I would like to know how everyone likes their Hawk pads. I haven't pulled the trigger yet until I hear what everyone thinks. I put a set of ceramics on my Mini and they squeak, not when I apply the brakes. So I am not sure I want squeaky brakes, again.

 

i like them. i dont have the ceramics though. i had the brembos and comparatively these are much quieter with less brake dust. they dont bite as hard as the brembos at first but you get used to it and learn to adjust.

 

I got mine installed last week, Hawks HPS, i like em! very good breaks acually, i get a small squeak when i lighty tap the dreaks other than that they are pretty good

 

Good compromise between brake dust and performance... but if you want good initial bite and high speed braking performance, stay with OEM pads

 

Installed Hawks HPS pads 5 days ago (250 miles). No squealing or squeeking, initial "bite" isn't as hard or sharp as stock but are firm and easy to modulate, and overall stopping power and performance feels equal as well. These are good pads.

Although well worn (and needing replacement soon), the rotors were not warped, so I just scuffed them well with fine steel wool and installed the pads. CAUTION: BE SURE TO BREAK (OR "BED") IN THE NEW PADS PROPERLY AT FIRST USE, FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE AND LIFE (directions are printed on the box).

My $ 0.02

 

In an emergency/panic stop in the dry...or especially in the rain...are you going to be worried about the dust on your wheels or the poor initial bite. I bought the Hawk HPS because of the low dust thing and did not buy them again. They last a good while but are not as good as OEM or the R-Tune Nismo pads I now use since I occationally do track days.

 

ive had hawk hps on my 03 with brembos for about 8k miles..... i love them low dust and no noises....and did not notice any less bite....car still stops like it should.....im waiting for my rears to go down to replace them with hawk hps pads also........ just be sure to use a brake quite product on the back of the pads... i used one from crc....

 

Used them on my prior car, a Nissan 300ZX, and was not pleased, especially in the wet and cold weather. Car felt downright scary under braking in bad weather. In the warm weather they were OK, but they generally had to be warmed up first as they are higher temp pads. I've stuck with OEM on my coupe and despite the dust, I am happy. Dust can be washed off easily, especially if you use some Wheelwax on your wheels.

 

What about CarboTech? I have heard they are better.

 

Every pad compound has a friction vs temperature and a friction vs application speed graph. Unfortunately these things are classed as trade secrets because if you had them you could make an educated decision!

 

i have chrome rims & used to clean them every 2 days with the brembos
if i didnt after about 6 days my rims looked like black chrome or graphite!!

i bought the HPS about 5 months ago
changed out all 4 pads & put new slotted cryo-treated powerslot rotors

first thing i did (well not the first) but test the low dust theory
i went 2 weeks without washing my car my rims still looked chrome suprisingly, very minimal dust on them even after 2 weeks car was so filthy i couldnt take anymore

anyway the brakes are fine the bite everyone talks about IMO it is slightly noticable but nothing i felt concerned about

.....about 2 months ago i started getting the dreaded squeek i keep hearing about, i only hear it if i apply pressure lightly its kind of annoying now...

just my .02 onthe pros & cons

 

I had a set of Hawk HPS when I got the Stoptech stage 2 kit. They are not good in wet or cold. There is a noticible loss of performance. I live in Toronto and in the winter time I take my car through the automated car wash. After the car wash the first few stops are noticiably longer. The same in the cold rain. I have since switched to Project Mu's and do not have these problems.

 

I will recommend Axxis Deluxe Organic Brake Pads. Just replaced my front rotors and pads a few days ago. Thus far there is little to no dust, and braking performance is on par with the OEM pad that came off. Last week i was in texas and got to drive my brothers G with Hawk HPS... and in repeated stop and go traffic (35 mph to 5 mph) I could feel loosing the braking power and almost ran into someone as car kept on going (around 70 degrees with dry conditions). I was quite shocked as he has slotted/drilled rotors.

I wasnt impressed at all with Hawk.

 

Why would drilled slotted rotors improve single even multi street stops if anything they will make them worse. Since they reduce the AREA of the rotor under the pad.