Hawk Brakes?????
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Hawk Brakes?????
I just puchased a set of Hawk brake pads. The top of the line SuperDuty version and they suck!! I have done several Brake jobs in my time and this by far had the worst outcome. Never have I had brakes feel worse then the worn out units they replaced. I am now going to have to put my old ones back on and see if I can return them. My question is, is there any other brake pads you guys would recommend? I paid $150.00 for front and rear pads and may have to eat that, but I would not like to spend more then maybe $200.00 on new pads. The rotors are in great shape and am not looking to replace them until the next brake job. Any advice would be great. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
After running them in, I am happy with my hawk pads and powerslot rotors. They are high performance pads, they need to get very hot to set in.
I don't know if they have a Z-rated pad, but performance friction and reysbestos both make good pads.
What feels so bad about them?
I don't know if they have a Z-rated pad, but performance friction and reysbestos both make good pads.
What feels so bad about them?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
They just don't seem to be a very good match for the stock rotors. I turned the rotors, and did all the prep work corectly. I even got them really hot and they still feel like they have weak stopping power. Coming to a stop on a moderate incline i have to hit the brakes about 10-15 seconds earlier then normal to avoid going through the intersection. Hawk Pads seem to work great with the powerslot rotors (so I have been told), but they don't seem to work worth a darn on stock rotors. This is just my experience with these pads. I will look into Performance friction and Reybestos pads thanks
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Tennesee
drtry10,
The pads are fine but they are not the compound that you need to have, the Superduty pads are for 99.99% HEAVY towing only!!! The pads will never get hot enough to ever work efficiently on a typical Super Duty. We had a customer a while back that insisted on the SD pads, we said no but he wanted them and sure enough the performance was not good at all!!
What you need are the LTS pads, they work very well in "normal" usage and have a really good "bite" just as you apply them. We stock them if you need them, just call. I also reccomend that the rotors be turned at a minimum, getting the Powerslot Cyro rotors is best if you can!!
Mark @ DPPI
The pads are fine but they are not the compound that you need to have, the Superduty pads are for 99.99% HEAVY towing only!!! The pads will never get hot enough to ever work efficiently on a typical Super Duty. We had a customer a while back that insisted on the SD pads, we said no but he wanted them and sure enough the performance was not good at all!!
What you need are the LTS pads, they work very well in "normal" usage and have a really good "bite" just as you apply them. We stock them if you need them, just call. I also reccomend that the rotors be turned at a minimum, getting the Powerslot Cyro rotors is best if you can!!
Mark @ DPPI
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
I was told that because I have 35" tires and tow a fair amout that I should get the Super Duty pads. The 35" tires need the extra stopping power. Driving with bigger tires is essentialy like driving with a bigger load and you use more braking to slow.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: NORTH CAROLINA
I just recently bought/installed the slotted rotors; I opted to install the motorcraft superduty(severe duty)pads instead of the standard motorcraft superduty pads or the hawk pads.
My descision was based on my needs and the reality that the factory superduty pads just wear out too soon and alot of guys on here claimed that the hawk pads sqeak.
The motorcraft severduty pads are painted blue and the motorcraft standard replacement pads are not painted.
All I can say from my experience is that the stock pads wore out too quickly and thus it also ruined the front rotors but not the back rotors.
After installing the slotted rotors (front only) and installing the new front and rear severe duty pads;I hauled a 9,600 pound load from NY to NC,THEN,a 14,000 pound gooseneck load and then a 40ft enclosed trailer from NY to NC with worry free braking.
My dually stops adequately with or without a load and the brakes don't sqeak nor create painful brake dust.
Just my personal findings so far.
Cheers
My descision was based on my needs and the reality that the factory superduty pads just wear out too soon and alot of guys on here claimed that the hawk pads sqeak.
The motorcraft severduty pads are painted blue and the motorcraft standard replacement pads are not painted.
All I can say from my experience is that the stock pads wore out too quickly and thus it also ruined the front rotors but not the back rotors.
