i recently got new brake pads (carbotech xp10/8) and brake fluid (motul rbf) and noticed that when applying hard pressure, i can feel the brakes stuttering or grinding. i experienced some of this when i took it to the track as well. i'm on stock rotors.

what could be the issue?

 

check for cracks in the rotor, if they are not brand new.

 

no cracks.

 

Is it your ABS kicking in?

 

yeah, seems like it.

 

Mystery solved.

 

does the ABS kick in easier if you have track pads? i don't remember ABS being so sensitive on stock pads. maybe the pads are overpowering the tires? i'm on re01r's.

 

 

You're just messing with us, right?

The whole point of race pads is improved braking force (and also the ability to withstand higher temps, and sometimes improved ability to modulate the force). So, if you have improved braking force, then yes, it's going to be easier for the brakes to overpower the traction that the tires can provide... which will cause ABS to engage.

I'm not sure why you had any issues, though... I was running the same pad combo as you this weekend at my track event and had no issues. Sure, I got into ABS a couple of times, but it felt exactly the same as it does on the street, and since the tires have the same amount of traction as they do on the street, it was just as predictable.

 

were you on street tires? i'm just wondering if the brakes are a bit overkill for the tires that i'm on.