Has anyone tried the dustless brake pads?

 

They went one to say that most upgrades would produce more noise than factory brakes and pads. If anyone knows anything different I'd like to know.

 

I have used both Repco Metal Master and Mintex pads on my cars with excellent results. They cut 95% of the dust. They are plenty quiet unless they get very hot. They stop fine. The only negative I can think of is that they will result in somewhat less lifespan on the rotors due to being harder material. I would observe that the 'tuners' don't have to clean your wheels every two days.

 

Pads sold in the US have a 2 digit friction coefficient code stamped on the back so that the service industry can mix and match brands and still keep the systems balanced. It is usually embedded in the part number. All the Metalmasters that I have seen have been rated DE or EF. The first letter is the friction coefficient when cold, the second is the cf hot. Higher letters indicate a higher friction coefficient. I've not replaced A6 pads so I've not seen the factory rating but every factory pad I've ever seen (American, Asian, German and Italian) has been either GG of HH, and I've never seen a factory pad with a mixed rating like that carried by a number of aftermarket "performance" pads.

I'm not meaning to knock Metalmasters in general. They definately have good fade resistance, very long life and low dust output, and in performance circles, many folks prefer a slightly heavier pedal as it can actually be easier to modulate between heavy and light braking. I've used them in several of my cars that do track duty with reasonably good effect, (although I much prefer Porterfield for that these days). But in an everyday street driven car, I prefer a pad that allows minimum stopping distance on the first application. I don't know much regarding Mintex. I have heard good things about them but I would check the Cf code on any pad I was considering. Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary....

 

I have Mintex Red Box pads on my GTIVR6 and there was no reduction in stopping distances. They greatly reduced any brake dust that had before. Unfortunately, I don't think they make them for the 4.2. Does anybody know who does make them?

 

a good pad. A little dusty ( red dust and nothing like stock ), a nice velvety feel that is easy to modulate. Can get a little noisy when it gets hot, but doesn't glaze easily.

Porterfeild in Costa Mesa Ca, sells several of their own pads ( excellent race pads, don't know about street ) and other brands as well.

 

did you ever get any fade? At some point I will need new pads and would like to replace them with a pad that is at least as good and quiet as stock but not as dusty. I look forward to any additional comments from anyone.

 

At the end of the straight, just when turning (and diving) onto the road course at Texas World Speedway, I was hitting about 110mph in my A4 30v. Shortly thereafter, came braking, and there or at no point on the course (2.9 mi.) were brakes any kind of problem. No fade was ever experienced. This was not a race- merely high speed course running. I wouldn't use these pads (Metal Master on the A4) for all out racing, but they're fine for my purposes.

 

Thanks Jack

 

yes the brake system with the high tech ceramic costs approximately $18,000 from what I have been quoted. Not that I had any intention of changing.