After installing the slotted rotors (front only) and installing the new front and rear severe duty pads;I hauled a 9,600 pound load from NY to NC,THEN,a 14,000 pound gooseneck load and then a 40ft enclosed trailer from NY to NC with worry free braking.
My dually stops adequately with or without a load and the brakes don't sqeak nor create painful brake dust.
Just my personal findings so far.
Cheers
Last edited by jaybird; Sep 7, 2006 at 09:41 PM.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Tennesee
keith w,
The HPS is the old standrad, but the LTS is specicifally designed for trucks and SUV's that tow occassionally. Just a different compound designed for what most folks use their trucks for.
Mark @ DPPI
The HPS is the old standrad, but the LTS is specicifally designed for trucks and SUV's that tow occassionally. Just a different compound designed for what most folks use their trucks for.
Mark @ DPPI
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Tennesee
drtry10,
While the tires will add load it will NEVER be enough load to generate the heat that teh Hwak Superduty pads need to work correctly. Whoever gave you that advice is not steering you the right way etc.
Mark @ DPPI
While the tires will add load it will NEVER be enough load to generate the heat that teh Hwak Superduty pads need to work correctly. Whoever gave you that advice is not steering you the right way etc.
Mark @ DPPI
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: Tennesee
jaybird,
We have found that 99.99% of any Hawk pad squeak issues were caused by not doing the bedding in procedure, or doing it correclty when they were installed etc. The Hawks also get you a lot more initial BITE when stoppong than the Ford SD pads.
Mark @ DPPI
We have found that 99.99% of any Hawk pad squeak issues were caused by not doing the bedding in procedure, or doing it correclty when they were installed etc. The Hawks also get you a lot more initial BITE when stoppong than the Ford SD pads.
Mark @ DPPI
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Yep. Most people either don't do it, or don't do it enough and often enough. My method has served me well. 3 stops from 15-5, mild accel and fast stop. 3 more from 30-5, mild accel and fast stop. 3 more 60-5 Fast accel and fast stop. Then I ride around for about 30 minutes trying not to come to a complete stop. This needs to be done every so often, I try to do it annually which is about every 7K.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Mark at DPPI
keith w,
The HPS is the old standrad, but the LTS is specicifally designed for trucks and SUV's that tow occassionally. Just a different compound designed for what most folks use their trucks for.
Mark @ DPPI
The HPS is the old standrad, but the LTS is specicifally designed for trucks and SUV's that tow occassionally. Just a different compound designed for what most folks use their trucks for.
Mark @ DPPI
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: Memphis TN
I did a SSBS slotted rotor and pad upgrade on my old truck(02 Silverado) ...
Cost me 650.00 and about an hour of my labor
Biggest waste of 650 bucks I ever spent on my old truck,it had Hawk pads
I just think these brake companys oversell the products because these things were no better and actually worse IMO than when my truck was new and the factory stuff was new
Cost me 650.00 and about an hour of my labor
Biggest waste of 650 bucks I ever spent on my old truck,it had Hawk pads
I just think these brake companys oversell the products because these things were no better and actually worse IMO than when my truck was new and the factory stuff was new
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 0
From: New York
Interesting info on brake pads and rotors. As always, there is more than one train of thought and experience. I hope I can figure this out before I need to get the brakes done (which is going to be fairly soon)
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Well, now they are squealing. I haven't got a chance to change them yet and now they started squealing. Before you chime in and suggest I didn't do a bedding down procedure or put anti-squealing compound (which was not supplied by Hawk), I did and they still sqweak. This is rediculous. I have done over 100 brake jobs in my life and this is the worst outcome I have ever experienced. I talked to a friend of mine who manages the brake and tire store down the hill from my house and told him my situation and he just started laughing. He said "you should have asked me first because I have had to deal with about six trucks in the last year with the same problem using the same hawk brakes." I only talk to this guy about once every two months at the local bar and boy I wish I would have. He said it has nothing to do with how you put them on, it is the cheap compound they use and they will squeak. I suggest not to buy Hawk Brakes, I know I never will!!!!