Just managed to pick up a pair of 380 front brakes very cheap :ninja: what pads do poeple recommend to use with them rembering i will be doing some spirited driving at times and i will have a boosted car soon so i looking for something suitable.I am leaning towrds the bendix HD or the QFM HPX pads. Thoughts or experiences with either of these pads or any other suggestions.

Both are good pads and have used both, the Bendix HD on my old TE V6 and have had the QFM HPX on my 380 for the last 50,000k.

They both have similar levels of bite, heat dissipation and fade resistance, with the Bendix HD maybe a little ahead, but that may be just down to the lower weight of the TE compared to the 380. I also find that the HPX have a more progressive feel.

Big difference is that the HPX are much less likely to squeak and squeal (and a bit of CRC anti-squeal spray fixed it for me) and the Bendix HD are very dusty but the HPX are almost dust free.

So given a choice for anything less stressful than track driving I'd go with the HPX.

Best all round street pads I've ever used.

The HPX's are my next choice in pads, I've had enough of the Bendix GCT's I have now, mind, I've only ever over temped them once, on the downhill side of Nebo. I was bored and playing around, coz Red and Dazza had already cooked theirs.

I've read a few reveiws around the place, and was recommended them, and just waiting for the right buy to come ALong.

Do you mind if they are noisy or dirty? I got qfm in atm hpx on the rear and something better on the front. Brakes are awesome now, plenty of pedal feel and absolutely no fade down tambo sat night

Prefer them not to be noisy or dusty if possible.

Prefer them not to be noisy or dusty if possible.

Definitely go for the HPXs. I've had them for about 8 weeks, and they're silent. There is some dust, but it's nowhere near as bad as anything from Bendix.

Yep, hpx on the back have been quiet, and no dust what so ever! The ones I have on the front are the QFM A1RM pads. Got them from GSL RallySport (http://www.gslrallysport.com/shop/) in bris. The guy really knows his stuff, he did tell me that the A1RM would be noisy and dusty, but I care more for their performance above all else :)
He also suggested a high performance dot4 brake fluid by TRW. After using this fluid and the A1RM pads, the brakes in the lancer now feel like they are a completely different set, not just upgraded pads, but much more powerful, and the pedal much more responsive.

Also, if you wanna be really brave and go slotted discs, see Al :)

For what its worth I recently fitted a set of QFM HPX's to the front of my Awd. Not particularly impressed with them. They work ok but put out more dust than the bendix's I had on before. Also noticed they are a bit squeely under very light applications. I wish now that I had spent the extra $30 and gone back to OEM's.
Now before everyone starts telling me how bad they, I never had a problem with them. I'm easy on brakes and probably 3/4 of my driving is open road. I got 175,000 klm out of the original front pads and very little dust. The Bendix's I got about 40,000 out of before I changed them. One of the pistons in the drivers side caliper started to stick and the pad started wearing more on one end. Having said that the rest still only had about 3mm left on them so probably might have got another 10,000 out of them. I'm seriously thinking about buying a set of OEM's after Xmas and changing back to them. I don't have the time or the inclination to wash the front wheels every w/end which is what I should be doing atm because they have gone from silver to almost black in a week. (about 600klm)

regards
peter

Im running RDA Slotted Rotors with my 380 brakes and QFM HPX Pads up front..

Brake dust is minimal in comparison to the old EBCs/Bendix ones I had prior..

Pedal feel in comparison is definitely progressive.. I used cheapo super cheap brake fluid and changed that within 2 weeks to some Motul stuff and theyre a superb match!

Had them fade once.. But that was me being stupid..

If you wanna have a looksie or drive.. By all means.. Gimme a bell..

For what its worth I recently fitted a set of QFM HPX's to the front of my Awd. Not particularly impressed with them. They work ok but put out more dust than the bendix's I had on before. Also noticed they are a bit squeely under very light applications. I wish now that I had spent the extra $30 and gone back to OEM's.
Now before everyone starts telling me how bad they, I never had a problem with them. I'm easy on brakes and probably 3/4 of my driving is open road. I got 175,000 klm out of the original front pads and very little dust. The Bendix's I got about 40,000 out of before I changed them. One of the pistons in the drivers side caliper started to stick and the pad started wearing more on one end. Having said that the rest still only had about 3mm left on them so probably might have got another 10,000 out of them. I'm seriously thinking about buying a set of OEM's after Xmas and changing back to them. I don't have the time or the inclination to wash the front wheels every w/end which is what I should be doing atm because they have gone from silver to almost black in a week. (about 600klm)

regards
peter

Are you honestly serious, either you did not fit them properly or they are not HPX pads.

From personal experience, the cleanest part of my car right now are the wheels, I run the HPX all around with 380 front brakes and std rears, they have been by far the best pad I have ever used.

