Hawk Ceramic Vs HPS

[presto_128]

Hey guys,

Been reading up on this forum regarding these two brake pads. Planning to get one of these soon and was wondering what are some inputs that u guys have (being fellow Canadians) regarding their performance. How do they compare in Canadian winters? I know that HPS have significant improvement over OEM in terms of stopping, but what are your personal experiences with either of them? I am loooking for minimal dust, good performance, and good wear and tear. I will be changing my front disc to slotted ones as well. Thanks in advance!

[604GTI]

Originally Posted by presto_128

I know that HPS have significant improvement over OEM in terms of stopping, but what are your personal experiences with either of them? I am loooking for minimal dust, good performance, and good wear and tear. I will be changing my front disc to slotted ones as well. Thanks in advance!

I have been using Hawk HPS front and rear for 3 years now and would never go back to oem. They have better bite, much less dust, and are quiet. Im on my first set of HPS's and they have lasted for 3+years. They still could be used for longer but im upgrading calipers and rotors which is why I'll be swapping them out with a new set.

[Vento 3]

i am happy with my HPS on GLI as well, thought i have installed them for only 2 years, but i put the same pads on my previous MK4 Golf, and it last 5-6 years, brought it to shannoville a couple times too.

no problem in Ontario winter, no noise, minimum dust.

I would like to hear from Ceramic user as well.

[2006UG]

I'm actually interested in these as well, from SK.
Subscribed!

[phil]

I've run Hawk HPSs through the Winter/Summer.

They work 100% fine, don't need to worry about them. Minimal noise, there is some dust, but less than OEM Pads.

That being said, if you're looking for something with similar bite, virtually the same initial bite, and virtually no dust at all, I would go with the Hawk Ceramics.

The HPSs will hold up to a light track day or two also, to each their own, they're both great pads,

I'm going with Hawk Ceramics for the street from now on. No need for HPSs on the street honestly, and I used to run 350WHP.

[Reasons]

I'm currently on ceramics and I honestly don't feel much of a difference from oem. Then again, I don't drive very hard at all - I just drive a LOT.
I don't have any experience with HPS' but all I know if that they make a little noise (enough for me to not want them) and dust up quite a bit. The ceramics, although dust up quite a lot less, still do dust up. SO don't go thinking you'll never have to wipe down your wheels again ^^
All in all, the ceramics stop the car just fine. There is no noise whatsoever - even fresh after a carwash when the rotors calcify. And finally, it just sounds cooler to say you have ceramics =P

Food for thought.

[DerekH]

I have the opposite experiance, i have been running hps for over a year now. But can only add what i have heard about ceramics.

The hps are great, they did make noise for the first 6 months or so i had them. They were particularly squeaky if i managed to get them hot. Dust is better than oem but not by a lot.

I have heard that ceramics are great for an easy going dd. The dust less than hps and they are as aggressive for initial bite. However if they get heat cycled a couple time its pretty much the end of that.

hope that helps.

[jpun15]

HPS are excellent on the street and a good improvement upon OEM, but won't hold up on the track. Minimal noise (none if you properly apply anti-squeal) and some brake dust. Never tried the Hawk ceramics, no point since the HPS is good.

[kush]

i'm in a similar dilemma. i think i am going to end up going with the ceramics. i'm just wondering if this will 'fix' the rear pads wearing quicker than the fronts issue. i've read nothing but great reviews on hawk pads for our cars and they seem like a solid buy.

[DerekH]

Originally Posted by kush

i'm in a similar dilemma. i think i am going to end up going with the ceramics. i'm just wondering if this will 'fix' the rear pads wearing quicker than the fronts issue. i've read nothing but great reviews on hawk pads for our cars and they seem like a solid buy.

Nothing but re-balancing the front to back braking bias will help that. which would probably make the car pretty unstable in hard braking situations.

[neonphase]

Well I Auto-X and before I did my break upgrade I was letting some of the instructors drive my GTI around and there was a lot of complaint of the rears not letting go fast enough. Now normally I would ignore this but I heard it from more than 1 person.

So I went with ATE Super Blue, Steal Break Lines with Hawk HPS+ in the front and Hawk Carbon Ceramics in the rear. Personally I think it was a good combination for what I was trying to work out with my car.

Originally Posted by DerekH

Nothing but re-balancing the front to back braking bias will help that. which would probably make the car pretty unstable in hard braking situations.

Now this was way I changed my breaks in the first place because I knew the backs were gone. So my thought was if I put the Carbon Ceramics in the back that are supposed to have a longer life span than the HPS+ pads then maybe I will both wear out at the same time.

[kv's vdubb]

for whatever it is worth, i've been running my ceramics for about a month now. I've loved them!! great bite and no noise!! after heavy breaking...like break in period, i've noticed dust, other wise it is very limited. do recommend!