Mixing Brake Pads
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Mixing Brake Pads
I am getting ready for a drivers ed event and am about to put some new Mintex pads on the front of my 993. The factory rears are still in good shape so I thought I would keep them on for a while. Will I have any issues with mixing the pads like this??? The event if tomorrow and I really need to replace the fronts. I don't have time to order pads for the rear. Will I be ok?Thanks Mark
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
I'm sure you will be OK - but caution, you are creating a situation where the rears will (probably) have more braking power than the fronts. It's possible that this will cause the rear to have an increased tendency to lock under hard braking - giving you a bit more of a "loose" feeling from the rear under hard braking.
For this reason, it's a good idea to match pads front and rear - to keep relative braking forces in-line with what the factory intended.
Having said all that, the factory errs on the side of safety (like engineering understeer) - and some people have been known to switch out brake proportiong valves to increase the relative brake force to the rear - pretty much the effect you have probably produced.
In summary, like I said, I'm sure you will be OK, but you should really use same pads front/rear. Be aware of how the car is behaving under hard-braking. And make sure you brake the new front pads in properly BEFORE the event.
For this reason, it's a good idea to match pads front and rear - to keep relative braking forces in-line with what the factory intended.
Having said all that, the factory errs on the side of safety (like engineering understeer) - and some people have been known to switch out brake proportiong valves to increase the relative brake force to the rear - pretty much the effect you have probably produced.
In summary, like I said, I'm sure you will be OK, but you should really use same pads front/rear. Be aware of how the car is behaving under hard-braking. And make sure you brake the new front pads in properly BEFORE the event.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
Ooops, in my post above, when I say the rears have more braking power than the fronts, I of course mean relative to the normal same-pad-all-around setup.
Not in absolute terms ! Fronts still brake more than rears.
Not in absolute terms ! Fronts still brake more than rears.
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, California
I have Pagid blue's on the front of my car and standard Turbo pads on the rear. This set-up works just fine. I suppose the optimum is to match the pads but it will be okay.
By the way the Pagid's dust and squeal, no getting around it.
The best way to go is the "Ray Calvo School", change the pads before the driving event!
By the way the Pagid's dust and squeal, no getting around it.
The best way to go is the "Ray Calvo School", change the pads before the driving event!
Passed On
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh, PA
New pads front and old in rears? Drive EXTREMELY cautiously for several laps; you have to bed in those new fresh pads. And watch out for any surprises. With ABS I think you will have less trouble than without it, but still back it down for a session or two. And if car is not braking satisfactorily (i.e, as you normally expect), pack it up and go home. Better to be safe than sorry, and the easiest way to kill yourself is to have no/little brakes at the end of a long straightaway.
I think Mintex and the OE Textar are fairly similar as far as braking characteristics, so I don't expect any more problems than you might normally expect with new front and worn/bedded in rear brakes.
I think Mintex and the OE Textar are fairly similar as far as braking characteristics, so I don't expect any more problems than you might normally expect with new front and worn/bedded in rear brakes.
