Bad experience with PFC 01 pads

[attila]

Just came home from the track and still fuming. I got the performance friction 01 pads for the OEM front calipers from Bimmerworld. The pads came without the retention clips/ springs which would ancore the pads to the piston and to the caliper.
So I got lots of ratling I mean very severe ratling pluss I got bad circumferential groves on my disks just after the bedding. Any similar expereinece? I am not sure this is just an unfinished product I got, or this is their finished pad. I was thinking ordering their BBK for the front or at least the stage one kit. Not so sure anymore.

[STALKER]

There was another thread about the same problem.
They don't come with the clips unfortunately.

Can you add backing plates, I know some places sell them?

[attila]

I just called bimmerworld, and it seems all the 01 and 06 dedicated track pads come without it. That means from me not to order the stage 1 barke kit. They could not answer for sure if their big brake kit - also thought about ordering - which comes with 4 pads for the 4 pistons on each side will have that ratling issue.
So I may go back to Carbotech XP-10.

[Hellride]

I've been running 01's in mine for a while. I love them. No clips on the outer pad, but doesn't seem to be a problem.

[LiM3y]

I am the source of the other threads. The pads perform superbly, but the clanking is a pain. I might try Carbotech next. I was more pissed that there is no reference to this rattling anywhere until recently, the down side of mod fanboyism...

Anyway, I can deal with it until it is time to change. The pads are great and I haven't seen any uneven wear with them. The only other issue is about a week after using them each time, I get brake shudder OEM pads as the PFC resin wears down/breaks up. I think that is just one of 'em things.

[david @ eas]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the pads. Personally I would run Cool Carbon pads on the track/street. They're a great formula pad that works well under hard and hot conditions and are just as easy to work on the street as the OE Pads.

[BarryC]

Originally Posted by attila

I just called bimmerworld, and it seems all the 01 and 06 dedicated track pads come without it. That means from me not to order the stage 1 barke kit. They could not answer for sure if their big brake kit - also thought about ordering - which comes with 4 pads for the 4 pistons on each side will have that ratling issue.
So I may go back to Carbotech XP-10.

No rattling with my PFC BBK with either the 01's or zrated pads. I'm selling my front kit with both 01's and zrated ($2200 shipped US) if anyone's interested....

BC

[930Man]

No problems with mine!!!! I just left track and drove the crap out of them!!!

[930Man]

they work just fine...

[RJM3]

PF pads are great, but they are very loud ... Pagid RS-19 is another great set of pads for the track/street.

[LiM3y]

I don't understand why people recommend track pads for the street. RS-19s are not street pads and you are compromising your braking unnecessarily.

[attila]

I was away for a week...

I was not complaining about the noise during braking but the ratling during regular driving. They performed well on the track regarding fade. I did not have any issues with them on the track, except they made some shallow circumpherential grooves on the disks but that's it.
I took them off today, put back the old Carbotech XP-10. The PFC-01 looks barely worn at all. Most likely they could last much longer than the XP-10. I wish they would come with the attaching / anti-ratling springs.

[03SG///M3]

This is annoying as i was considering getting some PFC 01's. I've always used RS-19's on my previous M3 and loved them but they are very expensive!

Whats the verdict on which pad is supperior for the track? RS-19 vs PFC 01?

[VictorH]

I just installed a set of RS-19 pads (front and rear) last weekend for a track event next weekend. In terms of the install I really appreciate that the retaining clips and cut out for the wear sensors (I did not install those) is exactly like stock. Fits like a stock pad with no mickey mouse issues.

Can't comment on track performance, but on the street other than noise they are surprisingly grippy on the street in cold condition (have not bedded in yet). They squeak which I fully expected but it's not too obnoxious. I don't plan to use these on the street long-term but had to install them a week before event because no time this week to do the exchange. So far so good. This hardly constitutes an endorsement but they are as close to stock in terms of fit in the caliper as I've seen.

[jml]

Originally Posted by jurrian @ eas

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with the pads. Personally I would run Cool Carbon pads on the track/street. They're a great formula pad that works well under hard and hot conditions and are just as easy to work on the street as the OE Pads.

I wish people would stop suggesting the willys for the track....you're going to get someone killed.

[adc]

Originally Posted by attila

So I may go back to Carbotech XP-10.

The lack of retaining clips changed my mind after seeing a set for sale here on the forum - especially since both the inboard and outboard OEM pads now have retaining clips.

