Brake pads and where to start....or should I say stop!
Interesting thing happened the other day, I was looking at all the threads on brake pads, and began to wonder, instead of using opinions to purchase pads (e.g. I bought brand x pad and and it cost a lot of money so it has to be a great brake pad, so buy what I buy because I bought it). There should be some kind of actual measurement of braking ability of brake pads across the board. A coefficient of friction table with all brake pads for our vehicles so we can cross-reference them to factually compare them, apple to apples.
In my quest to buy stock caliper (Golf R/GTI PP) brake pads, I've read countless websites, manufacturer's MU graph's, tried to cross reference and compare, watched many Youtube videos, it's all just frustrating. Many people here know I bought TRW TPC1633 pads and TRW TXH1633 pads, and I often suggest these pads to people who are looking to replace 'stock pads' with something still good but less dust.
Regardless, in my continued search I came across this article: SAE J866 Friction Codes Here is the list Friction codes list
I then began looking at brake pads and the codes which are mandated by the DOT to be printed on them. Codes are printed on the backing plate or side, if you have brake pads that are not on this list, it's because I didn't find the codes. Bear in mind these are ranges so a pad that gets a cold rating of F may have a coefficient rating of say .44 while a pad with a cold rating of G may only have a friction coefficient of .45 or .46, not much of a difference or the difference could be massive say .35 (lowest F rating) to .55 (highest G rating)
Friction codes:
C = up to .15
D = over .15 up to .25
E = over .25 up to .35
F = over .35 up to .45
G = over .45 up to .55
H = over .55
Z = unclassified
I do have to mention, only EBC Brakes tout their friction rating on their website, they state it many times in the Yellow Stuff (all new formulations in 2021) page and Ultimax2 page.
This is a guide for those looking for a spirited street drive brake pad.
Here are a few that I found: (alphabetical in it's rating)
Stock part #5Q0698151K is rated GG
Brembo P85144 FE
Centric C-Tec FE
Hawk Ceramic HB788Z.745 FE
Pagid 8V0698151C (OEM) FE
Bendix SBC1633 FF
Bosch Blue BE1633H FF
Ferado Racing DS2500 FF
Hawk HPS HB779F.740 FF
Hawk HPS 5.0 HB779B.740 FF
Stoptech 309.16330 FF
Wagner ThermoQuiet QC1633 FF
Bendix CFC1633 GF
Brembo 3C0698151H GF
TRW TXH1633 GF
Power Stop Z23-1633 FG
Bosch QuietCast BC1633 GG
EBC Yellow Stuff DP42127R GG
EBC Ultimax2 UD1633 GG
Hawk HP Plus HB779N.740 GG
TRW Pro* 8V0698151C GG
TRW TPC1633 GG
*also stamped with TPC1633
Cliff Notes for you skimmers: The codes are rated by coefficient of friction, there are 2 codes a (low temp code 200*F-400*F) and a high temp code (300*F-650*F)
So TRW TPC1633 is coded as GG (.45-.55) friction coefficient at low temp and high temps, while a Wagner ThermoQuiet is rated as FF (.35-.45), so it will be a brake pad with less friction coefficient and therefore, less stopping power than the TRW.
Good luck with your quest! More pads to come as I receive more information.
Interesting thing happened the other day, I was looking at all the threads on brake pads, and began to wonder, instead of using opinions to purchase pads (e.g. I bought brand x pad and and it cost a lot of money so it has to be a great brake pad, so buy what I buy because I bought it). There should be some kind of actual measurement of braking ability of brake pads across the board. A coefficient of friction table with all brake pads for our vehicles so we can cross-reference them to factually compare them, apple to apples.
In my quest to buy stock caliper (Golf R/GTI PP) brake pads, I've read countless websites, manufacturer's MU graph's, tried to cross reference and compare, watched many Youtube videos, it's all just frustrating. Many people here know I bought TRW TPC1633 pads and TRW TXH1633 pads, and I often suggest these pads to people who are looking to replace 'stock pads' with something still good but less dust.
Regardless, in my continued search I came across this article: SAE J866 Friction Codes Here is the list Friction codes list
I then began looking at brake pads and the codes which are mandated by the DOT to be printed on them. Codes are printed on the backing plate or side, if you have brake pads that are not on this list, it's because I didn't find the codes. Bear in mind these are ranges so a pad that gets a cold rating of F may have a coefficient rating of say .44 while a pad with a cold rating of G may only have a friction coefficient of .45 or .46, not much of a difference or the difference could be massive say .35 (lowest F rating) to .55 (highest G rating)
Friction codes:
C = up to .15
D = over .15 up to .25
E = over .25 up to .35
F = over .35 up to .45
G = over .45 up to .55
H = over .55
Z = unclassified
I do have to mention, only EBC Brakes tout their friction rating on their website, they state it many times in the Yellow Stuff (all new formulations in 2021) page and Ultimax2 page.
This is a guide for those looking for a spirited street drive brake pad.
Here are a few that I found: (alphabetical in it's rating)
Stock part #5Q0698151K is rated GG
Brembo P85144 FE
Centric C-Tec FE
Hawk Ceramic HB788Z.745 FE
Pagid 8V0698151C (OEM) FE
Bendix SBC1633 FF
Bosch Blue BE1633H FF
Ferado Racing DS2500 FF
Hawk HPS HB779F.740 FF
Hawk HPS 5.0 HB779B.740 FF
Stoptech 309.16330 FF
Wagner ThermoQuiet QC1633 FF
Bendix CFC1633 GF
Brembo 3C0698151H GF
TRW TXH1633 GF
Power Stop Z23-1633 FG
Bosch QuietCast BC1633 GG
EBC Yellow Stuff DP42127R GG
EBC Ultimax2 UD1633 GG
Hawk HP Plus HB779N.740 GG
TRW Pro* 8V0698151C GG
TRW TPC1633 GG
*also stamped with TPC1633
Cliff Notes for you skimmers: The codes are rated by coefficient of friction, there are 2 codes a (low temp code 200*F-400*F) and a high temp code (300*F-650*F)
So TRW TPC1633 is coded as GG (.45-.55) friction coefficient at low temp and high temps, while a Wagner ThermoQuiet is rated as FF (.35-.45), so it will be a brake pad with less friction coefficient and therefore, less stopping power than the TRW.
Good luck with your quest! More pads to come as I receive more information.
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