So on my old AP1 I ran Cobalt GTS on the street and autocross and for track days, I switched the fronts for Cobalt XP2's. I found this really convenient since it minimized how often I had to change pads. However, with all the horror stories of the Cobalts, I think I want to try something different.

Is there a combination of Carbotech pads that would be similar to my old setup? I liked the initial bite of the Coblat GTS for street/autox, and I thought the bias of XP2/GTS was good for track. Will AX6's or XP8's all around be suitable for street/track? Will they offer the initial bite I'm looking for?

 

I just ran a set of XP10/XP8 at the track. With a Saner bar and 205/225 Direzza Z1s they were a great match. The bedding process was easy enough to follow and the results were confidence inspiring. I could wait till the last second to jump on the brakes and dive into turns, lap after lap. I would highly recommend them to anyone running UHP tires on the track. The initial bite is exactly what I was looking for in a track pad.

On the street, however, they are the noisiest pads I have ever run. Unless you're trying to stop quickly, they will squeal very...very...loudly. I'd recommend keeping a spare set of OEM pads and rotors to run on the street and leave the CarboTechs for the track. I will also mention that CarboTech sells replacement rotors for $45 front and $31 rear, if you give them a call. Maybe Emilio can order them, too.

Hope that helps.

 

Stay with the Cobalts......If your on 255 R-Comps go with XR1 & XR3. You'll thank me later.

 

Agreed. Squeal like a stuck pig.

They are easy enough to switch pre and post track days.

Maybe another brand might suit your purpose of a true combo pad.

 

If you are going to use the Carbotechs XP10 bear in mind they need their own layer of dust on either a resurfaced rotor or a new one to be working at their best, as recommended by Carbotech.

Correct me If I am mistaking this for another pad, but I am pretty sure I am not.

 

I have Cobalts XR2 and GTS for sale or just GTS only. I just got my self a set of 225/2555 Toyo R888 so I want more bite on the pad. Look like I might go with XR1 & XR3. I don't know how much just PM me the reasonable offer.

 

Yep, you're right. I'm running a dedicated set of rotors for my CarboTechs and the OEM rotors for street use with my OEM pads.

 

I used xp12's and xp10s and they did the job for me, but i probably could have jumped to the 16s

 

I just tried the XP10/XP8 for the first time, and it was exactly what I was looking for. Rotor friendly and easy on bite. I personally don't like pads with too much bite. I used to run Cobalt's most extreme pad (in my previous car), and it really felt like a digital pad.

I don't think XP10 is well suited as an autocross pad though. I've been to lazy to swap pads since Jan 24th's track day, since I don't drive my car much, and I'll be back out at WSIR this Sun. I had to run some errands yesterday and almost got hit by a red light camera because the pads just wouldn't grab in the cold.

As far as swapping just the pads, if you stay within the Carbotech family (via something like the Bobcat), you can just swap pads and not worry about using different rotors. I personally will keep swapping rotors because I want to visually inspect everything (like cracked rotors).

Rob, how do you like the Cobalt pads in comparison to these XP10/XP8?

 

My experince with Cobalt has been A+! I'll be switching to XR1 & XR1 (instead of XR3 for the rear) to make the most of my set up.

The XR1 compound is simply amazing It has to be experienced. Bite is unbeleavable and takes a little while to get use to...especially coming form the CT. The XP10s ramps up in torque...meaning that you have to stand on the pedal for a bit and the bite slowly ramps up to its maximum bite which really bothered me. I was also able to make them fade pretty easily at BW. Fade is non existant with the Cobalts. The XR1s took me a little while to get use to the them as you have to be really smooth and delicate in order to modulate especially in comparison to the CT pads you have to be rather delicate and smooth with the application of the pedal otherwise they bite so hard that its easy to upset the car by just jamming on them. When threshold breaking they allow me to break later and much harder (255 or bigger R-Comps should be used as I think that anything with less grip will make it very difficult to modulate). Release is about the same as the XP10s.
Rotor wear is fantastic! No deposits....and it leaves the rotor extremely smooth. Surprisingly I have not experienced any heat checks or minute cracks in the rotor....I've seen Similar compound from Endless on these BBK check the rotors on their first use and I know that I'm much harder on my brakes than the other car(s) I've seen use these BBKs. I'm not sure what that means but I'm expecting some long rotor life.
Pad life is at least twice that of the CT compounds. I'd get about 3-4 days on the CT pads. Right now I'm 4 days into the Cobalts and I haven't even made a dent in them. From what I understand this has to do with the fact that Cobalt does not use modifiers in the compound.

XR3 is actually a little rough on the rotors but I feel that it has more to do with the fact that I really should be running a matched set due to the BBK.

Its hard to explain all of the properties....but the Cobalts are superior in every way (including price, at least for me since I have an account with them ) I really don't understand all of these "horror stories" that people constantly talk about. I've never seen a failure or heard of one other than when the pads are being used on the street (not the intended purpose and almost always form the autocross crowed). The CTs are actually pretty friendly on the street but that is not the case with Cobalt and especially pad so high up in the series. Its sad that so people get scared off by them. I think if you look at the results Cobalt is achieving in professional motorsports the evidence is clear.