[MaNaWaR]

im looking into upgrading my brake pads basically because the stock pads are dusty as heck. i have searched and found that axxis pads are the best. i am ruling out the ultimates primarily because they are as dusty as stock but if they are a big improvement i may consider them. i like the deluxe pads becuase they have little dusting. what are the pros/cons on these deluxe pads vs the oem pads? i know they arent nearly as dusty but how do they compare in terms of performance? i dont want a pad that decreases the performance of the brakes. i will just be upgrading the pads and nothing else and i have oem rotors and brake lines. please give me your input and suggestions. thanks. btw i do not track my car. just street driving.

[Divexxtreme]

I have the Deluxe Plus'. They brake as good or better than the strockers and have a 1/4 as much dust. You'll love 'em.

[MaNaWaR]

ok sounds good. i have 1300 miles on stock oem rotors and i am just going to change to the axxis deluxe pads. is this bad for the rotor since im not replacing both? do i still need to follow the breakin procedure? help me out since im a little behind in the world of braking.

[Divexxtreme]

They won't hurt your rotors. As far as bedding them, check out http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm for bedding procedures.

[nrubenstein]

I rate the Deluxe Plus at 80% of stock, which is perfectly adequate for the street. Feel sucks, but the lack of torque actually makes it easier to use them for, say, autocrossing.

[Nixlimited]

I have the new hawk ceramic pads which Dave says are great. I am waiting for my drilled rotors to install them along with my SS lines.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

I have the new hawk ceramic pads which Dave says are great. I am waiting for my drilled rotors to install them along with my SS lines.

Have you seen this post by Dave?

Originally Posted by DZeckhausen
I prefer the Hawk Performance Ceramic. But there's a snag for the E46 M3 platform. Hawk has decided to save money by consolidating a few different pad shapes. This, in and of itself, is no big deal. Pad makers do it all the time. The problem is that Hawk consolidated the D725 and D394 shapes in front and the D692 and D683 shapes in back. What's wrong with this? Well, the backing plates for both pads are virtually identical, as is the shape of the friction material. The problem arises because the D725 and D692 pads use smaller piston clips than the D394 and D683 respectively. In front the D725 pad almost works in the M3 application. The clips are too small to lock securely into the caliper, with the result that the pads may squeal more easily, but they don't rattle. The real problem is in back where the D692 piston clips are so small that they don't even begin to lock into the M3 rear caliper pistons. The result is an annoying rattle when you hit bumps, and the possibility of squeal.

I've only had one complaint of rattling and squealing on an M3. But when I investigated and starting pulling pads out of boxes to compare, I was bothered enough by the discrepancy that I pulled the E46 M3 application off my web site. I've also attempted to give feedback to Hawk via my supplier. I was told not to expect much in the way of a response. This is very disappointing, since the feedback from users of other platforms where fit is not a problem (e.g., E46 323i, 325i, 328i) has been outstanding. Until Hawk decides to make pads for the E46 M3 with properly sized piston clips, I won't sell them for this application. Sorry!!

[Nixlimited]

Originally Posted by flybigjet

Have you seen this post by Dave?

Originally Posted by DZeckhausen
I prefer the Hawk Performance Ceramic. But there's a snag for the E46 M3 platform. Hawk has decided to save money by consolidating a few different pad shapes. This, in and of itself, is no big deal. Pad makers do it all the time. The problem is that Hawk consolidated the D725 and D394 shapes in front and the D692 and D683 shapes in back. What's wrong with this? Well, the backing plates for both pads are virtually identical, as is the shape of the friction material. The problem arises because the D725 and D692 pads use smaller piston clips than the D394 and D683 respectively. In front the D725 pad almost works in the M3 application. The clips are too small to lock securely into the caliper, with the result that the pads may squeal more easily, but they don't rattle. The real problem is in back where the D692 piston clips are so small that they don't even begin to lock into the M3 rear caliper pistons. The result is an annoying rattle when you hit bumps, and the possibility of squeal.

I've only had one complaint of rattling and squealing on an M3. But when I investigated and starting pulling pads out of boxes to compare, I was bothered enough by the discrepancy that I pulled the E46 M3 application off my web site. I've also attempted to give feedback to Hawk via my supplier. I was told not to expect much in the way of a response. This is very disappointing, since the feedback from users of other platforms where fit is not a problem (e.g., E46 323i, 325i, 328i) has been outstanding. Until Hawk decides to make pads for the E46 M3 with properly sized piston clips, I won't sell them for this application. Sorry!!

Yeah, thanks! Dave is going to swap them out with some Axxis pads for me. He runs a great shop.

[Divexxtreme]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

I have the new hawk ceramic pads which Dave says are great. I am waiting for my drilled rotors to install them along with my SS lines.

I have the Hawk Ceramic's on my ZCP. They are almost as dusty as the stockers.

I'll get the Deluxe Plus' again next time.

[flybigjet]

Originally Posted by Nixlimited

Yeah, thanks! Dave is going to swap them out with some Axxis pads for me. He runs a great shop.

Good plan.

And yup, Dave is certainly the Brake Guru; I've ordered SS lines and a CDV blank from him before, and I broke down and got a set of Ultimates today. R.