I installed the Hawks HPS last month and I've been very impressed with them. Very little break dust. I haven't been able to wash my car for 2 weeks and my wheels have the same look as 2 days of normal braking with the OEM pads. Stopping feels the same for now. Haven't had a need to brake hard with them. As far as squeeking, mine squeek, but I think that was due to poor installation on one tire. All in all, I won't be going back to OEM's.

 

Mine haven't started sqeuaking yet, but if they do I'll prolly just take them off and add more brake grease stuff to the backs... As far as dust, I'm the same as above... Washed my wheels when I changed the pads and they aren't dirty yet, it's been what, 4 days? With my last brakes they'd be dirty already by now; nasty, black, dusty no-stoppy assness.

 

Awesome...thanks.

 

Bump from the past! I just ordered my 2nd set of Hawk HPS front pads, but the pads appear to be too thick and the rotor (new OEM rotors) rub the pad and the wheel doesn't spin freely.

Long story short, can anyone confirm what Hawk Part # is correct for the front pads for an '04 RWD sedan? The part # on the box they sent me is HB268F.665. I am told that the last 3 #'s is the pad thickness in inches (0.665 inches).

Thanks

 

Are you sure you got the pistons retracted all the way?

 

I'll check w/ the shop, but I'd imagine they would have done that.

 

One more thing to check, ask them if they cleaned and lubricated the sliders that the calipers float on. Mine were very dry the first time I changed my pads. If the calipers can't move side to side, it can cause this problem.

 

Thanks Texasscout, I wouldn't have thought of that one!

 

If they are barely rubbing the rotor, that is normal. The pistons shouldn't have to move the brake pads much to engage the rotor.

 

No, the tire would not spin freely once installed. They took it upon themselves to find other pads they thought I'd like (low dust) and ended up installing Napa Adaptive One Hybrid Ceramic pads. I don't notice any difference in stopping just yet, & won't know about the brake dust until the snow/salt is off the roads. Here are some links on the product...not sure if this product is elsewhere on the forum or not:

http://www.adaptive1.com/

http://www.napabrakes.com/wps/portal...s/AdaptiveOne/

http://www.napabrakes.com/wps/portal..._2CbEdFAJkyCu4!

 

Jimmy, did you find out what the problem was and used hawk pads? I am planning to do the same as you did, new oem rotors with hawk hps pads, tirerack is showing same part number as yours.

 

I have hawk HPS pads and WILL NOT use them again. If it's cold and raining, it' scary for the first few seconds. It's like not having any brakes at all.

 

huh? ^

First bad thing I have heard about hawk pads.

 

I'm not thrilled with mine either. They have poor cold and wet bite and take a lot of pedal pressure to really engage well. It's not like they completely suck just overhyped IMO.

 

Absolutely correct! They suck in colder temperatures and when it's raining. Let me rephrase that, they can damn near kill you if they don't get up to temperature. My spirited driving is limited in the winter due to these pads...
There has to be an alternative to Hawks HPS?