So, it looks like I'm going to be needing a new set of pads, and after using Pagid Pads from ECP for fast road and light track use I was wondering what other options there are for both front and rear pads that both work from cold as well as being good for light track use?
I've used Pagid pads for a few years and they're fine and work for light track use but when pushed harder do fade.
EBC Yellow Stuff pads I've heard is used for championship cars, but I've heard some stories of poor quality control with pads coming off from backing plates, or material crumbling which is a concern.
Carbotech make a range of very nice pads but don't list anything that is suitable for use from cold - all are track spec.
No expert by any means, but have installed Porterfield RS4 brake pads sourced from here
https://www.garagewhifbitz.co.uk/toyota/mr2/brake-upgrades.html
Now done ~ 2k miles + they feel good
I found yellow stuff to be very dusty but had no issues with quality. I used them on all my 2s as a fast road pad with substantially mire power than stock.
Sometimes felt that they triggered the abs though and not sure if they upset the handbrake mechanism because they always seemed awful.
I had used YellowStuff for years on track. I gradually started pushing my brakes harder and harder over time.
I ended up literally crumbling the rear pads after a particularly hard trackday on them, and have since switched to CarboTech XP10.
However, I am HARD on brakes on track. Harder than anyone I know.
If you just need something that will stop you every time, and aren't interested in pushing braking performance to 10/10ths like I do, then honestly you'll be fine with EBCs.
Had no problems with the yellowstuff pads on mine and have done a fair few track days on them. Im just running them on the fronts, standard pads on the rear.
Only drawback which is mentioned above is the brake dust they put out, doesnt bother me though.
Not sure if you can get Carbotech Bobcat, but Porterfield R4S are an option.
Next step would be Porterfield R4, Ferodo DS2500, Carbotech XP8.
Thanks all - where are you picking up your EBC pads ? Anyone had any issues recently? There is talk of some QC issues with their pads in the past, but that they should now be 'sorted out' ?
Have reached out to Carbotech for more details on their pads, the guys behind their email contact address had a MR2, and ran the XP-8's on his everyday car.
AX-6 (Panther Plus ) are their fast road / light track
XP-8 are their track pads.
Cost for a set (roughly) though is 150 quid per axle, £300 for a complete set front and rear. Both quite dusty apparently, XP-8 slightly more likely to be noisy and glaze disks unless used hard to clean up the disk surfaces.
Option 1:
Bluestuff front, yellow stuff rear - decent stopping power and last ages
Option 2:
Stoptech sport all round - really impressed with these on my MR2 2ZZ for road and track, albeit only used rears but found them better than yellow stuff
Option 3:
Mintex racing M1144 or 1155:
Not used in the MR2 but used previously and rated them, however wear was high.
All the above come in below £100 an axel. My choice for road would be the stoptechs, as they are only £155 delivered for front and rears.
https://www.tegiwaimports.com/search/?q=%20Toyota%20MR2%20(W30)%2000-07 (https://www.tegiwaimports.com/search/?q=%20Toyota%20MR2%20(W30)%2000-07)
Quote from: potge on January 12, 2022, 12:54Not sure if you can get Carbotech Bobcat, but Porterfield R4S are an option.
Next step would be Porterfield R4, Ferodo DS2500, Carbotech XP8.
Great pads all but total overkill for the road
Try some Apec (yes, really). I have used them extensively on track - they are a little better in terms of fade / wear resistance than 1144s and EBC Yellows, and feel about the same under the foot. Made to R90 spec so they don't fall off the backings and work well enough from cold. Overall, they are plenty good enough for fast road and light track, providing you are at standard power.
Quote from: JB21 on January 12, 2022, 15:52Option 1:
Bluestuff front, yellow stuff rear - decent stopping power and last ages
Option 2:
Stoptech sport all round - really impressed with these on my MR2 2ZZ for road and track, albeit only used rears but found them better than yellow stuff
Option 3:
Mintex racing M1144 or 1155:
Not used in the MR2 but used previously and rated them, however wear was high.
All the above come in below £100 an axel. My choice for road would be the stoptechs, as they are only £155 delivered for front and rears.
https://www.tegiwaimports.com/search/?q=%20Toyota%20MR2%20(W30)%2000-07 (https://www.tegiwaimports.com/search/?q=%20Toyota%20MR2%20(W30)%2000-07)
I'll second option 1.
Thanks for the feedback all ... I thought I'd update with what I've found and the option I went with in the end so its useful for others in future.
First, Carbotech: Had a good chat with them about the different pads they make and the guy I spoke to had a Roadster and used the XP-8's in it. Subjectively he said the XP-8s may be more likely to be noisy than AX-6s - you need to use the pads hard to clean up the surfaces to fix any noise.
Note the AX6 are Panther Plus ( Road/ Light track ) with the XP-8 being a more track specific )
MR2 Roadster Front AX6 pad set are £165+vat & shipping
MR2 Roadster Rear AX6 pad set are £145+vat & shipping
MR2 Roadster Front XP8 pad set are £175+vat & shipping
MR2 Roadster Rear XP8 pad set are £155+vat & shipping
Uk delivery for most areas is £12+vat
So £385ish for a set of AX6 pads, with the XP-8's being just over £400.
However, having reviewed the different options I've decided to go with a full set of EBC Bluestuff pads, with EBC custom making a set of rears.
The BlueStuff pads are an upgrade on the Yellowstuff pads with a new slightly higher friction compound and pad to plate hooking solution. Their working range is 0-600C and are approved for road use and with a 600C upper limit should be OK for light track use.
Reviews of the Bluestuff pads I've seen after on-track use show the failure mode for overheating ( after proper bedding in ) is that pads tend to smear rather than crumble but still work well.
So, I've put in a special order for a set of 'lab' made rears for me plus a set of their existing front Bluestuff front pads - apparently others have requested these rear pads before ( MR2 Championship drivers ..? ) so hopefully they'll become a product in their own right as I've noted they will fit Mk1, Mk2 and Roadsters.
Cost of a set of Bluestuff pads for the front and lab made rears should be around £180, so about half the cost of the Carbotech pads.
I'll be using them on road for a few months before doing some trackdays and will see how they perform.
I'm interested to see how you get on.
I too enquired about a set of BlueStuff for the rear axle, but was told by EBC no-can-do, for fear of over-braking the rear axle and locking up.