My car is in the dealership as we speak and I need an urgent advice: the service department tells me that the original shim kit doesn't fit the Hawk HPS. They would need to put the Hawk HPS without the shim kit which will make it squeak a lot.

What settings do you guys have ? Did you have to use Hawk HPS without the shim kit.

Please reply as soon as possible (my car is in the shop right NOW and I don't know what to do).

Thanks,

 

Year? MT? AT?

My 2k3 has HPS pads, and I used the stock shims. . .no probs here.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. It looks like I got some defective parts ... Interstingly enough, the rear pads fit right on. I'll have to send them back and get a new set.

I have a 2004 Coupe with Brembo package (6-speed). I'm putting Brembo slotted rotors with Hawk HPS pads.

 

damn. i just ordered a set and they should be in sometime tomorrow. i got a 04 coupe w/ brembos. hopefully there are no problems

 

I ordered it from IRP (Import Replacement Parts). When are you going to put them on ? Please let me know how it goes. I'll probably return mine for a new set.

Has anybody else had any problems with Hawk HPS as Brembo replacements (with Brembo slotted rotors) ?

 

Works fine with Brembo Calipers with the OEM Shim kit, no squealing from my brakes.

 

Just to make sure: you have Brembo calipers, Brembo rotors with the original shim kit and you were able to install Hawk HPS with no problems, right ?

Also, was this for the front or back ?

Thanks

 

I dont think it matters on the rotors, as mines are OEM (Brembo?). But This is for an 04 G35 Coupe MT6 w/standard Brembo brakes. I was able to install the Hawk HPS pads with the shim kit, front and rear, with no problems.

One of my friends is a service writer for Infiniti here in Hawaii. He says, brakes for Brembo equiped cars are the hardest to sell because of the elevated cost. Telling you that the shims dont fit could be just a scheme to have you buy their pads to make profit off of you. In some ways, could be a liability factor somewhere in using an oem part in union with an aftermarket part. The only other way that the shims will not fit is if the installer or technician is incompetent.

 

The latest news coming directly from the manufacturer (Hawk) says that the Hawk HPS come with "build-in" shim kit so there's no need to put in the original shim kit. I was shocked to hear something like that and personally, I don't believe it. It seems like a few people here responded that they had no issues putting the Hawk HPS with the original shim kits.

Any comments ? Has anybody heard about "build-in" shim kits for Hawk HPS brake pads ?

 

Shims are specifically designed and manufactured to reduce the acoustic signature of a particular pad and compound and rotor.

Aftermarkets almost never spend the hundreds of thousands to test their made for some other application compound fitted to a Nissan backplate for noise or sonic signature.

Some times it works ok, as BMW/MB/Audi braking systems are similar.......the only variable is the caliper and rotor mass and design.

The grade [hardness] and vane design of rotors is the major variance.

"Brake shims have the ability to control noise in
three ways. First, they reduce the transmission
and amplitude of vibrational forces that cause
excitation of the caliper, pad assembly and
attached structure. This is accomplished by
visco-elastic damping material inherent within
the layering construction of the shim and the
method of bonding to the pad assembly.
Second, a shim can add mass to the brake pad,
dampening vibrations and oscillations in the
pad and caliper. They reduce reaction forces
transmitted back into the brake piston using
elastomer interface coatings on their surface.
Third, a good brake shim or insulator can act
as a thermal barrier to ensure consistent temperatures
across the entire face of the pad. This can
help ensure consistent brake torque.
High-quality brake shims are frequency-
and temperature-engineered,
multi-layered products
using varying grades of metal,
viscoelastic polymers/bonding
materials, elastomeric rubbers
and fiberglass.
High-quality brake shims
usually start with a high-quality
metal plate. The shim manufacturer
will select a grade of steel
with the right hardness, thickness
and dampening properties.
The elastomeric polymers are applied to
the steel in a controlled process that ensures the
correct film thickness. These materials are bonded
to, or between, two layers of steel. The shims
are constructed to ensure that it will endure the
harsh environment of the braking system.
Engineers tune these layers to give the best
NVH qualities for the specific brake system
noise fingerprint or signature"

 

I use Hawks without shims with no squeal. Just rubbed some anti-squeal on the back and popped them in, never had a problem.

 

Q34tech, thank you very much for the detailed answer on what the shim kits are good for. I don't doubt any of that, but I'm still unclear how other people were able to fit the original shim kit with the Hawk HPS front pads (on a Brembo system) while I can't since there's not enough room. I also don't understand why the rear pads worked fine with the original shim kit while the front don't fit.

So, the dealer was able to fit the rears with the original shim kit but not the fronts. If Hawk puts shim kits on all their pads (Hawk HPS) why the difference in front versus rear ? I should have had the same issues with my rear but I didn't.

Any other comments would be appreciated as right now, I don't know what to do next (return parts, but then do what ?).

Thanks.

 

Did you put the Hawk HPS on front (because I didn't have a problem with the rear) and do you have the Brembo brakes package ?

Thanks.

 

Yes, I did it all myself, I took out the OEM realized that the shim wouldnt work, said **** it and put all 4 corners in with no shims. Yes I have brembos...they key is to seat them properly as per hawks instructions...

 

Thank you very much for your quick answer ... So, you put them WITHOUT the original shims and they worked fine. That's the first good news I heard in a while !

Could you please elaborate on the "seat them properly as per hawks instructions" ? I haven't received any instructions with the package.

Thanks.