Race Brake Pads
The pad compounds listed below are intended for race applications. While some of the materials listed do work from cold, we do not recommend using any of the materials listed below for street use due to the possibility of increased levels of noise and, in some cases, increased disc/rotor wear at low operating temperatures. Compounds are grouped by manufacturer - generally starting with the lowest friction / lowest temp range and moving to the highest friction / temp range. We highly recommend that track day customers read the following article to learn more about the recommended brake upgrades for different levels of track day use – click here.
Endless Race Pad Compounds
Endless (Japan) is a high-end race pad manufacturer who's products are regarded world-wide to be of the very best that money can buy. Endless race pads are used by leading GT, Touring Car, Endurance, Rally, Rally-Raid and Formula car teams around the globe. The Endless customer list includes a large number of Le Mans GT teams (including class winners Risi Competizione and many others), Endurance teams (including Manthey Racing), BTCC teams (including BMW Team UK), WTCC teams, PWRC / WRC teams (including BP Ford Abu Dhabi) and Dakar teams (including 2009/2010 winners VW) to name a few. While Endless race pads are expensive, the performance, wear life and disc-friendly characteristics offered by Endless race pads have earned them a very strong following in high-level performance and race circles around the world. We regularly see Endless race pads outlasting competitive race pads by 2 or 3 times, which offsets the purchase price considerably. They are also very kind to discs at high temps, which further helps to reduce long-term running costs.
Endless S55G Compound
Ideal for use on production-based race cars that run OE brake boosters. S55G is a medium friction sprint race compound that offers good initial response and excellent modulation. S55G enables drivers to use high levels of pedal pressure without premature wheel lockup. A good choice for light to medium weight race cars and circuits with low to medium top speeds. Can be used for fast-road or track use, although some brake squeal may be experienced under street driving conditions.
Endless ME22 Compound
ME22 was developed from the ME20 base compound for sprint race and rally applications. The material offers an average friction co-efficient about 15% higher than S55G but slightly lower than ME20. The ME22 compound exhibits a flat predictable torque curve for optimum modulation. The compound offers a very good pedal feel with good initial bite. ME22 will suite drivers that prefer to use relatively high pedal pressures while maintaining good control and modulation. ME22 has a good heat range with brake performance and pedal feel remaining superb even at disc temps of 550-700 deg C. The material works from cold and reaches its optimum working temperature after just a few brake applications. A good choice for light to medium weight race cars that run OE brake boosters. Can be used for fast-road or track use, although some brake squeal may be experienced under street driving conditions.
Endless ME20 Compound
Possibly the most versatile race compound in the Endless range, ME20 was originally developed for BTCC Super Touring Cars but its characteristics make it an ideal choice for a wide range of sprint race and rally applications. ME20 is currently Powerbrake's top selling sprint race compound for production-based race cars. It is also often our first recommendation for rally / rally-raid applications. ME20 offers an increase in initial bite, friction co-efficient and heat range over ME22. Pedal feel, modulation and consistency are excellent even at temperatures in excess of 650 deg C. Pad wear life is very good and the material also exhibits very low disc wear. Performance is good from cold and the compound reaches its optimum temp range just 100 deg above ME22. ME20 can be used with our without a brake booster depending on driver preference. The material remains very consistent in both wet and dry conditions. Used in Bridgestone Production Cars, VW Challenge A-Class, Silver Cup, Super Saloons, Modified Production Cars, Super Hatch, BTCC, WTCC, PWRC, International Rally, etc. Endless ME20 is also our most popular track day compound. Can be used for fast-road or track use, although some brake squeal may be experienced under street driving conditions.
Endless N35S Compound
N35S is one of Endless's most popular circuit race and rally compounds. Used extensively in high-level motor sport world-wide, N35S offers a step up in initial bite and friction co-efficient over ME20. It has a slightly progressive torque curve but maintains very good modulation in spite of its high torque output. Lockup tendencies are low and the material allows the drivers to initiate braking with very light application of the pedal and then transition quickly into hard braking with high pedal pressure if required - all while maintaining excellent control and modulation. The material also remains very consistent in both wet and dry conditions, which makes it a good choice for many rally applications. It has been used very successfully in WRC on both tarmac and gravel stages. N35S has a very good heat range with a max operating temp of 800 deg C. Pad and disc wear characteristics are excellent for a sprint race pad. If a team is looking for a step up from ME20 but wants to maintain the excellent modulation, consistency and wear life then N35S is the right choice. Used in Bridgestone Production Cars, Altech GT Challenge, FIA GT Car, WRC and International Rally etc.