Did you machine the rotors, lubricate the sliders and use the proper shims or antisqueal on the back of the pads

If you are washing your wheels every weekend the simple fact of the matter is that you do not have HPX pads as no matter who you talk to, (and i have sold in excess of 300 sets of these alsone) not a single person has complained about washing their wheels, in fact most have commented oppersite stating that they are happy they dont have to wash wheels anymore

Sounds like you got yourself a set of A1RM, Lucas or Ultimates

Are you honestly serious, either you did not fit them properly or they are not HPX pads.
Did you machine the rotors, lubricate the sliders and use the proper shims or antisqueal on the back of the pads

Haven't had a chance to visit the forums for a while.
Yes, I did fit the pads correctly, and they were sold to me as being HPX pads, box was also marked the same.
When I first fitted them I also fitted new seal kits in the calipers, lubed the pins etc. As the discs were not warped and not badly scored I didn't machine them. In my 36 years of mucking about with cars I've never experienced "glazing" in discs and have often fitted new pads to un-machined discs with no problems. However, in light of the massive dust problem with these pads, after a couple of weeks I pulled the discs and had them machined. After that there has been absolutely no difference in either performance or dust. Still massive amounts of dust. When I had the discs machined I cleaned the front wheels. What a marathon. Pressure washer + super strong detergent, got some of it off. Eventually I had to use degreaser and an old toothbrush and scrub the wheels followed by another pressure wash. I then polished them with car polish. Haven't had a chance to clean them again yet.
The last set of pads I had in it were Bendix ???? which were also very dusty. When I fitted them, I also fitted new RDA discs, so now I'm thinking that maybe the discs themselves are crap and just don't work too well with any pad re dust.
Any thoughts on this theory?
regards
Peter

I have QFM HPX pads and new RDA discs. There's definitely a little more dust in there than the Bendix Generals I had beforehand, but it's good for a performance pad. Certainly nowhere near as bad as you're describing.

I'm really starting to think there is an issue with the discs as everyone else running these pads reckons they are very low dust. The dust sticks really well. Even if I wipe a bit off with my finger I then have to use heavy duty handwash to get it off my hands. Pretty much like fine cast iron dust that you get when machining cast iron. Which makes me think the discs are the problem.

I'm currently in the process of moving to another house so the poor old Magna won't be getting cleaned for a couple of weeks but when I do I'll take some "as cleaned" pics and then after a week of traveling to work I'll take some more and try and post them up so people can see what I'm talking about.
Then all I have to do is hope that an amin team member takes pity on me and changes my posting permisions to allow me to post attachments. ( I have just sent another e-mail asking why I can't. Hopefully someone will repond to that this time)

i've got QFM's HPX pads up front on my 380 callipers.. they're a good set of pads, but i'm disappointed in the brake dust and brake squeal i get from them

That's weird hojo..

I get no dust at all.. only thing that bugs me at times is once they have heat in them they make a weird not so much squealing noise but like a brushing noise.. not a complaint more so something that bugs the sh*t outta me!

Other then that.. QFM Pads on 380 Brakes.. Happy as Larry!

SuFz :ninja:

i've got QFM's HPX pads up front on my 380 callipers.. they're a good set of pads, but i'm disappointed in the brake dust and brake squeal i get from them

I would bet my bottom dollar you didnt bed them in correctly. Same goes for all those with the HPX complaining of squeal
and brake dust

I've had two sets of front QFM HPX pads now, one on stock rotors and the current set for the last three months on DBA 4000 slotted rotors.

Both times, shortly after fitting, they squealed just a little at low speed. Not all the time, just every now & then, but enough to be annoying.

Both times I have used CRC De-squeak on the rotors, no more squeal and almost zero brake dust.

Spray it on both sides of the rotors, then burnish it on by getting the rotors good & hot. Repeated heavy braking until you can smell and see smoke (don't worry, it's only the CRC De-squeak doing it's thing!).

Both times the first application didn't fix the problem, both times a second application a week later did the trick, nil squeal ever since.

I suspect the burnishing process also beds the pads in and prety much eliminates brake dust.

I would bet my bottom dollar you didnt bed them in correctly. Same goes for all those with the HPX complaining of squeal
and brake dust

You're probably right, took the car out on a cruise the night the brakes were installed

they're a great set of pads- and the squealing stops when they've got heat in them, but comes back when i haven't used them (eg, on the motorway then hit the exit, brakes squeal). the brake dust isn't that much of an issue since it's close to non-existent for the first 50km or so (there's a light film of dust, hardly noticeable unless you wipe one of the spokes)

You're probably right, took the car out on a cruise the night the brakes were installed

they're a great set of pads- and the squealing stops when they've got heat in them, but comes back when i haven't used them (eg, on the motorway then hit the exit, brakes squeal). the brake dust isn't that much of an issue since it's close to non-existent for the first 50km or so (there's a light film of dust, hardly noticeable unless you wipe one of the spokes)

So do you have a lot of dust or not?

New brake pads ALWAYS need a gentle bed-in so the pad sits nice against the rotor.

So do you have a lot of dust or not?

New brake pads ALWAYS need a gentle bed-in so the pad sits nice against the rotor.

the first 50km or so it's not so dusty, but after about a week and a half of driving (so maybe a total of 200-350kms of driving) there'd be a very noticeable layer of dust- and after two weeks, my wheels are a gunmetal grey colour. i was annoyed at first, but it's been almost a year since i've had them on the car i'm not fussed anymore

yeah i wasn't going nuts around corners as i knew bedding the pads is something to be somewhat patient about. 10,000kms and no brake shudder, so i'm happy

the first 50km or so it's not so dusty, but after about a week and a half of driving (so maybe a total of 200-350kms of driving) there'd be a very noticeable layer of dust- and after two weeks, my wheels are a gunmetal grey colour. i was annoyed at first, but it's been almost a year since i've had them on the car i'm not fussed anymore

yeah i wasn't going nuts around corners as i knew bedding the pads is something to be somewhat patient about. 10,000kms and no brake shudder, so i'm happy

Gunmetal grey i can live with, its when they go matt black that u need to be concerned with brake dust lol, my brembos are incredibly dusty

I would go for the QFM HPX... They are truly good pads, they feel the same hot or cold.. Dust wise, it is only about 10% more compared to OEM pads. They are also silent.