I am curious as to recommendations on brake pads for an '88? I want low brake dust, and something good for street driving with the slight possibility of a local autocross (but nothing heavy duty).
What I don't want is something that requires "heating up" to work well, etc.
I do not know how many times I have posted this information in the last 10 years........ One more time....... Porterfield Fiero Brake Pads R4-S High Performance Street and Autocross For high performance and heavy-duty street conditions. Perfect for prolonged everyday street use while also being capable of tolerating the most severe street use without any fade. Rotor friendly of course. The R4-S friction level will give you an impressive increase in stopping ability with very minimum pedal effort. R4-S compound has the absolute lowest noise and dust levels, far below OEM equipment or any other high performance brake material. Good for autocrossing, some drivers schools, solo events, and rally’s. The R4-S compound is available for virtually any vehicle sold in the US. We also offer the R4-S in pad sizes for competition type calipers that are used under street driven conditions. Pad Maker Compound Make Model Year Front Part Number Front Price Rear Part Number Rear Price Porterfield R4-S 1988 PONTIAC Fiero AP378 $ 79.95 AP378 $ 79.95 http://www.porterfield-brakes.com
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12:55 PM
FieroReinke Member
Posts: 1065 From: St James, MO Registered: Feb 2003
I was just getting ready to start looking for some good pads for when I do my 12 inch rotor conversion. Thanks for not making me have to search.
That's what I bought for mine. I did find them for $69 a set though.... I felt a little ridiculous paying $140 for brake pads..., but I have had such crappy brakes for 3 years, that I decided to choke on the expense.
Chris, I will be doing a VERY detailed write up on the problems and step by step on how I did/am doing my 12" conversion... Either it ain't so simple as 8 bolts, or I just make everything complicated.
I should be finished in 2 weeks. It will be very helpful to people that do this.
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01:26 PM
Duck Hunter 117 Member
Posts: 272 From: Greenwood, IN Registered: Jun 2006
BTW, For Autocross you have a couple of class choices, depending on what mods you did. For any mods the V6 fiero gets in the csp class, then you have a choice to go into SM2 class or XP class or the big modified class. Happy soloing.
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02:03 PM
FieroFanatic13 Member
Posts: 3521 From: Big Rapids, MI, USA Registered: Jul 2006
How are these Porterfield R4-S High Performance Street and Autocross Fiero Brake Pads when cold as in normal street driving?
I once put a set of autocross pads on my vette. On a cool morning when backing out of my driveway if I forgot to keep my left foot on the brake pedal I would wind up in my neighbors driveway accross the street when I tried to stop. These brakes worked well only when they were hot and until I adjusted to them they were downright dangerous on the street.
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06:55 PM
Steven Snyder Member
Posts: 3326 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2004
How are these Porterfield R4-S High Performance Street and Autocross Fiero Brake Pads when cold as in normal street driving?
They worked better than stock pads on my car when cold, so I guess they're pretty good? They do eat rotors fast and produce a decent amount of dust though..
The best all around pads are the top of the line street pads from raybestos & wagner These pads have some ceramic,,.a little of all the good stuff,, with all working properly you can expect 60 to 0 in under 135 feet,, a normal 88 fiero will stop in under 145. feet. The custom pads are great for the race track..or mountain driving,,never use pads that require heating on the street,,Never..Independent testing has proven these wagner & raybestos pad..Many of the auto parts stores now have top of the line pads that are excellent and the price is right..they are normally the 3rd pad up the food chainThe 88 fiero has excellent brakes and only needs quality pads to stop with the best of the new cars, the older fieros not so good you can get some interesting test results with the hiway patrol brake testing tho this info is old can'T remember the new test..IF your system is in good working order you will be surprised at the stopping power of the raybestos and wagner pads.. To check out stopping power.on a deserted road.. do a panic stop lock up and go back and check the marks to make sure all wheels are the same,and the car does not pull.. when you spin the tires they should have equal drag
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12:27 AM
PFF
System Bot
Steven Snyder Member
Posts: 3326 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2004
Locking up the tires will flat spot them. I don't recommend following that advice. You can lose control of the car if they lock up unevenly. A road would be a bad place to do that on. A skidpad or empty parking lot with no obstacles would be much safer.
[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 02-01-2008).]
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01:51 PM
Lilchief Member
Posts: 1747 From: Vevay,Indiana Registered: Feb 2004
The lock up is only for people who want the best possible stopping system,, most people will not do this and I said to do it on a deserted road,,you need a flat surface.early morning sunday is the best time to do this..This will only flat spot cheap tires,unless you do it repeatedly..For the normal fiero owner you only have to do normal stop and go to check out a set of brake pads..The average fiero owner is far more likely to wear the tires doing rapid starts than stops..I highly recomend the lock up for a check of stopping ability on hi performance cars where the owner wants the best possible short stop to match his illegal speeding..this is a tried and proven method,,some people drive to fast !! some people (mostly young ) are going to do stupid stuff and no one can stop them..the porterfield brakes are top notch..But the raybesto and wagner(& the part store clones) are best for the average street car..You want the best stopping power with longevity for the rotors!! also light pressure for the best stop
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 02-02-2008).]
Research!! For those who want the straight scoop on brake pads GOOGLE search " car brake pad comparison for stopping ability" read the justnet-brake pads this is the hiway patrol test of brake pads this will give you more insight to brake pads than you ever wanted to know about pad pressure ect. Raybesto and hawk come out great in this test.. there are also test of porterfield and other performance brands.. The charts on the hiway patrol test will give you an education in pad performance ,,Never forget that the BEST pads for stopping wear out the rotors never NEVER use pads that need to be heated on the street.. on the hiway patrol test go to equipment performance (adobe) for the info you want ,,if you have dial up it is worth the wait for this informative test on pressure, temps,stopping distance ect, this report is not boring to read considering it is a goverment report.. Brakes are a big part of a performance car...often superior brakes will prevent a deputy dog style crash.. The lightest pressure really comes into effect if you have a lady driver in the family,she may be wearing hi heels and a great brake pad like the Raybesto pad takes less pressure and will be of assistance in her being able to stop the car in a panic situation .the mad hatters,,recent prison escapees,, amphetimine adicts,manic depressives,psychopaths,cell phone dreamers and nascar wantabees I encounter on the road demand good brakes & a loaded 45 close at hand
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 02-02-2008).]
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10:03 AM
FieroFanatic13 Member
Posts: 3521 From: Big Rapids, MI, USA Registered: Jul 2006
Research!! For those who want the straight scoop on brake pads GOOGLE search " car brake pad comparison for stopping ability" read the justnet-brake pads this is the hiway patrol test of brake pads this will give you more insight to brake pads than you ever wanted to know about pad pressure ect. Raybesto and hawk come out great in this test.. there are also test of porterfield and other performance brands.. The charts on the hiway patrol test will give you an education in pad performance ,,Never forget that the BEST pads for stopping wear out the rotors never NEVER use pads that need to be heated on the street.. on the hiway patrol test go to equipment performance (adobe) for the info you want ,,if you have dial up it is worth the wait for this informative test on pressure, temps,stopping distance ect, this report is not boring to read considering it is a goverment report.. Brakes are a big part of a performance car...often superior brakes will prevent a deputy dog style crash.. The lightest pressure really comes into effect if you have a lady driver in the family,she may be wearing hi heels and a great brake pad like the Raybesto pad takes less pressure and will be of assistance in her being able to stop the car in a panic situation .the mad hatters,,recent prison escapees,, amphetimine adicts,manic depressives,psychopaths,cell phone dreamers and nascar wantabees I encounter on the road demand good brakes & a loaded 45 close at hand
