Old 12-06-2009, 12:12 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by williaty View Post
Well, maybe, maybe not on the bias. A very light brake application shifts just enough weight forwards to get the car to steer enough to get the rear end to swing around and step out. A little more brakes gets the fronts to lock up too. The problem is that the Street Performance pads blow right through the weight shift to the point of lock up. Shifting the bias forwards would obviously make things worse. Shifting the bias backwards would make the understeer under braking better, yes, but I'm worried the pads are still snatchy enough to either just lock up all 4 or make the car unstable when trying to brake in a straight line.
yeah....well.....I really liked the Ultimates in back when I had the h6 rears on my 02......the bobcats in front with that was

once that all got nice and warm, it would pop yer eyeballs out and bounce them off the inside of the windshield

grabby is good....too grabby isnt....and the ultimates were kinda on that edge and if these pads are much more.....they may be too much for some uses
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Old 12-10-2009, 10:19 AM   #14
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I just swapped out my OE pads and the car stops amazing. Similar to the OE ceramic pads. I used Morse C/MAX in front autozone, and Napa ceramics for the rear...extremely quiet and 60-0 is excellent and gets better after repeated stops. My tires are limiting the potential as the antilock comes on but it is very predictable, I can modulate the brake to the point just before the antilock would come on and the car will stop very quickly and this was on wet roads to boot. I would have gone with semi metallics but these work very good.
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Old 12-10-2009, 11:07 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackpearlSTI View Post
I just swapped out my OE pads and the car stops amazing. Similar to the OE ceramic pads. I used Morse C/MAX in front autozone, and Napa ceramics for the rear...extremely quiet and 60-0 is excellent and gets better after repeated stops. My tires are limiting the potential as the antilock comes on but it is very predictable, I can modulate the brake to the point just before the antilock would come on and the car will stop very quickly and this was on wet roads to boot. I would have gone with semi metallics but these work very good.

and this has WHAT, exactly(other than nothing) to do with this thread???
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Old 12-10-2009, 12:00 PM   #16
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TIC is out of them for 06-07 WRX. I wanted some but they were sold out.
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Old 12-10-2009, 12:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty View Post
and this has WHAT, exactly(other than nothing) to do with this thread???

Oh sorry ...well I was origianlly going to get stoptech semi metallics since the price for all 4 at 90.00 was very economical...even though the Morse C/max and napa ceramic combo costs a little more the convenience of getting them over the counter and the great performance of the ceramic compounds prompted me to post an alternative to the stoptechs. Less dust no noise and better stopping than the stock STI pads.
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Old 12-10-2009, 12:47 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trick3d View Post
TIC is out of them for 06-07 WRX. I wanted some but they were sold out.
Call. I don't think that's actually true it's just that none of us can remember to update the stock levels in the database to save our souls.
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Old 12-10-2009, 02:16 PM   #19
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so the 90 bucks is for all 4? oh that explains it. I was confused why people thought they were cheap but I thought it was only the fronts for 90. Yay.
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Old 12-10-2009, 04:47 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by williaty View Post
OK, had 200mi of rally miles on them today and I have mixed opinions. On the tarmac transits, I kind of liked them. They're a little bit touchy/grabby, but they allow you to really get on the brakes without having to mash the pedal so hard that it gets mushy. However, they're nearly un-drivable on gravel stages. The initial snatch is so hard that it makes it impossible to have any finesse. The minimum amount of braking force these are willing to administer is simply too large for driving on a slick surface. They actually caused me to spin at one point right at the beginning of a braking, which is a place my car is not unstable at all. However, beating on them all damned day, they never once gave any indication they were near their thermal limit.

Recommendation: Probably a great pad for AX, tarmac RR, Targas, and maybe casual track work if you've good braking technique. Strongly consider giving them a pass if you drive much on slick surfaces and use the brakes to help steer the car.

I'll keep running them a couple of months, though, to give a report on dust, noise, and wear.
We've sold a lot of these pads and haven't had any of the feedback you've given about grabbiness, but since its on gravel, its a somewhat unique situation. The pads are really designed as a street and track pad with the emphasis on a high temperature limit for fade resistance and minimal pad deposition issues. You are definitely backing up the overwhelming consensus on the temperature range and the low noise/dust characteristics.
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Old 12-10-2009, 06:19 PM   #21
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Exactly. I'd have no problems recommending these to a canyon warrior, autocrosser, or someone tracking an under-powered car with good suspension. On the gravel, and my worry is on the street in snow and ice as well, the minimum amount of brakin force you can get out of them is just a hair too high. I'm going to run them a month at minimum and then run them in the next rally to see if it's something I just needed to adapt to


Stoptech/Centric just really needs to start casting the centric semi-met compound that everyone loves in the 929 and 1004 pad shapes. That would pick up all the 2.5rs/2.5i and half of the WRXen. That's a huge market to sell into at that pricepoint.
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Old 12-10-2009, 06:44 PM   #22
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We have the ceramic compound available for that which are pretty similar to the semi-metallics. Might want to give them a try also.

Usually Centric uses the semi-met (104) compound on Euro applications and the Ceramic (105) compound on the Domestic and Japanese cars.
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Old 12-10-2009, 07:04 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ESmooth View Post
We have the ceramic compound available for that which are pretty similar to the semi-metallics. Might want to give them a try also.

Usually Centric uses the semi-met (104) compound on Euro applications and the Ceramic (105) compound on the Domestic and Japanese cars.
Your little graphs suggest that the ceramics (105) have significantly lower heat tolerance and dramatically lower friction than the semi-met (104). Is that true or do the graphs exaggerate the differences?
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Old 12-10-2009, 07:39 PM   #24
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On the same caliper, that will be the case to a degree. That being said, European cars generally rely more on the pads for the torque where the US and Domestic tend to rely more on the caliper piston size which is why there are the inherent differences in friction levels. The semi-mets may theoretically still have some of the grabbiness you mentioned on your current calipers where the ceramics would feel more linear.

In either case, we can safely compare our Ceramic or Semi-Metallic as an alternative to a Hawk HPS pad on any application.
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Old 12-10-2009, 08:01 PM   #25
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Just before putting on your Street Performance pads, I had HPS on my car. I wasn't really a fan. They felt "mushy" for lack of a better word, almost like the pad material itself was slightly compressible. They also didn't have decent initial-application friction and didn't gain friction as fast as pedal force went up (a.k.a. bad modulation). This led to a feeling that you never quite knew if they were going to be there when you needed them. They were also friggen dust factories! They're the only pads I've ever seen that actually turned my tires red. The only good thing about them is that they were basically dead silent.

I do, so far, like the StopTech Street Performance pads much more than the Hawk HPS.

So what I think we're getting to here is that I'm just really damned picky because I know what I want and I can tell if I'm getting it or not
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