Product Alert: Carbotech has just started making front brake pads for the MSP! WHOOOO

[DistantTea]

I just got off the phone with Matt from carbotech (http://www.carbotecheng.com). They received their front die set for the MSP this morning. That means the MSP is finally going to get some REAL pads for racing, autocross, and street performance.

We haven't decided if we're going with panther+ or bobcats for our STX car but the fact that we now have a choice is a wonderful wonderful thing. If they get enough support for the front fitment they will get the design for the rear fitment and start selling those too so lets get calling.

Prices are high compaired to hawk, but no hawk compaires to these compounds and until Hawk tools our cars this is the best racing application available.

Tell them Thomas Bicknell sent you... maybe I'll get free stuff or something. Can't wait to get my track pads.

 

[griswold]

Sweet! Did he give anything other than a vague indication of price?

 

[Autox MSP]

uhm..... i talked to matt about MSP brake pads like month and a half ago. He told me that they'd be in stock by march. I posted this while ago. =)

 

[DistantTea]

He said they are pretty close to Mazda 6 sized pads so they might be using that pricing structure. The race only and very cool Panther Plus is going to be $120 and the much more street friendly Bobcat is going to be about $110. Then their street compounds go down in price from there.

The Panther Plus is about like a Hawk Blue or Black except its construction allows for ambiant stopping power similar to the OEMs (except they make lots of noise and dust like the chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins). He recommended that I do not get the panther plus for STX because the stopping power is so strong we'll most likely see wheel lock up on bad surfaces if we're not super careful with our braking... which we're not... so I might go bobcat. Panthers are actually pretty easy on rotors considering their stopping power and fade resistance makes them suitable for full time track duty.

Bobcats are a more streetable compound good up to about 950 degrees. They don't make any more noise than OEM but still dust well. They would be somewhere close to a Hawk HP+ without the noise, but at a greater cost. The pads are super easy on rotors too... which is a bonus for your poor mans STX.

Panther plus are definately not for the faint of heart... but for a stock class car on 225 r compounds they might be the most competitive choice.

 

[DistantTea]

Didn't want to steal your thunder. Just wanted to let people know that they are able to make these pads as of this morning so its ordering time! Your orriginal post is why I put a postit note on my monitor to contact them this week.

uhm..... i talked to matt about MSP brake pads like month and a half ago. He told me that they'd be in stock by march. I posted this while ago. =)

 

[griswold]

Cool. Sounds like Bobcats are the way I should go...

 

[CRDMS1]

Great news...I'll be ordering a set soon. What compound would you all recommend given that I use the car for:

1) daily driving
2) autocross
3) track (road course)

...in that order of frequency. I'm not completely opposed to changing pads at the track, but would rather avoid the hassle. How about the Panther 1104(regular) compound?

I hope that enough people order these to get more companies interested in our cars. You want a 'real' aftermarket for this car? Let your money do the talking!

Peace...(hippy)

 

[DistantTea]

I talked with Matt about the product line. If you are going to do ANY track days you should go for the Panther Plus. The regular panther is no longer manufactured. Since you are in Texas I don't suppose it gets too cold down there right? They said the Panther Plus works just fine with ambient temperatures but they don't recommend them to people who have to live in Ohio or colder or really don't like brake noise.

But even the Bobcats will fade after some agressive braking at track events. If you never take your car to the track I'd go with bobcats.. its all a trade off.

Bobcats - Silent, great autocross stopping, year round, low dust, will start to fade after a few hard laps at a track, really nice on your rotors.
Panther Plus - little noisy, unbelievable autocross power (too much for street tires), higher dust, very difficult to fade on the track (1200 degree effectiveness), dosn't like really cold temperatures (dosn't fail, but your car might stop like a buick roadmaster once the temps are below freezing). Still ok on your rotors but might reach temps at the track that your rotors and fluid can't handle.

I think I'm going with bobcats and redline brake fluid.

 

[CRDMS1]

Thanks for the info. I'm not much into comfort for daily driving, so I'll likely be going with the Panther Plus compounds for my racing needs. When it gets cold here, it tends to be only for a day or two, so I don't anticipate that as a problem. Motul RBF600 for me!

I had a very scary trip to the track last August with OEM pads in 105F heat. No problem until about 10 minutes into the lapping session...then all of a sudden...NO BRAKES! I ended up going off-course at the end of a straight rather than attempt the sweeper carrying excess speed. No damage, thank goodness. After that, I called it a day...determined not to return without upgraded pads/fluid. I couldn't even touch the front rims for the better part of an hour following the session.

As you can see, the Carbotech news is cause for great rejoice!

Peace...(hippy)

 

[Kobayashi]

Thanks for all of the updates guys... (thumb) I've been worried about not having pads for track days - I won't go without them.
Cheers! (cheers)

 

[MattN]

Well so far the response from you guys has been pretty darn quick. I'll need to be placing another order for more plates. I didn't get enough.

One thing: Looks like the rear pad for the Mazdaspeed Protege is the same as an old RX7 fitment. We have those. The one we don't have is the Protege 5 rear.

I'll be updating the website with Mazdaspeed Protege info in the near future.

If you guys have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.

Matt

 

[CRDMS1]

Thanks Matt! Keep us updated on your developments and availability.

Peace...(hippy)

 

[griswold]

Matt,

Do you happen to know what generation RX7 fitment the MSP rears resemble? Just curious.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[CRDMS1]

Matt,

Do you happen to know what generation RX7 fitment the MSP rears resemble? Just curious.

Thanks,

Dave

(scratch)

I'll defer to someone who knows about the RX-7. Anyone?

Peace...(hippy)

 

[ARunto]

I'll have to order a set

 

[MattN]

According to my book, it's the 13B RX7 rear fitment (84-85 GSL-SE, and all 2nd and 3rd gen).

 

[DistantTea]

How about a group buy for fronts and rears then Matt? You could make one big group sale and do all the work at one time to usher in the new kings of Mazdaspeed Protege brake pads.

Say 5 to 15 people who want in on the ground floor for pads get a good deal?

 

[CRDMS1]

How about a group buy for fronts and rears then Matt? You could make one big group sale and do all the work at one time to usher in the new kings of Mazdaspeed Protege brake pads.

Say 5 to 15 people who want in on the ground floor for pads get a good deal?

I like your way of thinking, mate. Any chance of that happening Matt?

BTW, still undecided about the compound choice. I need a pad that won't be overly annoying to use for a daily driver, but will still function in a track environment. Any chance?

Peace...(hippy)

 

[ARunto]

I'm in for GB on some Bobcats

 

[MrDiggler]

Same here for the Bobcats. As long as I don't have to cough up the dough before the first week of April.