New brakes not feeling like it's braking much

[Seraphitia102]

I just got new Performance Friction brake pads and it still feels like it's braking worse than stock OEM pads. The guy at the brake shop told me to let them "break-in." How long is this "break-in" period? or could something be wrong with my brakes?

 

[timeless2]

Are the pads ceramic or another type?

 

[BLKVERT]

Did you get new rotors with the new pads?

 

[Seraphitia102]

I didn't get new rotors. They are carbon metallic pads (which supposedly are considered top of the line by the brake shop). I just wanted something that will have better stopping power than OEM pads but without doing a Cobra brake upgrade. I don't need super improved braking power like with the 13" upgrade, just something better than stock. But yeah, is there a break-in period with my new brake pads? They don't feel like they brake super good as the brake shop said and they told me it needs like a 2 day or so break-in period.

 

[Will Smith]

did u have ur rotors resurfaced?

 

[KronicRacer]

yes there is and usually you need to drive around and do varied hard stops and soft long distance stops here and there. theres no exac science to it (thee might be somewhere on the net). so give it a day or two. but also vary how you stop.

like everyone is asking, did they resurface your rotors? and have you check the level of the brake fluids?

 

[Seraphitia102]

Yes i have my rotors machined if that's what you mean. The brake fluid level is up to max.

 

[timeless2]

Yes i have my rotors machined if that's what you mean. The brake fluid level is up to max.

Give it until Saturday and then let us know if you feel anything different. It might be unlikely you'll "feel" anything, as you might be acclimated to a slow change.

You could have measured or timed your 60 to 0 before and after.......

 

[Q88-GT]

If your looking for performance brake pads I would recommend Hawk pads.

http://www.hawkperformance.com/

I use them on the street and track. They tend to leave lots of dust on your wheels though

 

[Seraphitia102]

I have a lot of dust on my brake pads already with the stock pads. They especially show because I have white wheels. The carbon metallics and ceramics I hear hardly leave any dust, so which is one reason why I went with carbon metallic. But I do know that Hawk Performance pads are good though, the brake shop I went to just doesn't stock them and I needed brakes pretty fast.

 

[AmBo]

Awww Sera you shoulda got the 13" kit! I did, I love em except for the amount of RUST on my rotors...the calipers don't grab the whole 13" and the portion NOT grabbed just rusts...so UGLY! :\

 

[rjstaaf]

How exactly do they "feel" worse? Is it pedal feel or do they physically not stop the car like the OEM pads did?

 

[COBRA90GT]

Did you get the Performance Friction "Z-rated" pads or the regular ones?

BTW - The Z-rated ones are pretty good, as are the Hawk street pads.

 

[2001sleeper]

If your rotors got turned down then you will need to re-season them, and anytime you get new pads you need to bed them. Check out the Baer website for their instructions.

 

[Seraphitia102]

If your rotors got turned down then you will need to re-season them, and anytime you get new pads you need to bed them. Check out the Baer website for their instructions.

I just got my rotors machined as for as I know. The brake shop didn't tell me if they did anything else. There's more to changing pads than just machining the rotors?

 

[Seraphitia102]

Did you get the Performance Friction "Z-rated" pads or the regular ones?

BTW - The Z-rated ones are pretty good, as are the Hawk street pads.

I only got the carbon metallic ones, not the Z-rated I was told by the brake shop that the carbon metallics are top-of-the-line brake pads. It was probably just top-of-the-line in their inventory though.

 

[squares98]

performance friction sucks. Shoulda got Hawks. Ive had both on the same brakes, and there is a huge difference

 

[Seraphitia102]

How exactly do they "feel" worse? Is it pedal feel or do they physically not stop the car like the OEM pads did?

They feel worse in terms of stopping distance. When I step on the pedal, I have to step on it harder than before just to stop.

 

[n0v8or]

Brake pads, much like tires, represent a compromise. Just as racing slicks won't be great for street driving, racing pads sacrifice street performance for less fade at high temperatures.

See this article for a better explanation:
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm

Start at the paragraph with the heading "The nature of braking friction".

OEM pads are engineered for shortest braking distance at moderate pedal force and are good choice for cars not used on a track or drag strip.