HPS is a street pad. It's not even mildly track worthy. The HP+ is marginally better. The XP8 is a decent track pad that you can DD if you don't mind the dust and noise. I typically track a suby but, if you're really fast, the XP10 and DTC-60's are good dedicated track pads.

 

The brake fluid you're using will be fine since you'll be using an intermediate pad. Transmission use Honda MTF (Make sure its the green label bottle) and the rear diff use the Mobile One. Clutch you can use any brake fluid. I personally use Valvoline synthetic for the clutch because I have a bunch of it laying around.

For the other poster about pads. Hawk HPS is a street pad. But honestly I think the OEM pad was better for the street. HPS has no initial bite whatsoever to me. I have them currently right now for the street.

I've got XP8 pads coming for mild track duty (we have a small course here in Orlando that doesn't require hardcore braking) and have a set of XP10 for the fronts for when I hit the HPDE (Sebring International Raceway, Homestead, Daytona, etc.)

 

Ditto, HPS isn't even a good street pad.
And it's a GOD-awful pad at the track, totally unusable, much much worse than stock (which aren't good track pads)!
The HP+ is not just "marginally better", it's WAY WAY WAY better. For me, in my stock '01, HP+ is a perfectly adequate track pad. OK to run on the street as well. Dusts, but it cleans up easily.
XP8 is another step up, I've run them on the S and they're more than adequate for a stock S on Kumho's. Also streetable. Dusty but cleans up.
I run XP10's on my much much faster 240Z.

 

ZDan, you write with conviction. I would agree with you on all points. I wouldn't get another set of HPS, not only aren't they good for track but the brake dust is aweful for even a marginal street pad. However, they held up all day for me. I did suffer some early fade but I was still braking hard at the end of the day. I personally wouldn't say they were way worse that OEM though.

 

I have to wonder if mine were from a bad batch. They were just so UNBELIEVABLY AWFUL! From the first lap, braking was dangerously bad. The pedal got REALLY soft/long, and I had to downshift early and rely heavily on engine braking. After three unenjoyable and harrowing 15 minute stints, the pads were done, nothing left! Then with the stockers swapped in (good thing I brought them!), I instantly got reasonable braking.

My one-time experience with them, they were WAY WAY WAY worse than stock. Again, I almost have to wonder if they were from a bad batch...

 

to use HP+ pad, I should switch the brake fluid right?... dang.... I am spending too much money anyone selling their racing pad?

 

The HP+ is a decent pad if you're not that fast. It might be OK if your track isn't too brake intensive too. On a track like Summit point Main, it's inadequate. On a track like VIR with long straights to cool the brakes, they're probably fine.

I ran out of brake pad one track day and installed what I thoughs was a set of HP+'s. Turns out they were HPS's. Even with Brembo's they barely stopped the car. My friends were telling me the pads were billowing smoke at every hard braking zone.

The suby goes though a set of pads every 3 track day so, I get lots of experimenting in.

HT-10's crumbled on the first track day (but they stopped the car).
HPS - Dangerous
HP+ Better. Easy to overheat.
XP8 - worked great.
XP10 - worked great.
DTC-60. Like the XP-10 with perhaps smoother application. Kind of a tossup. Corrosive dust.

Getting ready to order some XP10's for the S2000.

 

I disagree with the notion that if one is not "fast", he doesn't put as much heat into the brakes and can get by with a lesser pad. Or that if one *IS* "fast", that he necessarily puts MORE heat into the brakes and needs better pads.
For sure it is possible to be slow by braking too much!
And driving style plays into it a LOT. People can turn similar lap times in the same car and yet have different brake pad consumption rates and temperatures, and hence different pad requirements.

*Anyway*, I like to think I'm at least sorta fast (for a stock S anyway), and HP+ are adequate for me at NHMS, which is somewhat brake-intensive.

But XP8's will give a bit more margin, for sure.

 

You should put fresh DOT4 fluid in there whatever pads you run. Cheap, readily available off-the-shelf DOT4 should be fine.

 

I got Ferodo DS2000's for my very first track event. I think they were around $185 for the full set at the time.