I just ordered up a set of Hawk HPS pads. I've been reading mixed things about them. I should explain that my car will never see the track,however like most evo owners I do love spirited driving. So if you currently run or have run the HPS pads, feel free to share..I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into. I had axxis pads before..didn't care for all that noise..but they had a great bite.

 

Awful bite on the HPS. I never had an Axxis ULT make noise.

I do not recommend the HPS or HP+ pads on the Evo. They are junk in my book.

 

From my 8:





Glazed over from street driving.

 

They also have terrible bite on the Lancer . I just ordered some Axxis Ultimate to check those out . I dont mind the dust , or the noise . (At least people say it gos away when warm )

 

I agree with Smike^ HPS are pretty garbo pads. however if your purely street driving they will prob work for you. Bite isnt great, and they over heat SUPER quick. I open tracked them once and learned the hard way what brake fade was. but again, if your only street driving, and since youve already ordered them, guess you'll have to make it work.

for what its worth, for my normal pads my next set will either be Ds2500s or RB 800s. good luck!

 

Hmm. That's not good.

However, I have been on the HPS pads since I changed them out to avoid the brutal squeal from the OEM pads.

I haven't run in any AutoX or HPDE or anything with them, if I went to a track I would certainly swap them with a track only pad for the day.

My opinion? Great stock replacement pad. My credentials? Nothing, just been using them a while.

 

I run the HPS pads on mine... just daily driving about 35 miles each direction and some regular city driving and they seem fine to me. No noise and very minimal dust. Bite seems better than the stock ones.

 

see...and that's what throws me..I read mixed things..some people love them..others...no..I think it may lie in how you bed the pads..it has to be. A friend of mine with a subie..says they are a good quality pad..although they may eat through the rotor depending on the compound I get...so...idk...I'll give them a shot..but..better than the stock pad is good enough for me..I already have SS lines can feel the difference.. plus 200 shipped..can't beat that with a stick...

 

Anyone who says the HPS pad performs well on their Evo, STI, Camaro, 240SX (yes, all personal experience here), doesn't know what they are missing out on. They might state its a 'good pad' because they bled their brake fluid when they changed out the pads, and it is the new brake fuild which really is making the difference. Maybe their old pads were terrible, and the HPS somehow was a step up.

Don't be mistaken. As stated in several threads on this forum, the HPS suck. Period.

Low bite, poor pedal feel.

 

^ This. Low bite, poor feel. They were worse then my stock Subaru pads back when I ran them.

- Andrew

 

This is my first car with good brakes, but I definately felt the HPS pads are better than the stock ones. Perhaps you are correct and I dont know what I am missing out on, but atleast I know I am not taking a step backwards. It will be nice to try some different pads later on.... but no sense in me crying over spilled milk and spent money for now. :-)

What pads do you suggest then GTWorkx and Solo?

 

Yeah over the stockers I felt the HPS pads were better,

Compared to other pads I can't say, I don't think I'll be doing Hawks for my racing set but for DD they've been fine

 

I have used the HPS pads and they are an OK brake pad. The only time I had squealing with the HPS was at the drag strip or on a road course. Their initial bite sucks, but they have as good or better feel than the stock pads after the initial bite. The thing about the HPS pads is that they will last a long time, unlike say other better performing pads. And they don't dust any less than the OE pads, they just dust a different color - brownish red. For regular street driving, these pads are just fine.

The above has been my experience. I wasn't unhappy with the pads, but I think there are better alternatives out there now, such as Centric PosiQuiets or Axxis pads.

 

I just got the pads in today...that was fast. So..Looking at the rears..I wonder do I need the pad adapters?...I hear what everyone is saying..and again..it's always the same response..some say they suck..others say they are good..but..I will install them Monday and see how they really perform. I'd say with the SS line..it should make a difference.. anything near stock is fine with me for the time being..because..I do have my moments where I drive like I stole it...and the stock pads hold up..just fine.. Thanx for your input all..love to hear more..

 

I installed them..didn't cut the rotors...they seem alot more quiet than stock..I haven't heard a squeal out of them..the bite..is just as good as stock..so..Idk..people just have had a bad experience or two I suppose..