Carbotech XP series track pad review... MUST READ!
Sep 9, 2009, 07:57 PM
#1
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
Carbotech XP series track pad review... MUST READ!
Well, I just recently installed a set of Carbotech Race pads on my X and all I can say is... WOW. I have run everything from street pads to race pads and everything in between from Ferodo (DS2500), Porterfield (R4S, RS4), Endless, and Brembo, and these are by far the absolute best pads I have ever used.
As per Carbotech's recommendation, I am running the XP10s in the front and XP8s in the rear, which is a great setup for most track prepped cars. Since the front brakes place more demand on the pads than the rear, going with a slightly more aggressive compound in the front helps to compensate for this and results in a setup that wears evenly and creates temperatures that are well suited to each compound. In any case, here are the specifics and what you can expect from these pads:
For starters, initial bite when the pad is cold is outstanding for a track pad and shockingly streetable. Once hot, well... have your seatbelt buckled tight or you'll end up in the windshield! This setup is all but impossible to fade as well, and I challenge you to try. I have turned my brembos poo brown and couldn't get them to fade one bit, so good luck (1650*F + of fade resistance). Modulation and release characteristics are superb, and they are more rotor friendly than other brands' compounds thanks to a more advanced hybrid construction. Noise levels are also surprisingly low for such dedicated track pads.
If I had to describe it, I'd say they are on par with the Ferodo DS2500s on the "squeel factor," which is impressive considering that the 2500s are more auto-x pads than all out track pads like the XP10s/XP8s. All in all, I guess I would leave you all with this to sum it all up: this is a hardcore track pad setup that will give you the firm pedal, massive stopping power, fade resistance, and modulation/release characteristics that you want in a good track pad while not torching your rotors.
Would I recommend them as daily driven pads? Well, that depends; these pads are surprisingly quiet for what they are and have levels of initial bite when cold that rivals any other track pad I've every come across and to me, I am more than happy to put up with a little bit of noise to have such a versatile setup. But, if you don't really care about track performance and can't deal with a little noise then you are probably going to be happier with something a little more tame. Anyway, thanks for listening guys, and I hope that some of you found this to be usefull in some way. Cheers
BTW, here is a link to Carbotech's description of the different compounds if anyone is interested: http://ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.html
As per Carbotech's recommendation, I am running the XP10s in the front and XP8s in the rear, which is a great setup for most track prepped cars. Since the front brakes place more demand on the pads than the rear, going with a slightly more aggressive compound in the front helps to compensate for this and results in a setup that wears evenly and creates temperatures that are well suited to each compound. In any case, here are the specifics and what you can expect from these pads:
For starters, initial bite when the pad is cold is outstanding for a track pad and shockingly streetable. Once hot, well... have your seatbelt buckled tight or you'll end up in the windshield! This setup is all but impossible to fade as well, and I challenge you to try. I have turned my brembos poo brown and couldn't get them to fade one bit, so good luck (1650*F + of fade resistance). Modulation and release characteristics are superb, and they are more rotor friendly than other brands' compounds thanks to a more advanced hybrid construction. Noise levels are also surprisingly low for such dedicated track pads.
If I had to describe it, I'd say they are on par with the Ferodo DS2500s on the "squeel factor," which is impressive considering that the 2500s are more auto-x pads than all out track pads like the XP10s/XP8s. All in all, I guess I would leave you all with this to sum it all up: this is a hardcore track pad setup that will give you the firm pedal, massive stopping power, fade resistance, and modulation/release characteristics that you want in a good track pad while not torching your rotors.
Would I recommend them as daily driven pads? Well, that depends; these pads are surprisingly quiet for what they are and have levels of initial bite when cold that rivals any other track pad I've every come across and to me, I am more than happy to put up with a little bit of noise to have such a versatile setup. But, if you don't really care about track performance and can't deal with a little noise then you are probably going to be happier with something a little more tame. Anyway, thanks for listening guys, and I hope that some of you found this to be usefull in some way. Cheers
BTW, here is a link to Carbotech's description of the different compounds if anyone is interested: http://ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.html
Last edited by STi2EvoX; Sep 9, 2009 at 08:09 PM.
Sep 9, 2009, 08:11 PM
#3
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
^They do indeed. 
http://ctbrakes.com/pads/mitsubishi.html
http://ctbrakes.com/pads/mitsubishi.html
Sep 10, 2009, 08:19 AM
#5
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
^You could always go with the Bobcats or AX8s (successor to the Panther). The AX8s imparticular will give you a great auto-x pad that is very liveable on the street. However, if you are looking solely for a street pad, the Bobcats might be a better fit and are probably still better for light track duty than the stock brembo pads. Give Carbotech a try though, I promise you will like them.
Sep 10, 2009, 09:03 AM
#6
Evolved Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad this came out although I don't need to change my brakes right now I will be changing them in the near future. I do mostly street driving with maybe two track sessions a year. Anybody want to try the bobcats and report back?
Trending Topics
Sep 10, 2009, 09:59 AM
#11
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
Also, my buddy Tim has this exact same setup on his track prepped X with R-compounds, and he has about 10 or 11 track days so far and he thinks he might be able to get one more out of them. He is a very competitive driver and pushes them hard, and IMO, to get 10-12 track days out of a set of pads is impressive. I will let you know how they perform on Road Atlanta when I go out there in about a month, but based on my current experience with them, my friend's experience with them, and the fact that Carbotech has won multiple championship titles using these pads, I feel confident that I will be as pleased as I am now. Stay tuned...
Last edited by STi2EvoX; Sep 10, 2009 at 10:04 AM.
Sep 10, 2009, 10:17 AM
#13
Evolved Member
Thread Starter
That's not true at all. I spoke with them over the phone about the application of their compounds, and they said that even the Bobcat and imparticular the AX8s are fine for light track use like entry level HPDEs and stuff like that, but that they are meant more for auto-X, and that what they are talking about when they say, "Not a race pad, Not recommended for track use," is actual RACING. If you want to participate in a competitive RACE that is much more demanding than an HPDE would ever be, they insist that you step up to the XP series.
