ok, I did my search for the Carbotech pads, some went XP10 all around, while others went XP10 front and XP8 rear, and very few XP8 all around, so my question for those who used Carbotech pads, can you please share your experience and input, what setup did u use, did you have any problems with Carbotech at all? are XP10&8 race compound or they are dual purpose? and is there any advantage for the Carbotech rotors over the OEM ones?
I am running stock OEM tires and stock rotors, and doing track days only at this time.
Thanks in advance

 

XP10 and XP8 for the correct front/rear braking balance. Its a track only pad because they squeek and dust like hell, but you can drive it daily if you don't mind. Carbotech rotors are a generic brand rotor made my Centric in China, they seem to be on the better quality side becuase they don't have any apparent milled balancing areas on the edge of the rotor, but they are probably not better or worse then OEM.

 

Carbotech XP10's after about 60 mins of track laps.


They don't wear the rotor much (a +) they have excellent modulation (a +) they evaporate from the car like water in death valley (f-). Love em, can't afford to keep throwing them at the race car.

 

what pads are you using instead?

 

I race Carbotech's along with many other guys in NASA MidA that run Carbotechs and have NEVER seen anything like that.

I have seen some XP12's groove rotors so I might not recommend the 12's but the 10's are fine. As suggested you might not want to use them for everyday driving and I don't know what to recommend for that since I don't do that with my S.

OP and MrS there will be a heat issue at some point and you will have to install brake ducts, it all depends on how fast you drive the car.

 

That photo was off of a 99 Civic Si in Showroom stock. Stock wheels, stock power (which isn't much) and no brake ducting allowed. That picture was taken at Daytona. When I went out I looked at the pads and they looked to have 25% left on the front. I was surprised I had wore then down that much but it was a short 15 min session. Apparently in 15mins you can go from 25% to ZERO and turn one isn't fun with no brakes.
Like I said above I love the Carbotechs but when I go through a set a weekend I can't afford that. Put Hawk Blues on and deal with the occasional lock up issues but they last longer then the motor in the car!
My favorite in terms of pedal feel and modulation and life has been the Cobalts. But the Price of the cobalts is why Hawk Blues are on the car now. I think the Hawks were like $50 or $60 less. The cobalts last almost as long as the hawks but are much much better in terms of modulation. I have had some fade issues out of the cobalts near the end of a race but it's very minor. They do less rotor wear then the hawks. The Hawks absolutely destroy the rotors but I can get rotors for this car for pennies so that's not a worry. Rotors are 1/10th the price of pads.

 

I used Carbotech XP10 front and XP8 rear on my S2000 for lapping, and I use the same combination on my Miata for racing. I've never had a problem with them wearing particularly fast. They modulate very well, and never fade on me. The only gripe I have is that they really need to be carefully bedded, which isn't always easy.

 

i use the carbotech ax6 pads and i love them. they are mild and arent to agressive, like most have said this is a track pad and they squeal and dust. not the coolest thing to pull up to a light in a 30k+ sport car squealing

 

Thanks for your feedback guys, it was very helpful, If I go XP10/XP8 do I have to upgrade the brake fluid? and if yes, what do you guys use?
I am not very competitive neither too fast, I just need something that last more than OEM and doesn't fade as easy. is there a better Carbotech choice for me other than XP10/XP8???

 

Upgrading fluid has nothing to do with the pad you use. DOT3 fluid will boil when you get at all aggressive with your braking, while DOT4 fluid won't. If you plan to track more than once or twice a year, spend the half hour it takes to switch to DOT4 fluid.

And if you're going to track your car, a full race pad is the way to go. XP10/XP8 is a fine way to go. Once you get the hang of it, you can swap in your track pads in less than an hour, no sweat.