Street Brake Pads

Do your brakes squeal at low speed, or are your wheels grey with dust just a few days after a wash? Street brake pads are designed for daily driving, where they need to brake well from cold, be reasonably quiet and keep dust down, even when the car is part of a tuning project.

What sets street pads apart?

Street pads are typically formulated to provide good friction at the temperatures a car operates at in normal traffic. On the other hand, braking performance can drop if the pads overheat during repeated hard braking. If the car is going to a track day, track and race brake pads are made for a higher temperature range, but they can perform worse when cold.

How to choose street brake pads

• Fitment: Pads are specific to the car and axle. Check the part number for the front and rear axle, and whether the car has optional brakes, such as a Subaru BRZ without Brembo brakes.
• Use and weight: A heavy car or a car with more power can have different requirements than a light passenger car. Hawk LTS Street pads are available for the Ford Ranger, Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, for example.
• Noise and dust: Included shims and hardware can reduce squeal, while the amount of brake dust depends on the pad compound.
• Brand: In this category you will find, for example, DBA with the Street Series, Hawk Performance, Stoptech and PowerStop.

Installation and bedding-in

Always replace pads in pairs on the same axle, and check the thickness and surface of the discs at the same time. New pads typically need to be bedded in according to the manufacturer's instructions, so that an even layer of material forms on the disc. If the pedal becomes soft or long, the pads are rarely the cause. It may be brake fluid that has absorbed moisture and boils, in which case the fluid must be replaced.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use street brake pads on a track day?

It depends on the car, the track and your driving style. During repeated hard braking, the pads can overheat so that braking performance drops. If the car will mostly be driven on track, track and race pads are typically a better choice.

Are the brake pads approved for roadworthiness inspection?

It depends on the product and the car. Check whether the specific part number has R90 approval or other relevant marking for your particular car before fitting. Approval does not automatically apply to an entire series.

Why do new brake pads squeal?

Squeal can be caused by missing or incorrectly fitted shims, glazed discs or insufficient bedding-in. Some pads come with shims and hardware that can reduce noise. Clean the sliding surfaces in the brake caliper and follow the manufacturer's bedding-in instructions.