Carbotech Brake Pads

The Carbotech company manufactures a number of exciting brake pads for street and track racing. In addition to sponsoring events like the 2003 NASA High Performance Test, Carbotech engineers and refines its designs yearly to offer you optimum support on the road. So what are the specs for the three major types of Carbotech brake pads?

The Bobcat Carbotech line is the most popular line, in that these pads are great for street use and for race use. As with all Carbotech pads, Bobcats work with extreme efficiency under the strains of high-speeds. They can retain their smooth coefficient of friction up to the top of their heat range--900° Fahrenheit. Bobcats are also incredibly effective at cold braking, so you don't have to warm up to get a smooth ride.

Three Major Carbotech Brake Pads

The next level up is the Carbotech Panther Plus, a compound with an extremely good heat resistance. Panther Plus has an even wider heat range than the Bobcat--it delivers all the way up to 1,250° Fahrenheit. At the same time, Panther Plus pads work well at low heat. You can literally drive straight to the racetrack, use your pads all day in the races, and drive back home--all without having to change pads.

The final significant Carbotech line is the XP8 pad. These pads are designed for hard-core racing. Since the XP8 pads make so much noise, they're not really appropriate for street use. Indeed, if you want excellent race quality braking power, you should go with either a Bobcat or a Panther Plus. The XP8's also produce a lot of street dust, so you should have filters on hand.