My local Mitsu dealer wants $800 bucks to do pads front and rear. I told him I would just bring him aftermarket pads and he said he couldn't do that.

Ridiculous.

I'm back to finding aftermarket pads and a new installer.

Suggestions?

The hawk HPS pads work great for street use and they are way cheaper then the stock pads.

I've been very happy with the Ferodo DS-2500s. They run around $260 for all four wheels. They work about the same as stock cold, but don't fade as bad when heated. Great street/track pad. If you want a street only pad I've heard the Hawk HPS is good and a little cheaper. Also, installation is pretty easy if you have any interest in doing it yourself.

-Paul

use the ferodo's and install them yourself. Every Hawk pad I have ever used has absolutely destroyed my rotors.

YMMV,

greg

I'm getting opinions on both sides about every pad I research....

Don't even DREAM of paying someone to install pads. It's dead easy! Search, and ye shall find numerous threads and how-to's. All you need are:

a jack (to lift the car)
a 21 mm socket wrench (to remove the wheels)
a metal hammer and nail punch (to tap out the pad retaining pins)
a prybar or large, flat-head screwdriver (to push in the pistons)

The whole job takes 5-10 minutes per corner, including jacking the car and removing the wheel.

Emre

Have you ever tried Hawk HPS pads? They're so gentle on rotors it's remarkable. Better than stock.

Emre

**** that

get some aftermarket and install yourself

Pads are like everything else, it's what suits you best.

I just recently changed my pads to Ferodo 2500's. I think they are great. The install is straightforward for the mechanically inclined. I meticulously greased the back of the shims and pad rails with hitemp anti seize lube and haven't had a squeal as of yet.

I also have installed Hawk pads in my acura in the past. Absolutely loved them. Great initial bite. Went with the ferodos because of their great reviews in publications, and the FQ-400 uses them.

I don't think you can go worng with either. Besides if you're like me you will be changing them frequently and you can try another brand. Bottomline, either pad will be better than stock.

Just a tip: everyone recommends to use a screwdriver to push the caliper pistons back. It does work but more often than not, you can't push one piston in without the other pushing out. Use the old brake pad as a lever to push both at the same time.

I was pretty sure I was going to do that but the guy at Mitsu said he would cut my rotors while doing the job. Is that required?

used Hawk Blues on the rallycar and went through 3 sets of rotors, the pads were about half worn. Never again will a hawk pad be on any vehicle of mine.

FWIW, the FQ-400 uses different calipers (6-piston Alcons) so it's not exactly the same. But the Ferodos are definitely good street pads. It's just that the Hawk HPS is even cheaper and you can find them everywhere.

Emre

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Hawk Blues are TOTALLY different from Hawk HPS! The Blues are some of the harshest pads on the planet. Not only do they completely rape your rotors, but that horribly tenacious dust is highly corrosive. I ruined a set of BBS alloys on my BMW track car because of corrosion from Hawk Blues.

However, the HPS is a TOTALLY different animal. They're some of the best street pads I've ever used. Very gentle on rotors, good initial bite, good fade resistance, very quiet, and they don't even dust that much. They're just about perfect street pads.

[BTW, I think Hawk Blues would be a terrible choice for a typical rally car. On loose surfaces, your brakes will never really heat up enough for Blues to work properly and apply a decent transfer layer. You'll be stuck in "abrasive" mode and the rotors will be gone in no time. In hard track use in a heavy car, the Blues are actually not all that bad.]

Emre

You can always get the pads from autozone. CHeap and I believe a few are currently using it. I'll only charge you $100 for labor

actually a rally car's brakes tend to get hot and stay hot from prolonged left foot breaking. I'd be willing to bet that my average break temperature is significantly higher than you'd see on a track only car. Where a track car will quickly heat and cool the brakes, my temps tend to go up and stay that way. There are several photos of my car with the brakes glowing red. I have switched to ferodo pads on the rally car and have loved them (think the 3500's) and will be using 2500's on the evo when they come due.

as always, YMMV

Greg