Endless PC35 Compound
Developed from the N35S base compound, PC35 offers similar levels of average friction co-efficient as N35S. The key difference is in the pedal feel, which will be considerably firmer with the PC35 than with N35S. This results in a quicker brake response and a stronger initial bite. PC35 will also offer slightly more heat range / fade resistance as well as slightly better wear life than N35S. This material does however take a little longer to bed-in than N35S and can be a bit more difficult to modulate, especially in wet conditions. Used in SA Rally and ABSA off-road racing as well as being very popular for international Rally and Rally-Raid events including Dakar.
Endless N05U Compound
N05U falls between N35S and N05S in terms Initial bite and friction co-efficient. The material exhibits very stable performance at high temperatures and under high brake loads with quick, sharp and responsive braking force. Pad and disc wear characteristics are excellent as with N35S. Used in Wesbank V8 Supercars and Bridgestone Production Cars in South Africa as well as WRC, FIA GT, PWRC and International Rally. Also very popular for Porsche cup cars with a Sprint Race focus.
Endless N05S Compound
N05S is a compound with a very strong initial bite and exceptional response. It is a substantial step up from N35S in terms of bite and friction levels. It has a fairly flat torque curve meaning that the transition from initial bite and maximum brake torque is quite predictable in spite of very high friction co-efficient. Very strong deceleration can be achieved with just 15-bar line pressure and this material requires fairly low pedal pressures even when braking from very high speeds. Modulation is still very good in spite of the high levels of bite and friction. The very high levels of bite and friction result in the driver being able to stay on the brake pedal for shorter periods of time in order to achieve the necessary deceleration. This compound is recommended for high-speed circuits on cars that have very good traction and downforce. As with other Endless race compounds in this range pad and disc wear are very good and brake performance remains very consistent in both wet and dry conditions. Used in Wesbank V8 Supercars and Bridgestone Production Cars in South Africa as well as WRC, FIA GT, PWRC and International Rally. Also very popular for Porsche cup cars with a Sprint Race focus.
Endless N30C Compound
N30C offers the highest friction co-efficient of all Endless N-Series race pads. With a friction co-efficient approx. 20% higher than N35S, it is ideally suited to drivers looking for very high friction levels. The down side is that it does wear a bit quicker than N35S and PC35. Has been used in Rally and Rally-Raid applications where driver prefer very strong bite and high friction.
Endless W003 Compound
A new generation Endless compound developed for sprint racing applications where very high brake temperatures are reached. The W003 compound offers slightly stronger initial bite and friction levels wen compared to the popular N35S compound but is manufactured using new production technology that results in even better fade resistance and lower wear rate than the N##S series materials. In addition to this W003 offers the best modulation characteristics of the entire endless sprint compound series. While the materials and production processes used in the making of W003 are very expensive, Powerbrake are of the opinion that W003 is currently the leading all-round sprint race compound on the world market in terms of performance, wear rate and fade resistance. Used in Altech GT Challenge and Bridgestone Production Cars in SA and numerous circuit race, rally and rally-raid applications world-wide.
Endless S41S Compound
The Endless S41S compound is designed for race applications in which very high sustained brake temperatures (in excess of 500 - 550 deg C) are experienced. Friction levels are similar to the Endless W003 compound (above). The difference lies in the fact that S41S will offer even better fade resistance and pedal feel at extreme brake temperatures. The S41S compound will wear slightly quicker than W003 but not by a large margin. Another important point for consideration is that the S41S compound is more cost effective to manufacture and therefore has a lower selling price than the W003 material. The W003 material will have some advantages at lower brake temperatures but if your application results in sustained high temperature use, then S41S is a good choice.
Endless S58O Compound
Developed specifically for mid to heavyweight cars that see extreme brake temperatures, loads and wear. The S58O compound has a very strong initial bite and very high friction co-efficient (approx. 30% higher than N35S). Good for applications that see extreme front disk temperatures consistently. Even under such abusive operating conditions, S58O remains kind to disks. The focus is on offering an ultra-high friction sprint pad that remains controllable and does not not accelerate disk wear. Excellent for cars and circuits with a high focus on straight-line deceleration and maximum outright stopping power. Popular in Super GT, FIA Racing, and various other GT Categories. Also used in some extreme rally applications where drivers want very high initial bite.
