Brake Pads Users Ratings Guide

[evil_weevil]

Ive been very happy with my QFM's on the track, done a few days on them and still going good (perhaps Im not braking hard enough? ) and I'll be getting them again!

[code blue]

My front Qfm's lasted 4 track days and nearly 12 months of daily duties. I went with same pad again.

[luke james]

Hey mate, not having a go but I find it hard to believe the Lucas pads would survive hard track use, they overheat quickly for me with hard street use. Its been a while since my initial review on these and they consistently fade and overheat with hard use.

What other pads have you used on the track so we can compare?

Havnt used any other pads but these were excellent they are rated to 650 degrees I did have some brake fade when I fist put them in with new rotors but then changed the brake fluid and found that was a massive help infact totally different worked so much better no brake fade but I think that braided lines will also make a big difference as well to peddle feel .....

[nfi]

Havnt used any other pads but these were excellent they are rated to 650 degrees I did have some brake fade when I fist put them in with new rotors but then changed the brake fluid and found that was a massive help infact totally different worked so much better no brake fade but I think that braided lines will also make a big difference as well to peddle feel .....

To help put in context, what times are you doing round Mallala?

[luke james]

To help put in context, what times are you doing round Mallala?

Have done 1.25 but that was with stock boost and big understeer and being held up by slower cars didnt have a clean lap all day so I would say when the car is sorted it should do 1.20s comftable especially now im putting a better motor in it with a fair bit more power ....

[gslrallysport]

they overheat quickly for me with hard street use

Lucas out of the box are good for 650degrees, but after heavy use can be re scorched alot higher. We ran them for years in the rally car (before switching to the QFM A1RM which has more bite), but Lucas pads have no issues with very high temp, and are not something you'll fry on the street if everything else with your brakes is fine.

That said, I would now take A1RM over them any day for a dedicated performance car.

[siksII]

Lucas out of the box are good for 650degrees, but after heavy use can be re scorched alot higher. We ran them for years in the rally car (before switching to the QFM A1RM which has more bite), but Lucas pads have no issues with very high temp, and are not something you'll fry on the street if everything else with your brakes is fine.

That said, I would now take A1RM over them any day for a dedicated performance car.

Hey mate,

I strongly disagree that you will not fry these on the street, thats plain wrong. I bought these pads on your recommendation and the misleading comparisons you made.

As per my review earlier, I am using them with fresh fluid of the type I have used without any issues on the street and with several types of pads for nearly 4 years. I use braided lines slotted rotors and always keep my brakes well bled.

These are BY FAR the worst pads I have used and while they will not overheat in normal driving, they easily overheat after some spirited road driving. They have consistently overheated for me since I got them.

You say these are comparable to DS2500s and this is completely untrue. From a performance perspective these pads are rubbish even compared to Bendix Ultimates or Ferodo Formulas, and I wouldn't even bother comparing to DS2500s.

Im sure if you had used all these pads on the same car, on the same roads, with the same braking system then we would be on the same page. I wish you were in Sydney since I would be happy to set the Lucas pads on fire for you at the end of a good road

Sorry for the harsh reply but I wouldnt want others to believe what you say about these pads, and purchase on that basis as I did. They are a cheap pad and they perform accordingly.

[gslrallysport]

Sorry for the harsh reply but I wouldnt want others to believe what you say about these pads, and purchase on that basis as I did. They are a cheap pad and they perform accordingly.

Each to their own. I personally know, cause I've seen for myself, there's a very large percentage of the Clubman QLD Rally competitors (including a very heavy, very fast Datsun 240K that knocks off WRXs and has standard size pads) that run Lucas pads. They also won 'Race' Magazine (you know, one of Australia's most respected technical magazines) brake pad of choice for clubman motorsport competitors.

I did 2 seasons and took a state rallying title on Lucas pads, so don't tell me my comparisons are misleading. For every one person that claims to be unhappy with Lucas I could name 10 that are...

Edited September 24, 2008 by jetpilot1986

[gslrallysport]

these pads are rubbish even compared to Bendix Ultimates or Ferodo Formulas

With comments like that I really won't take offense to your 'harsh reply'. Sorry.

[gslrallysport]

I think this guy gives a pretty fair, reasonable and unbiased view of Lucas pads:

http://soarer.ace.net.au/lucas_trw.html

Things to keep in mind here, my local track - Mallala, is the hardest track in Australia on brakes. We normally do either 3 lap sprints which the OEM's would have probably survived, or 15 minute sessions. The Lucas pads handled 30 minute sessions pretty well, most importantly the performance didn't markedly deteriorate over the length of the session.

