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Old 03-17-2004, 04:46 PM   #1
sotti
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Default Axxis pads? -- or anything else better for the money?

They are inexpensive and alot of online vendors stock them.

I don't want to spend much over $100 for front and rear pads.

I'm just wondering if anyone have some advice or input on these pads or a better set to get.
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Old 03-17-2004, 05:47 PM   #2
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Simply, they are better at initial bite than OEM pads. Fading is little better or less shall I say.

While I do/have not raced my RS, there is a major improvement over stock. There are a ton of threads with every kind of opinion good,bad, average about these pads. They'll dust more, but from my experience they'll grab way better than the OEM.
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Old 03-17-2004, 06:00 PM   #3
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Axxis ultimates will dust more, Axxis metal masters hardly dust.
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Old 03-17-2004, 06:02 PM   #4
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I don't care too much about dust, my wheels are easy to clean.

I'm looking for good initial bite, and something that won't fade any worse that the stock pad.
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Old 03-17-2004, 09:01 PM   #5
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Hawk HPS kicks butt, but no rears are offered - no real bother anyway, rea pads barely ever wear on street driving
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Old 03-17-2004, 09:34 PM   #6
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Ultimates rock. I've got them on the WRX and the Protege5. It was a HUGE improvement over stock on both cars. Whatever pad you get, MAKE SURE YOU BREAK (SEAT) THEM IN PROPERLY!

I've put over 30k on the Ultimates and they're still going strong.
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Old 03-17-2004, 09:44 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally posted by sotti
I don't care too much about dust, my wheels are easy to clean.

I'm looking for good initial bite, and something that won't fade any worse that the stock pad.
I have run several sets of them, but eventually moved on to something better (Carbotech Bobcat). Ultimates meet your criteria -- cheap, good initial bite, less fade than stock.

As mentioned, they do dust like a mofo, though. They can also make some noise as they get past the halfway point in terms of wear...but not intolerable at all.

Long story short, the Axxis Ultimates are a fine replacement for street pads. Just don't try and take them to the track. They suck for that purpose.

Scott
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Old 03-17-2004, 11:05 PM   #8
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I just went to Hawk HP Plus... I love them. I have used Axxis Metal Masters, Wilwood E and D compound and Porterfield R4S... The Hawks win, hands down (for my particular application).
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Old 03-18-2004, 12:34 AM   #9
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So are Axxis ultimates worse than stock at the track?

I do plan on doing some track days.
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Old 03-18-2004, 07:06 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally posted by sotti
So are Axxis ultimates worse than stock at the track?

I do plan on doing some track days.
No, they are not *worse* than stock at track days, but they are definitely NOT the pad you want to use, IMHO.

They fade less than the stock pads do while at the track, but they still fade badly after 2-3 laps of a typical track. Are you a track rookie or do you plan on running street tires instead of R compounds? If so, you might get away with the Ultimates for your first track day. After that, plan on throwing them away since they will be crumbled to death.

My advice is to swap pads before going to the track. There are lots of pads out there; I like Carbotech products and use Panther XP at the track. Total time to swap pads for the front stock WRX brakes = 20 minutes. If you use street pads like the Ultimates on track, you will be sorry.

Scott
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Old 03-18-2004, 12:44 PM   #11
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Quote:
If you use street pads like the Ultimates on track, you will be sorry.
Uh, I'm not sorry. I've used them for 2 track events and not had any problems - first time was my first time on track, and my 2nd event I moved to the intermediate group with the slightly faster & more experienced folks. I don't brake at the last marker, but I don't get passed by any slow cars, either - even made up ground on M5's and the like in the corners & braking zones. The pads hardly show any wear after a whole weekend, and I only had slight fading after about 15min on VIR South Course - and all I had to do was brake a little sooner (it's not a race, so why should I feel I have to push the limits?). No fading on Full Course. I think they're a great pad for a first time on track or for stock hp/ sticky street tires. If you've modified the car and have 350hp or something, just ignore this reply.

Having said all the good stuff - I'll be buying a set of some kind of race pads for next time, because I plan to push a little harder - and I'll be back at South Course. Don't think the Ultimates are going to keep up with me anymore.

Also - the dusting is unfreakingbelievable. If you want to see stock vs. Ultimate after one week, I can post a pic when I get home. If you don't have dark wheels and you like to keep them clean, you'll be cleaning them every 3 days. Regardless of how hard you brake. Seriously.

I'm using Carbotech Bobcats on the other RS now, and they feel really good - and they're not supposed to dust nearly as bad. I just installed them, so I don't have any personal experience with that yet.