Endless S33O Compound
A new generation of Endless race compound developed for race applications where extreme brake temperatures are experienced. The S33O compound offers extremely high friction levels and bite matched to class leading wear life and fade resistance. Fade resistance at extreme temperatures is unmatched. Wear life is even better than S58O. Modulation remains good in spite of the extremely high friction levels. S33O is kinder to discs than many of its competitors on the world market. Used successfully in WTCC. Recommended for cars with very high levels of grip.
Endless W008 Compound (For use with Carbon Ceramic Discs)
OEM Brake pads for the Brembo S.G.L CCM, Porsche PCCB, Nissan NCCB system have been deemed to have certain weakpoints in pad feel, wear, and temperature resistance. The W008 was born from the W007 compound and can be used for street and track day use. This pad has good heat resistance, pad wear, fade resistance and pedal feel is much better than OEM CCM pads. This pad requires the use of OEM anti-noise shims.
Endless W007 Compound (For use with Carbon Ceramic Discs)
For circuit use only. Designed specifically for use with Brembo S.G.L CCM (Carbon Ceramic Matrix), Porsche PCCB, and Nissan GT-R Spec V (NCCB) disks. This brake compound has very good fade resistance and yet is very kind towards Carbon Ceramic disks (as long as the CCM discs are not run to temps over 600 deg C. Development and testing was done on the Nurburgring circuit. We do however recommend the use of thermo-paint applied to the brake discs as this brake pad has such high fade resistance that it is possible to run OEM CCM brake discs beyond their max heat range, which can lead to oxidation and accelerated wear of the CCM discs.
Cobalt Friction Race Pad Compounds
Cobalt Friction Technologies (USA) are a niche race pad manufacturer who’s hybrid-sintered Carbon Ceramic race compounds have found a loyal following due to their many unique characteristics. Cobalt pads require very little bed-in when compared to resin-based race pad compounds. This allows teams to get the most out of their track time once having switched to Cobalt pads. The Cobalt materials require very little warm-up and reach maximum performance extremely quickly. Cobalt race pads are also particularly kind to discs if kept within their recommended temp range. It should be noted that Cobalt race pads will be extremely abrasive to discs at low (street) temperatures and we do not recommend that they be used on track cars that are driven to and from the circuit. Rally-raid teams my also find that driving between stages results in high disc wear due to the Cobalt pads not being up to temperature. Once on-track and up to temperature, Cobalt pads will exhibit very low disc wear.
Cobalt XR5 Compound
XR5 is a low-medium torque compound designed specifically for rear-axle applications in vehicles exhibiting high levels of weight transfer under braking (e.g. front wheel drive touring/production cars). The material has a solid initial bite which transitions to a slightly negative torque curve during the last 60-75% of a brake zone helping to eliminate rear lock-up once weight has transferred to the front axle and the rear is unloaded.
Cobalt XR3 Compound
XR3 is a very versatile medium-high torque compound with very good cold performance and fade resistance. Excellent modulation and wear characteristics make the XR3 the perfect choice for the majority of medium & lower inertia applications with limited brake hardware options. For higher-energy platforms utilizing XR1 or XR2 on the front axle, the XR3 is a good rear axle choice to maintain proper brake balance. The XR3 material is particularly well suited for front axle use in B & C-Class VW Challenge racing.
Cobalt XR2 Compound
XR2 features a strong initial bite with a controlled transition to a medium-high rising torque curve. Particularly well-suited to chassis/tire combinations or surface conditions which do not respond well to very high initial brake energy (or where the XR1 material is too aggressive), but still require high average torque levels. By allowing the tire contact patch to extend and the chassis geometry to stabilize before delivering maximum braking torque, the driver remains in full control throughout the brake zone, from initial pedal application to the final release. Popular choice for A-Class VW Challenge racing.
Cobalt XR1 Compound
XR1 combines a very aggressive initial bite and high friction levels with good modulation and release characteristics to deliver very strong deceleration rates across a broad range of operating conditions. Cobalt Friction's proprietary Thermo-Velocity Design Profile results in excellent consistency and torque stability across a very wide temperature range, throughout the life of the pad material. Disc wear is low at race temperatures. Pad wear life is good. Equally well suited for vehicles with high downforce as well as limited downforce applications due to the predictable line pressure to brake torque relationship.