And a Soarer isn't exactly the light car. Maybe they're not suitable for your particular application, but for 99% of people Lucas are more than enough for daily and light track duties. Definitely a far better pad than a Bendix Ultimate, nothing I see posted on an internet forum will ever change my opinion of that...

[luke james]

Ill back you up jetpilot1986 I have no problems with these pads and sure there is always somthing better on the market but for the price and the way they perform I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone and they are easy on rotors which is another bonus unless you have endless money to buy new rotors every weekend then go buy your $300 pads because they will chew the shit out of them

Also when I was out at mallala I was rounding allot of cars up with expensive pads and most of it was under brakes point proven!

[260DET]

Hey mate,

I strongly disagree that you will not fry these on the street, thats plain wrong. I bought these pads on your recommendation and the misleading comparisons you made.

As per my review earlier, I am using them with fresh fluid of the type I have used without any issues on the street and with several types of pads for nearly 4 years. I use braided lines slotted rotors and always keep my brakes well bled.

These are BY FAR the worst pads I have used and while they will not overheat in normal driving, they easily overheat after some spirited road driving. They have consistently overheated for me since I got them.

You say these are comparable to DS2500s and this is completely untrue. From a performance perspective these pads are rubbish even compared to Bendix Ultimates or Ferodo Formulas, and I wouldn't even bother comparing to DS2500s.

Im sure if you had used all these pads on the same car, on the same roads, with the same braking system then we would be on the same page. I wish you were in Sydney since I would be happy to set the Lucas pads on fire for you at the end of a good road

Sorry for the harsh reply but I wouldnt want others to believe what you say about these pads, and purchase on that basis as I did. They are a cheap pad and they perform accordingly.

For a different assessment, I've used Lucas pads at two sprints now at Queensland Raceway, car is a 350whp hybrid fairly heavy Datsun 280ZX. In a competition situation the brakes are applied three times medium, once light, in 65 seconds from speeds up to 200kph. Brakes have got hot enough to colour the rotors grey but the pads show no sign of deterioration at all.

So to say they are rubbish is just that, rubbish. If you are using your brakes hard enough on public roads to destroy brake pads then that says it all doesn't it

[BHDave]

ffs, he doesn't like the pads. let it go. He can at least compare them to other pads in a similar situation and comment on their performance.

Right at the start of this thread there are good comments on the sbs carbon ceramic. I hate the f**king things. I thought they were the exact opposite of what was described. Too high an initial bite, horrible feel once hot (very wooden), poor modulation (basically because you can't feel whats going on).

It's feed back and it's what this thread is about.

Don't shoot the guy down just because he disagrees with you.

Edited September 24, 2008 by BHDave

[luke james]

ffs, he doesn't like the pads. let it go. He can at least compare them to other pads in a similar situation and comment on their performance.

Right at the start of this thread there are good comments on the sbs carbon ceramic. I hate the f**king things. I thought they were the exact opposite of what was described. Too high an initial bite, horrible feel once hot (very wooden), poor modulation (basically because you can't feel whats going on).

It's feed back and it's what this thread is about.

Don't shoot the guy down just because he disagrees with you.

That is what im giving feed back to someone whom may not be able to buy expensive pads but still want something that does the job and be happy with there purchase....my 2c worth..

[gslrallysport]

Don't shoot the guy down just because he disagrees with you.

No, we're shooting the guy because there's ALOT of people who use Lucas pads in club motorsport applications and are flat out getting them to fade even in heavy, high powered cars. If he's getting them to fade 'easily' on public roads then that's of bigger concern than what he think of the actual pads...

So to say they are rubbish is just that, rubbish. If you are using your brakes hard enough on public roads to destroy brake pads then that says it all doesn't it down.gif

That sums it up nicely. I'm not going to say any more on the issue. No, Lucas aren't a DS3000, or EBC Yellow or A1RM, but they are a VERY good street pad that will cop alot of high temperature in light to medium track use, so to say they fade easily on a street car is BS.

Edited September 24, 2008 by jetpilot1986

[260DET]

Its not rocket science, there are road pads and there are race pads. Road pads work at any temperature and are usually quiet, race pads need heat input to work properly and often make noise doing so.

Pads like Lucas and Ultimates are road pads that in a suitable situation can be used in competition and are usually kind to rotors. It is that simple, if road pads don't work for you then go for race pads. Want me to say it again?

