Guys, what are your favorite brake pads?

I'm a footbrake racer and seek a pad with the best cold bite at the starting line, but at once must have low compressability for good pedal feel.

Hawk Performance tech recommended the HB119W.594 for my GM 'metric' calipers with its DTC30 compound, but I'm asking actual racer's opinions too.
The Hawk pads are about 95 bucks at Speedway.
Thanks!

My experience using Hawk "black" GM style D52 pads on a footbrake car is that they hold the car no better than any aftermarket replacement pad while staged at RPM but provide better than average down track braking at the expense of severe brake dust and warping aftermarket rotors.

My experience on my 3k lb Camaro is NAPA green box organic pads. They hold great on the starting line and work great scrubbing at the finish line. I don't have any problems with locking the fronts either. They are inexpensive so if you don't like them it didn't cost much to try them.

Ed, Eman thank you; that's the kind of answers I was hoping for.

Eman, I think I'll try those pads you suggested. However, aren't organic pads a bit more 'compliant' than semi-metallics, and tend to give a 'softer' brake pedal feel?

I plan to get my rotors turned, but until the new pads are bedded, it may throw off my judgement.

Thanks again,
Troy

do not use any semi metalic pad in a footbrake car.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
do not use any semi metalic pad in a footbrake car.

Ed, why is that? Is it dangerous?
Thx
T.

No, lower coefficient of friction than organic pads, less bite when cold meaning less holding when at staged RPM.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
No, lower coefficient of friction than organic pads, less bite when cold meaning less holding when at staged RPM.

Ah, gotcha. I had my front rotors turned today to even out a few imperfections and get them ready for new pads.

I stopped at NAPA today to see about getting those organic pads that Eman had suggested, but I was told they don't carry them anymore. They told me they only had semi-metallic and ceramic.

For six years I raced with Hawk HPS pads on the front; a magnet sticks to the face of them.
A rep from Hawk advised me to get their DTC30 compound pads for footbrakeing, but man, they're nearly $100/axle.
Both Hawk pads are rated at a minimum of 100 degrees.

The rear axle had whatever pads came with the Eldorado brake kit from Right Stuff. A magnet sticks to them as well, so I ass/u/me that they are semi-metallic.

That perhaps explains why I could get at best about 2,600 rpm at launch before the converter would push through the brakes. ;^)

Thanks again.

https://www.summitracing.com/s...ding&keyword=AXOD154
Call Summit

What Ed said is exactly right for a footbrake car.
If you have an O'Reilly store nearby, I use their cheapo pads, as of 2 years ago they were non-organic, and they hold great when cold at the starting line, better than any I've tried except for the old Napa non-o pads. And they work fine down-track. Might not trust them if I was driving down Pikes Peak, but brake fade from overheating is not something we bracket racers normally need to worry about.

Thanks, Jim and Eman.
I picked up a set of 'organic' pads at O'Reilly's and I'll try them out. $16 per axle. Part # D154.

I worry some about a softer brake pedal, but we'll see I reckon.

Jim, did you mean 'non-asbestos'?
Cheers,
Troy