Was there something in particular that made you go away from the XP-10? I was considering these for my next pads...



I've got to say, out of my limited track pads experience so far, I liked the Cobalt Spec VR best. I wish they were still made...

[attila]

Originally Posted by adc

The lack of retaining clips changed my mind after seeing a set for sale here on the forum - especially since both the inboard and outboard OEM pads now have retaining clips.

Was there something in particular that made you go away from the XP-10? I was considering these for my next pads...



I've got to say, out of my limited track pads experience so far, I liked the Cobalt Spec VR best. I wish they were still made...

I was and I am still happy with the Carbotech XP-10. just wanted to try out the PFC 01 pads since I heard so many good things about them. The finish of the PFC pads are really nice. I mean there is no overflow of blounding material, the backing plate seems first rate etc. The only thing is the clatter they make since they don't have the clips. I can live (and I do) with all the noise upon braking - just pull myslef low in the car and pretend it was not me - but the continous rattling was too much. And don't have the time to change the pads for every session I go to the track.
One thing with the Carbotech xp-10 - I ate them up very quickly, about two full days. The PFC01 would last longer.

[adc]

Originally Posted by attila

I was and I am still happy with the Carbotech XP-10. just wanted to try out the PFC 01 pads since I heard so many good things about them. The finish of the PFC pads are really nice. I mean there is no overflow of blounding material, the backing plate seems first rate etc. The only thing is the clatter they make since they don't have the clips. I can live (and I do) with all the noise upon braking - just pull myslef low in the car and pretend it was not me - but the continous rattling was too much. And don't have the time to change the pads for every session I go to the track.
One thing with the Carbotech xp-10 - I ate them up very quickly, about two full days. The PFC01 would last longer.

Thanks, appreciate the input.

I just talked to the R&D manager at Cobalt Friction (makers of the now defunct Spec VR) and they are making some interesting compounds too: XR1, XR2 and XR3. These work between 100-1600 degrees, and since they don't have resin inside (they're sintered) there is no need to bed them in. He recommended XR1 front and XR3 rear, because although the M3 puts a good amount of brake force at the rear, the ABS and EBD have some weird rear bias so in demanding conditions at the track, you probably don't want something too aggressive at the rear.

Anyway, according to him most the GrandAm GS cars are running their pads, including the Fall Line M3's - so I'm inclined to accept that he knows what he's talking about.

Only problem - just as with the PFC01 - no retaining clips. But given that you can install them at the track (no bedding in required), I am tempted to give them a try...

[jml]

Originally Posted by adc

Thanks, appreciate the input.

I just talked to the R&D manager at Cobalt Friction (makers of the now defunct Spec VR) and they are making some interesting compounds too: XR1, XR2 and XR3. These work between 100-1600 degrees, and since they don't have resin inside (they're sintered) there is no need to bed them in. He recommended XR1 front and XR3 rear, because although the M3 puts a good amount of brake force at the rear, the ABS and EBD have some weird rear bias so in demanding conditions at the track, you probably don't want something too aggressive at the rear.

Anyway, according to him most the GrandAm GS cars are running their pads, including the Fall Line M3's - so I'm inclined to accept that he knows what he's talking about.

Only problem - just as with the PFC01 - no retaining clips. But given that you can install them at the track (no bedding in required), I am tempted to give them a try...

Keep us in the loop. I used to run Spec VRs on the E46 OEM setup before I switched to a BBK.

Discovered a new issue with the DTC70s on the E90's OEM system; when they have about 1/3 of the compound left, it detaches (completely) from the backing plate. Has happened twice now. While Hawk is going to send me new pads, it's still scary.

[Dascamel]

After 3 days on the Pagids, RS-19, wow... tons of pad still left and they are very consistant on the track. Even though they cost more, they last a very long time. They are endurance pads for a reason.

They work fine on the street btw, even cold. Just extremely noisy. Not ideal but functional.

[drivendriver]

Originally Posted by Dascamel

After 3 days on the Pagids, RS-19, wow... tons of pad still left and they are very consistant on the track. Even though they cost more, they last a very long time. They are endurance pads for a reason.

They work fine on the street btw, even cold. Just extremely noisy. Not ideal but functional.

Is the noise of the RS-19's as bad as in these videos?

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[Dascamel]

Yes they can be. My wife and I call the the M , "the garbage truck" now.