[siksII]

I think this guy gives a pretty fair, reasonable and unbiased view of Lucas pads:

http://soarer.ace.net.au/lucas_trw.html

And a Soarer isn't exactly the light car. Maybe they're not suitable for your particular application, but for 99% of people Lucas are more than enough for daily and light track duties. Definitely a far better pad than a Bendix Ultimate, nothing I see posted on an internet forum will ever change my opinion of that...

My review is fair, unreasonable and unbiased, only difference is that you dont agree with my opinion.

From the Soarer guy:

"the Lucas pads handled 30 minute sessions pretty well, most importantly the performance didn't markedly deteriorate over the length of the session."

A few paragraphs earlier:

"The pads handled it well, they didn't totally give up like the OEM's, but they did get a bit weaker as they got hot. I ended up using two feet on the brake pedal"

Enough said.

[siksII]

Each to their own. I personally know, cause I've seen for myself, there's a very large percentage of the Clubman QLD Rally competitors (including a very heavy, very fast Datsun 240K that knocks off WRXs and has standard size pads) that run Lucas pads. They also won 'Race' Magazine (you know, one of Australia's most respected technical magazines) brake pad of choice for clubman motorsport competitors.

I did 2 seasons and took a state rallying title on Lucas pads, so don't tell me my comparisons are misleading. For every one person that claims to be unhappy with Lucas I could name 10 that are...

jetpilot I made it very clear in my posts that they are great as a street pad for normal use on car like a turbo skyline, and good value too. Just not for hard driving.

Opinions are great to take on board when making a decision, and I took yours and general opinion from around the net on board before trying the pads.

The Soarer review is a good read and im sure race magazine is too, however since im not 13 years old I will take my own experience any day over what some random with a Soarer that needs to brake with two feet has written on the internet, or what some journo has written in a magazine.

Im not doubting your rally experience with the pads are fine, nor that some clubman competitors are happy with the pads. Keeping that in mind, are most who buy these pads from your recommendations on this forum using them for rally or clubman racing?

More likely, they have a mildly modified r32/r33 full weight street car with street tyres just like me, and im sure if they tried Lucas($70) ultimates($100) Formulas($150) in close succession then from a performance perspective they would rate them in price order just as I have found.

Its not rocket science, there are road pads and there are race pads. Road pads work at any temperature and are usually quiet, race pads need heat input to work properly and often make noise doing so.

Pads like Lucas and Ultimates are road pads that in a suitable situation can be used in competition and are usually kind to rotors. It is that simple, if road pads don't work for you then go for race pads. Want me to say it again?

You need to read my posts since you have missed the point, mentioning race pads etc. I asked for a direct comparison or ranking of the lucas pads along with other street pads from jetpilot, which he has given. In my experience after using all in the same conditions, he is wrong.

I was directly comparing the Lucas pads only to other street pads I mentioned. I have been happy with the performance of the other street pads I mentioned, I dont need race pads for the street. The Ultimates and Formulas(Several sets) were clearly better in the same situations in which I used them.

The only pads I have ever overheated on the street over and over again are the Lucas pads. They continue to disappoint as a "performance" pad for the street driven skyline. They are fine as a 'normal' pad for a street driven skyline.

Like anyone, I love a save a bit of money, and was really hoping these pads would live up to their big claims of fighting above their price bracket. I wrote up a unbiased opinion on the pads directly comparing them to other popular pads I have used. I hope what all three of us have said helps people to make up their own minds.

[nfi]

I think this guy gives a pretty fair, reasonable and unbiased view of Lucas pads:

http://soarer.ace.net.au/lucas_trw.html

And a Soarer isn't exactly the light car. Maybe they're not suitable for your particular application, but for 99% of people Lucas are more than enough for daily and light track duties. Definitely a far better pad than a Bendix Ultimate, nothing I see posted on an internet forum will ever change my opinion of that...

Further to SiksII's post....

"I ended up using two feet on the brake pedal"

ROFL!!! Clearly everyone can see this is the definition of 'brake fade'!!!

Edited September 29, 2008 by nfi

[260DET]

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The only pads I have ever overheated on the street over and over again are the Lucas pads. They continue to disappoint as a "performance" pad for the street driven skyline. They are fine as a 'normal' pad for a street driven skyline.

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I say again, how can you 'overheat' Lucas pads on the street when others find them fine for track work, in my case braking full on from 200kph? Problem is, what you say just does not make sense.