Carbotech Race Pad Compounds
Carbotech Performance Brakes (USA) are a niche pad manufacturer that specializes in Ceramic race pad compounds. There are two key characteristics that set Carbotech’s Ceramic race pads aside from many other race pad compounds on the market today. The first is that their materials tend to offer excellent modulation. Carbotech’s XP-Series race pads have become known for their smooth engagement and the fact that they are easier to modulate than many competitive race pads, which can sometimes feel like an on/off switch in comparison. The second unique characteristic is that Carbotech race pads tend to be less abrasive to discs than many other race compounds, particularly at low operating temps where many race pads can become very abrasive. Another point worth mentioning is that the brake dust produced by Carbotech race pads is completely non-corrosive unlike the dust produced by many competitive race pads, which can damage wheels and paint work. This point has earned Carbotech pads a strong following among track day customers that use their ‘daily drivers’ on the track do not want the wheels and paintwork on their cars to be damaged under track conditions. Carbotech are willing to produce their XP-Series race pads in just about any OEM or race pad profile available on the world market including many hard to source pad references.
Carbotech XP8 Compound
XP8 is Carbotech’s entry-level race compound. It is a versatile material that can be used for lightweight race applications as well as track days, time attack, autocross, gymkhanas etc. The pads will offer strong braking from cold and will not be overly abrasive to brake discs at street operating temperatures (which is the case with many race pads if used on the road). Users will experience a fair amount of brake squeal when using XP8 on the road. The level of squeal will differ from one brake system to another. The point is that Carbotech XP8 is a race compound that can also be used on the road to drive to and from events. The brake squeal is a trade-off for this level of versatility. Optimum temperature range is 0 - 600 deg C and both pad and disc life is good within this temperature range. XP8 is also a good choice for light race cars and has been used very successfully in race applications such as: Historics and open wheel formulas such as Formula Ford, Formula GTi and on Lotus-7 style race cars.
Carbotech XP10 Compound
XP10 is the next step up from XP8 in Carbotech’s range of Ceramic race compounds. XP10 has a higher friction co-efficient than XP8. Optimum temperature range is 50 – 600 deg C. The XP10 compound displays all of Carbotech’s trademark characteristics, namely: excellent modulation, low disc abrasion and non-corrosive brake dust. Carbotech XP10 is an excellent pad choice for race cars weighing in the region of 800 – 1000 kg’s. We generally recommend using an XP10 front / XP8 rear split for optimum brake balance on production-based vehicle platforms. XP10 has been used successfully in applications such as: Historics and Super Hatch etc. XP10 is also a good choice for entry-level to intermediate-level track day use. Very popular in the USA for SCCA and NASA sanctioned race categories as well as track day use.
Carbotech XP12 Compound
XP12 has a higher friction co-efficient than XP10, while retaining the smooth engagement and excellent modulation that Carbotech ceramic race pads are known for. Optimum temperature range is 100 – 600 deg C. Once again disc abrasion is low and pad life is reasonable within this temperature range. We generally recommend using XP12 front / XP10 rear split for optimum brake balance on production-based vehicle platforms. XP12 has proven to be a very good choice for production-based race cars and has been used successfully in: Bridgestone Productions Cars, Altech GT Challenge and Super Saloons, VW Challenge & SuperHatch. Popular in the USA for SCCA and NASA sanctioned race categories.
Carbotech XP20 Compound
XP20 has the highest friction co-efficient in Carbotech's range, while retaining the modulation characteristics that Carbotech ceramic race pads are known for. Optimum temperature range is 100 – 600 deg C. Once again disc abrasion is low and pad life is reasonable within this temperature range. We generally recommend using XP12 front / XP10 rear split for optimum brake balance on production-based vehicle platforms. XP20 has proven to be a good choice for drivers that like the feel and modulation characteristics of the Carbotech XP12 compound but are looking for a bit more initial bite. XP20 has been used successfully in: VW Challenge and SuperHatch in SA as well as some open-wheel formula's. Popular in the USA for SCCA and NASA sanctioned race categories.
Carbotech RP2 Compound
The RP2 compound was engineered by Carbotech for longer race events, based on their successful XP Series formulations. RP2 is the longest lasting compound in the Carbotech range. RP2 has fairly strong initial bite, with a little less modulation than XP12. With a good initial bite and fairly flat torque curve, the RP2 compound is easy to use throughout the braking zone. Optimum temperature range is 100 – 560 deg C.
