Anybody using these pads that can attest to them being worth the extra dough over standard metallic pads from Auto Zone for example, which are about half the price?

depends on use. much like race tires - they need heat to be good, and "normal" street use does not build the heat.

"normal" pads fade when they get hot - carbomets are made for hot use. that is the difference. they are made for nailing the brakes hard repeatedly. which just dont happen on the street.

I have used the carbomet's before.
They work great under extreme conditions like on a road course or at highway speeds and heavy braking. The problem is in winter or on cool days they require more effort to stop until the pads warm up. Once warmed up they work great. They even stop better when you hit puddles and such because they dry faster. (less initial slippage)
BUT,
When used with cross-drilled rotors on a cool or cold day, The first stop or so can be kind of scary.

I had them with stock rotors and with cross-drilled. I would NOT recommend them with cross-drilled rotors.
With stock as long as you know about the extra effort when cold, You'll be fine.

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Happiness isn't around the corner...
Happiness IS the corner.
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[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 04-25-2008).]

the carbonet pads are good pads if you drive like a maniac,,Never use a pad on the street that needs to heat before it gives good stopping power you may never need a seat belt or good brakes but good brakes are more important.. have them the next time you pull out of the drive way and have to stop fast within a 1/4 mile you may never need this ??? BUT ! what if you do need them.
the best brakes for the fiero are the wagner or raybestos top of the line ,, these are all around brake pads that give the best street performance because they have a composition of the best material forget the exotic unless you are at the track every week
These pads are independent test proven ..the easiest comparison test to find are the hi way patrol test on the net
I like the hawkhead ,, but if you want superior braking with good price go with raybestoes or wagner they are kind to your rotors.
For continued stops from 100 m p h go with the race brakes if your panic stops from 100 MPH are seldom go with the wagner and raybestoes

Many will ignore this advise they prefer to buy a more esoteric brand so be it

if still available I imagine the ac delco pads would be excellent ,, but I do not know

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 04-25-2008).]

I have Carbomets now. Braking is poor until they are seated, but that doesn't take too long. Once seated they work really well. I hadn't noticed any "no brakes when cold" scenario and they seem to work fine at all times. They definitely haul you down to a dead stop without that "I'm running out of brake" feeling you sometimes get with stock pads.

BUT they seem terribly dirty!! My wheels were black within blocks of driving. I'm taking them off and replacing them with Porterfield R4-S which supposedly produce much less dust. I guess I'll find out once I install them.
http://www.livermoreperform...d_info.html#compound

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

I have them and I think they work great. I got them from the Fierostore last fall (took awhile to get em because they were on back order) but they sell a ton of them. I like these pads because they are Semi-Metallic meaning little brake fade under hard braking, minimal almost no brake dust (great for keeping wheels lookin good), and good stopping power. BUT after awhile they start squealing like a mo-fo, but that is to be expected with Semi-Metallic pads. I recommend them from my experiences.

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So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing

quote Originally posted by Oreif: I have used the carbomet's before. They work great under extreme conditions like on a road course or at highway speeds and heavy braking. The problem is in winter or on cool days they require more effort to stop until the pads warm up. Once warmed up they work great. They even stop better when you hit puddles and such because they dry faster. (less initial slippage) BUT, When used with cross-drilled rotors on a cool or cold day, The first stop or so can be kind of scary. I had them with stock rotors and with cross-drilled. I would NOT recommend them with cross-drilled rotors. With stock as long as you know about the extra effort when cold, You'll be fine.

WHat he said!!!

I had them with cross drilled rotors on my formula nad man you had to work them to get them to heat up. After that you were good but cold they are useless.

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Indy#64~FieroNews~Boots~Bag s~Wallets~Headliner~Spare Cover

Heh. Seems like the experiences are split down the middle as far as the cold/hot issue. I don't have cross-drilled rotors on the front, but have them on the back, I wasn't going to go with these on the back anyway so that squares with the general consensus about cross drilled rotors and these pads. I probably won't be driving in the winter at all, so really cold weather won't be an issue, summer fun only. If a few miles of driving heats them up enough to deliver the kind of stopping they advertise, then it could be a decent choice. But if I have to ride them just to get a couple of good stops before they cool down, I'll probably prefer just regular semi-mets. Interesting there are two completely different experiences with regard to the brake dust!

they improved my braking with crossdrilled/slotted over stock brakes
but i do agreee they dont stop hard at first
i usually just play with them as i leave the neighborhood

quote Originally posted by Oreif: I have used the carbomet's before. They work great under extreme conditions like on a road course or at highway speeds and heavy braking. The problem is in winter or on cool days they require more effort to stop until the pads warm up. Once warmed up they work great. They even stop better when you hit puddles and such because they dry faster. (less initial slippage) BUT, When used with cross-drilled rotors on a cool or cold day, The first stop or so can be kind of scary. I had them with stock rotors and with cross-drilled. I would NOT recommend them with cross-drilled rotors. With stock as long as you know about the extra effort when cold, You'll be fine.

I too have Carbomet's up front, they seemed weak until they broke in, now brakes good all the time. I have drilled/slotted rotors too. Just my experience.

Eh, I think I"ll order a set, why not.

I have the carbomet pads with crossdrilled rotors. When they were new it was scary the first time I used them. Once they broke in they work fine all the time now.

I bought a set, but since they're sitting on a shelf, I guess I had better follow this thread.

I did order them. I have a few other things to do to the front end before putting everything back together- doing a full rebuild of upper and lower a arms, as well as complete rebuild of both calipers. I'm going to anodize the calipers and have them powder coated clear and do a few other things. So essentially, it'll be a while before I get it actually on the road, but as soon as I do I'll revive this thread and give my impressions.

quote Taijiguy:I did order them. I have a few other things to do to the front end before putting everything back together- doing a full rebuild of upper and lower a arms, as well as complete rebuild of both calipers. I'm going to anodize the calipers and have them powder coated clear and do a few other things. So essentially, it'll be a while before I get it actually on the road, but as soon as I do I'll revive this thread and give my impressions.

Good idea!

Are ceramic brakes available for the Fiero?
Are they a good idea?

(I like how ceramic's have a much less noticeable dust, but my experience with them is on non-Fiero's)