Brake Compound Mixing

[surflvr911sc]

I want to ask specifically about my set up but want to leave it open for wider discussion, so please, all comments are welcome.

I'm running stock SC brakes on a 2650 lb 911. I have been using PF97 pads and been very happy with the performance and wear. I just picked up a set of front Pagid Black (RS-14) pads cheap, for those of you that watch the parts for sale section you might know how cheap.

I'm thinking of running the front RS-14 pads with the rear PF97 pads. From what I understand, both have very good initial bite but the RS-14 will have more overall braking power. This seems like an acceptable combination, since upsetting the balance on initial braking should be negligible, and the car will remain stable with the more braking bias in the front. I'm unsure about the release characteristics, but from what I've read about the RS-14 and PF97 should be similar.

Thoughts?

[KTL]

Mixing pads is a good way to adjust bias when you have no other way to do it. However the bias on the SC brakes is already good. So what symptoms do you have that make you want to change?

If you're just experimenting, that's fine. I think you'll find the increased front bias to be not all that desirable. While you may not notice the effects very clearly from a handling standpoint, because like you said it will remain stable, you may find the pedal softer and or an increased potential for lockup as the fronts do more work.

I have a similar situation but my bias is hydraulically affected to be more frontal vs. your attempt to mechanically affect it with mechanical/friction. I have 993/S4 front calipers and 930 rear calipers. This setup is overly front biased IMO and i'm finding that while the car is quite stable under braking, the fronts are doing more work than they should. I plan to change out the rear calipers to get the bias in line with what i'm used to.

[rfn026]

It's been done a lot. Simply put the more aggressive pads on the rear.

Richard Newton
My Speed Blog

[Tyson Schmidt]

I don't think you're going to like it with more bias up front than stock.

If you aren't a deep breaker, it may be a moot point, but it is usually the grippier pads that go in back to dial out some of the stock front over-bias.

You'll probably never have a problem at a track like Big Willow, but at Streets it could be a problem.