Having driven on both, I can tell you the Bobcats are a million times better than the stoptechs AND create way less dust.
Not saying the Bobcats are the end all and be all (although I absolutely love them) but if I had to choose between Stoptechs and Bobcats, I’d go with Bobcats without a moment’s thought.
you have brembos up front don’t you? Or stoptechs? (BBK)
how’d you find the initial bite on the carbos?
LOL, I’ll be glad to copy and past the emails I received directly from Carbotech warning about doing exactly what you are doing. They claim potential for complete loss of braking ability. I never completely understood it but saw it also backed up from several frequent road course enthusiasts. Also, looks like their website is having problems now or something but here is a snippet from their cached FAQ. I have never seen another brake manufacturer claim this…not sure if there is something unique with their compound or not. Bottom line, worth the risk? You decide.
That doesn’t make a lot of sense. How do the pads know if the rotors are resurfaced or new or just used in good shape?
No big deal anyway
Pads don’t know in the cognitive sense but there is a thin transfer layer of pad material on the rotor. You may never develop even or an adequate transfer layer if you don’t bed your pads. Regardless, I guess some compounds may form a “permanent” transfer layer with the rotor, rendering other pads less effective.
Unlike power adders (I mean, it sucks if you blow your engine but nobody dies), brakes are not something to mess with IMO.
I need to put my street pads back on after a recent lapping day. Before doing so I’ll clean up the cross-drilled holes (they are full of pad material right now), quickly sand my rotors and pads, clean with non-chlorinated brake cleaner, and re-install the centrics. Then re-bed them. 60 - 10 mph seven or 8 times and then let the brakes cool.
I need to bleed my fluid as well but will probably just wait on that until next spring. Car goes away for the winter pretty soon.
Thats interesting… i do bed every time… guess we will just have to see. Knock on wood its been fine so far.
I have StopTech street performance pads. I didn’t notice any difference from stock.
Front rotors cost me $720, rears $700
Labor: $540
Here is my rear rotor with 3500 miles, all pretty normal driving. With my fingernail I can kinda feel that it is not perfectly smooth, but no deep ridges.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y254/irishstang/RS4/photo.jpg
I have XP12s for the track and Bobcats for the street. Carbotech says they play very well together (i.e. no need to have a track dedicated rotor). I bought the XP12s pre-bedded as I didn’t feel like bedding in track pads.
I’m on StopTech 6-pistons.
As for the Bobcat’s initial bite. I find it perfect. Good but not over the top. Don’t like pads that bite too hard at slow speeds, makes the head bobbing a little annoying. I also don’t like it when there’s very little bite. The bite is in my personal sweet spot.