The Mustang Forum for Track & Racing Enthusiasts

Taking your Mustang to an open track/HPDE event for the first time? Do you race competitively? This forum is for you! Log in to remove most ads.

  • Welcome to the Ford Mustang forum built for owners of the Mustang GT350, BOSS 302, GT500, and all other S550, S197, SN95, Fox Body and older Mustangs set up for open track days, road racing, and/or autocross. Join our forum, interact with others, share your build, and help us strengthen this community!

Brake Pads for GT350

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

I'm planning on doing a NASA track weekend @ VIR in March and I'm on the fence on brake pads. I'm currently planning on running the stock PSS (or maybe R spec Cup 2s on my 6GR wheels) but I'm not sure how well the stock pads will hold up. I have a brand new set of OEM pads to put on the car & Ti backing plates (Thanks to Tim for the backing plates!) but I don't want to waste a track weekend after killing the pads or something silly like that.

I'd say I'm a fairly advanced driver (but certainly not a pro), but I've also not owned anything as fast as the GT350 on track and it's quite a bit faster than my prior cars. I completely melted a set of XP12s and smeared them on the rotors on my Focus RS last time I was VIR, and I'd very much like to not deal with that sort of silliness again. FWIW, I've successfully melted every set of Carbotechs I've used (XP10s, XP12s on various vehicles) except a set of AX6s on my nearly stock 1992 VW GTI. So I've been looking at other brands...

Pagid is a bit rich for my blood, the Raybestos ST43 looks to be awesome, but if OEM pads will be fine to go out and drive at ~95% for 30 minutes at a time then why bother with anything else?
 
I'm planning on doing a NASA track weekend @ VIR in March and I'm on the fence on brake pads. I'm currently planning on running the stock PSS (or maybe R spec Cup 2s on my 6GR wheels) but I'm not sure how well the stock pads will hold up. I have a brand new set of OEM pads to put on the car & Ti backing plates (Thanks to Tim for the backing plates!) but I don't want to waste a track weekend after killing the pads or something silly like that.

I'd say I'm a fairly advanced driver (but certainly not a pro), but I've also not owned anything as fast as the GT350 on track and it's quite a bit faster than my prior cars. I completely melted a set of XP12s and smeared them on the rotors on my Focus RS last time I was VIR, and I'd very much like to not deal with that sort of silliness again. FWIW, I've successfully melted every set of Carbotechs I've used (XP10s, XP12s on various vehicles) except a set of AX6s on my nearly stock 1992 VW GTI. So I've been looking at other brands...

Pagid is a bit rich for my blood, the Raybestos ST43 looks to be awesome, but if OEM pads will be fine to go out and drive at ~95% for 30 minutes at a time then why bother with anything else?

You’ll probably be fine with the OEMs for the weekend, but would pretty much use them up. I run intermediate/advanced with TrackDaze and have 2 weekends on a set of ST43s at VIR (August and November events this past year)...they bite hard and are lasting forever. I think I’ll get 4 full weekends on the fronts and more on the rear. Might as well buy the Raybestos and bring them, and if your OEMs are cutting it close just swap at the track.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You’ll want either the longer bolts or the caliper studs when changing pads. If you don’t have either I have extra sets of bolts. Send me a PM if you want a set.

I use Pagid RS29’s. While the stock pads will work you’ll burn through them quickly. If you’re running 95% you’ll want quality race pads.
 
You’ll probably be fine with the OEMs for the weekend, but would pretty much use them up. I run intermediate/advanced with TrackDaze and have 2 weekends on a set of ST43s at VIR (August and November events this past year)...they bite hard and are lasting forever. I think I’ll get 4 full weekends on the fronts and more on the rear. Might as well buy the Raybestos and bring them, and if your OEMs are cutting it close just swap at the track.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the direct feedback. My instructor bumped me to advanced with Trackdaze last time I was there, so your feedback is based around the same sort of skill level, I'd assume.