Good luck,

Kevin

Last edited by Fred; 03-18-2004 at 12:50 PM.
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Old 03-18-2004, 01:14 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fred
Uh, I'm not sorry. I've used them for 2 track events and not had any problems - first time was my first time on track, and my 2nd event I moved to the intermediate group with the slightly faster & more experienced folks. <snip> I think they're a great pad for a first time on track or for stock hp/ sticky street tires.

Kevin
Right, that's what I was saying. For your first one or 2 track events they will be adequate because you are not going fast enough to fade them, particularly if you are on street tires.

What I should have clarified is that 'you will be sorry if you try to use Ultimates once you have graduated to R compounds and/or advanced run groups'.

Sorry for any confusion. They do definitely dust like crazy. Go ahead and post the pics -- Sotti should know what he is getting into.

I can also confirm that Bobcats barely dust AT ALL. They dust, but it's like an 'invisible' dust. Weird...
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Old 03-18-2004, 01:27 PM   #13
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I hope they're as good as everybody says they are. I've been using the Ultimates for a couple years for autox & street (because they were so cheap, and I didn't care about the dust). I just put the Bobcats on the new street-only car. I had Ultimates on the front for a week, while I was waiting for the Bobcats to arrive (the pads that were on it were the original, glazed, almost-worn-to-the-backing-plate 90k mile stock pads ). The difference is pretty obvious, as you'll see.



edit - actually, I used Porterfield R4S for a while too before getting the Ultimates - had forgotten about those. They were about the same with the dust, but it was reddish instead of dark grey.
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Old 03-18-2004, 01:55 PM   #14
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Anybody used the EBC redstuff?

And are carbotech bobcatt's good enough for trackdays?
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Old 03-18-2004, 02:06 PM   #15
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at anything EBC -- they suck, period. Search here and you'll see.

Carbotech Bobcat is kind of an upgrade (a big upgrade) over Ultimates as a street pad. It is not intended for use as a track pad, although some have tried and succeeded. Personally, I'd get a real set of track pads and use those...Panther XP comes to mind.

Trying to do crossover items between street and track is a real compromise. I'm in a position to know. Some things can be gotten away with, like using Konis and lowering springs instead of full-on coilovers to save some cash. Honestly, brake pads are not one of those areas I will ever bother to try and cross over in the future. I did the exact same thing you are doing and it is less expensive and safer in the long run to just buy what you need.

In your case, I'd keep the stockers on for the street, and just purchase a set of race pads like Panther XP for track days. It's an easy swap -- 20 minutes.

My 2 cents...
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Old 03-18-2004, 02:28 PM   #16
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any comments about the hawk HP Plus sdecker?
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Old 03-18-2004, 02:37 PM   #17
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Nope, haven't used them...sorry. Lots of others have, though. My general impression is that they are good, but it's not first hand info like the Ulimates and Bobcats.
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Old 03-18-2004, 02:40 PM   #18
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sotti...ya can't have your cake and eat it too....you want cheap pads...you want to track the car.......

Here's what I'd do....I'd get Ferodo 2500's for $$$ and they should handle both duties for a while....OR...
Get a good rear pad like the Bobcats and buy a couple sets of fronts...track and street..and swap them...
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Old 03-18-2004, 03:46 PM   #19
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Where do you get Ferodo's and how much do they cost?
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Old 03-18-2004, 04:15 PM   #20
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See: http://www.raceshopper.com/ferodo_brake_pads.shtml

No idea on cost, but expect ~$300 for the whole thing...front and rear pads.
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Old 03-18-2004, 09:36 PM   #21
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Here are the comparison pics as promised:





this is after one week of normal driving (a few hundred miles).
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Old 03-18-2004, 10:24 PM   #22
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I'm betting the Ultimates are the top pic.
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Old 03-19-2004, 10:49 AM   #23
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nawwwww....
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Old 03-19-2004, 01:32 PM   #24
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The Ultimates were on the front of the car, while the stock pads were on the rear, just so you know. But there's really not much difference in dusting front & rear with stock pads, either. So I'd say it's a pretty accurate comparison.

Later.
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Old 03-20-2004, 10:44 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by sdecker


My advice is to swap pads before going to the track. There are lots of pads out there; I like Carbotech products and use Panther XP at the track. Total time to swap pads for the front stock WRX brakes = 20 minutes. If you use street pads like the Ultimates on track, you will be sorry.

Scott
So are you saying all you have to do is change the front pads for the track? Not all four?
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