I got some help from the crew at centexvq.com to replace my front brake this weekend. After we finished the job and bedded the front brakes, I noticed the pads are using less area of my rotor than the stock ones. I double checked the application, and they fit in the caliper width-wise during install, but that just seems wrong they use almost a quarter inch less of the rotor? The reason I can tell is I also replaced the front rotors with cross drilled slotted ones from ocautosports. When I hold up the old pad to the new rotor, it's almost quarter inch difference in pad area.

The part I used on the front was hawk PC HB599Z.616
I double checked the applications on their website, put in 2008 G35S, and thats what it comes back with. However if I go back and pick base model, it gives me the same part #. I think something is awry here? I though the sport uses different pads?

I don't think I have brembo brakes, it's not marked anywhere on the calipers when we pulled them off.

 

doesnt the sport have Brembo as OEM?

 

Yeah if it did, I'd think it would have brembo stamped on it somewhere. I -seems- like hawk's application reference might be messed up or wrong with the 2nd gen sport model. I can't figure out why the pads would use less rotor space(shorter). If they were totally wrong, they wouldn't have fit into the caliper at all, you'd think. I'm hoping an other 2nd gen sport owner has installed these before, and maybe has a different part #.

 

I checked the FSM, there are 2 types of brakes on the sedan, 1 piston type or 2 piston type. It doesn't mention anywhere who makes them.

 

There are no brembos on 2nd gen Gs they have akebonos on the G37s, but on our G35s we just have the larger 1 piston brakes while the base/X model have he smaller 2 piston brakes... but the sweep area of the pad is about half an inch away from the center/hub for all ppl with aftermarket rotors, its because the OEM rotors dont have that area as sweeping area while the AM rotors do so they are untouched.

 

Yeah I realize the after-market rotors have more sweeping area, but I'm measuring the part of the rotor from the end of it(the rotor) to where the pad actually touches is actually smaller than my OEM pads. I will take pics of my old rotor and new one on the car, but the contact area the pad touches on the hawk PC pads, is almost 1/4" smaller - I'm assuming that means a performance downgrade of performance with the hawk pads.

Btw replacing the pads themselves it stupid easy with the larger 1 piston type - and to take the whole caliper off isn't hard either, I think it took us about an hour (in 100+ degree heat outdoors) to do both sides of the front with new pads and calipers (taking the whole caliper off and compressing the piston). If you just do pads, take the plastic cap off the locating pin, pop it out, the caliper slides open, compress piston with c-clamp, put in new pads (lube the backs) close it up, and you are done (just bed them).

 

I got mine at Tirerack.com. I did not check the pads with stock so don't remember if they were different but for sure the pads are different for the 1 vs. 2-piston calipers. Just go to tirerack.com and enter in journey vs. sport and they will come up with two part numbers. The part # you listed though is correct for the Sport model (HB599Z.616)

 

ok.. so here are the pics. The stock oem pads cover over one quarter inch of the rotor contact area than the hawks. So as far as I can tell hawk == performance fail, and oem == win. Just goes to show you (happens a lot like air filters) just because it's aftermarket and labeled 'performance' doesn't make it so. Also I noticed after reading the FSM that the oem pads are directional as well, the hawks appear to be unidirectional. Now I wonder if the hawk HPS and HPS+ pads also have the same weak rotor area covered at the PCs?

 

Hey, I just measured the wear marks on my front rotors and they are about 2" even with my Hawk Ceramic pads.

 

Wow ok and you used the same part # as me? If so then hawk must have put the wrong pads in the box. I would expect to see at least a 2 in wear mark. I'm going to email them and see what they have to say about this.

 

Yup. Gotta be wrong pads in the box. In my mind, these Hawk ceramics are every bit as good as OE in stopping but also very quiet with minimal dust.

 

lol I think they are installed wrong. We got the shims on the wrong side I think. I took the wheel off, and noticed this (see pic) look closely and see if you can find what's wrong.

 

ok I switched my pads, now the ones with shims are facing upward on the inner pads. Everything looks ok now. So HAWK = win, installer = fail (me!). I just re-bedded the pads and everything is wearing in the rotor where it should. Next time I will read and re-read the FSM first!

 

nobody's perfect. At least you were observant enough to notice the problem.

 

I was also thinking about getting the Hawk brake pads. Can you clarify now whether or not the Hawk brake pads covers the same amount of area as the OEM brake pads? Thanks.