I'm thinking I'll just buy the Raybestos and run them. It's much easier to carry tools to the track and not need them. :)

You’ll want either the longer bolts or the caliper studs when changing pads. If you don’t have either I have extra sets of bolts. Send me a PM if you want a set.

I use Pagid RS29’s. While the stock pads will work you’ll burn through them quickly. If you’re running 95% you’ll want quality race pads.

I've got the Caliperfexion studs & extensions (I need to remember to take the extensions, it's a real PITA not using them...), thanks for looking out though!

I've seen your posts about the Pagids and I really want them... but I really need another set of wheels too, lol :p I'm thinking the same thing though, if I want to push the car I'll want quality pads.
 
492
387
DFW, TX
...I run intermediate/advanced with TrackDaze and have 2 weekends on a set of ST43s at VIR (August and November events this past year)...they bite hard and are lasting forever.

I used ST43s in my vintage car. Some people don't like the initial bite, but I liked them and they did last very well for me.

Where are you getting them? Porterfield?
 
Ran 2 days at Road Atlanta Chin Blue Group on new stock pads and still have enough for a day at Sebring. A grippier pad will go on next, but stock will do the job

Peter
 
Thanks guys for the feedback. Lots of stuff to try with the car in the future, that's for sure!

I ordered a set of the ST43s, it'll be the first time I'm trying them and I hope they go well. I'll have a set of the OEM pads with me if I run into any issues.

The Ferodo DSUNOs are really intriguing, especially because I'm lazy and hate cleaning rotors or swapping rotors. The rear rotor swap on the GT350 looks to be a real PITA...

I ran Carbotech 1521s & XP12s on my BRZ to avoid issues with bedding between two compounds but I still had issues. I think the Carbotechs REALLY like brand new untouched rotor faces.
 
173
72
I’ve been running ST43s for a long time. I will probably get 2+ seasons out of my fronts running 6-8 events per year, and I got about 2 days out of oem. The initial bite is moderate and perfect for my driving style. They also work well cold and are very streetable if you do a lot track days and then just occasionally run out for a jaunt on the street.

I got two seasons out of my first set of rotors. I ran the first half season on oem pads and the rest on the ST43s. I’m getting my new rotors cryo’d by 300 below, and I’m told I’ll get twice the life...shall see.

Anyway, I’ve tried tons of pads over the years and really can’t say enough good things about the cost, longevity, performance, and versatility of the ST43.
 
Thanks! I hope I have that kind of experience with them too!

I received my ST43s the other day, man they're heavy... Not much track prep stuff left to do now, tow hook & pads. Not going to the track until late March and it feels too far away :(
 
Will do, Steve. I'm really looking forward to the testing and I hope they do well for me. I'm tired of going to the track and destroying my brakes in a few sessions (or only one session like last time :( )
 
180
40
Austin
The initial bite is moderate and perfect for my driving style. They also work well cold and are very streetable if you do a lot track days and then just occasionally run out for a jaunt on the street.

How is the initial bite compared to OEM? Also, how is the pedal feel? I prefer a harder pedal than we get with the OEM pads.
 
173
72
How is the initial bite compared to OEM? Also, how is the pedal feel? I prefer a harder pedal than we get with the OEM pads.
Initial bite is definitely more aggressive than OEM, but not over the top like a DTC70. On the spectrum I consider it moderate with OEM being light. This is relative to comparing track pads only.

As far as pedal feel goes, it is consistent. With OEM, my pedal would get softer as the brakes heated up. No fade, just softer and requiring more pressure due to lack of bite. Because the bite is there with the ST43, the pedal feel is consistently hard.

It sounds like I felt the same as you with OEM pads and those issues were resolved with the ST43.
 
Any reservations about boiling fresh OEM brake fluid? I have Ti shields to drop in with the pads, but I was planning on just doing a flush with the OEM fluid since it seems to work with high temps reasonably well. I'll do RBF600 instead if you guys think it's too marginal with the ST43 ability to take a lot of heat.
 

TMO Supporting Vendors

Top