Sorry if I missed a thread discussing this but I am wondering what everyone's experiences have been with non-OEM brake pads. I have a 2016 V6S convertible. I only drive it when I can put the top down so never driven very cold days. I do spirited backroads driving, no track use. I find the OEM brakes/pads have good stopping power but I prefer a bit more initial bite. My rear pads need replacing so might do the fronts while I am at it.

What is everyone's experience with non-OEM brake pads? The usual stuff, brake feel, dust, noise, etc. Thanks!

 

I've run 3 different pads, but the intention was more track use. Here's how they ranked:

1. Porterfield R-4 (good cold bite, no fade hot, noisy as hell when cold)
2. OEM
3. Porterfield R-4S (glazed almost immediately on track, no noise when cold)

 

The R4-S pads are perfect street pads. Little dust, excellent grip, and far less grabbiness than OEM. The only noise I experience is a high pitch squeal prior to first brake application of the day. Then nothing. As mentioned, temps generated on the track will probably glaze these pads, but not likely on the street. Aggressive canyon carving is not an issue with this pad.

Porterfield R4-S pads are rated for ambient-900 degF. The R4 (track) Pads are rated 450+ degF. FYI, 900 degrees is the temperature at which carbon steel starts to glow red.

 

I went from stock to Porterfield RS-4 front and rear. Performance is great, no noise (running slotted/drilled rotors). Couple side notes: I don’t track my car or drive it like it’s stolen - also, I’m not as impressed as others with the dust, I don’t think they are significantly better than stock and honestly would not have swapped them if I would have known. My wheels are ceramic coated as well and I spend about the same amount of time and effort cleaning them.

 

My OEM pads are shot (65k miles!), will give the R4-S pads a try. Wortec didn’t do much for my 326mm rears, so I’ll go with new OEM rotors.

Unclear to me how the OEM pads produced that much dust, but still went 65k miles.

 

Seems like everyone is using Porterfield. Anyone use any other brands?

 

That's interesting. I installed the R4-S pads the same time I installed the Wortec rotors, and attributed the significantly reduced dusting to the pads. Maybe the reduced dusting is due to the rotors.

 

Someone on the UK forum went for Apec. Reported lack of dust.

 

Someone, somewhere at some time reported that the dust is not all from the pads but also from the rotors themselves. I don't buy into that necessarily, but I do know that my old 1974 Pontiac GP with front discs never had a dust problem and the pads were replaced the first time at approx. 60k miles; the rotors weren't replaced until well past 100K. I always thought the dust and longevity had to do with pad material, asbestos vs. other safer materials.

 

Wortec does make the 326mm rear rotors now. A guy already installed them after some initial issues.

I plan to get the Wortec fronts and 326mm rears when its time to replace the OEM units on mine

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f...rotors-234608/

 

The dust was from the OEM pads. After I switched to the Porterfield pads the dust was not eliminated but cut by at least 70 to 90%. In one of the original Porterfield threads I have some photos. See post #85.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f...-186933/page5/

 

I recall that, but was thinking they’re special order. I need them in a couple of weeks, guess I’ll look around.

 

I tried R1 Concepts (company based in southern CA) oem replica pads, I just did a track day recently and they held up pretty well. No fade throughout the track day, granted I didn't push the car super hard, maybe around 80-90%. I do want to point out they squeaks sometimes under light braking on the street. As for brake dust it is about the same as oem, I have semi-gloss black wheels so it's not really an issue.

 

good to hear i've installed these pads front and rear but i haven't tracked yet.

 

I've had the Porterfield R4-S on for a bit over two years now, and can report:

- much more progressive feel than OEM, much softer and smoother on initial application, no more "super bitey on/off brake pedal feel".
- much less "graunch" when coming to a stop than OEM.
- waaaaaaay less dust than OEM, maybe 10% as much.
- perform just as well as OEM under medium to heavy braking.

I have also used Centric PosiQuiet semi-metallic and can report:

- same initial bite (too much for stop/go traffic!) as OEM.
- same "graunch" as OEM.
- less dust than OEM, say 50%.
- same performance as OEM.

 

I swapped out the stock pads to Centric Posi-Quiet Semi-Metallic pads to reduce dust. I had used these on prior cars, as well as EBC and other pads, but had fewer issues with the posi-quiet pads. I am pleased with the result. Minimal dust, no squealing, and no deposits on the discs.

 

I have the Super Performance brakes with Wortec rotors and Porterfield R4-S pads (same setup as Unhingd). I installed these in 2018. Some notes:

The low speed grabbiness is gone. The Braking is much more progressive (which I like).
Dusting is dramatically reduced from stock, although I changed pads and rotors at the same time and while I can't isolate one as the reason, my moneys on the pads.
In heavy rain, the cold bite is not good, and much more pedal effort is required. To clarify, I'm talking about brakes at ambient temperature and really wet. If I go 20 miles on the freeway in the pouring rain, I need to work the brakes a little to dry them before they give their usual performance.

 

+1. I’m into my 1500 mile with the R4-S pads and they are superb for street driving and for the spirited runs we make in the Ghost Tour and Lobster Runs. Also less dust!

 

We can all agree that dust and noise are bad. It is interesting how brake feel is so subjective. I would prefer a bit more initial bite from the OEMs and many like a little less. My daily driver has even more initial brake bite. I don't think I want more aggressive Porterfield brake pads (R4) because I am not tracking it and they might be more noisy. I think I'll stick with OEMs and deal with the dust. It is not my daily driver and washing the car along with the wheels is pretty easy for me. I feel I need to wash the wheels when I have collected enough bugs and dirt to wash the car.

Thanks for everyones input!

 

Thanks to jaglag's feedback on the R-4 (race compound, not R4s) I also put a set on my R for an upcoming track day. The OEMs were OK for maybe the first 10 mins each session then demonstrably lost stopping power, and the fluid was not overheated. Then again, it didn't help I was still on Pzeros which have since been replaced by PS4S (night and day improvement in both grip and smoothness even for street driving).

With 20 miles on the R-4 it's too early for consistent observations, and they are definitely very noisy for street use, but stops as well as OEMs even in cold street temps and pedal pressure is now progressive, easy to modulate without the grabbiness of OEMs. If considering these, PF makes these to order, takes 14 days from order to receipt, and don't have the clips holding the pads to the pistons / bracket holes or slots for wear sensor.

Another choice is EBC Yellows; have held up full 20-mins sessions in a heavy E AMG and work well on street with no noise, right through freezing temps. They do dust like the OEMs though.