Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Where are Hawk Perfomance brake pads manufactured?

Hawk Performance high performance brake pads are manufactured in Medina, OH, USA in an ISO/TS16949 certified facility. This means that the company follows well-defined procedures for ensuring quality products. The main objective of a quality system is to meet customer requirements at the lowest possible cost.

STREET PERFORMANCE PADS

What causes brake noise?

There are literally hundreds of reasons why brake noise occurs and most have nothing to do with brake pads. Proper installation, brake system maintenance, rotor quality and debris tend to be the most common causes. Sometimes brake squeal can be an indicator that there is a problem. Maintenance is required if you experience brake squeal for any of the following reasons:

  • Lack of friction material (brakes need to be replaced)
  • Loose fitting brake in the caliper
  • Loose fitting or missing brake hardware (i.e. shims, anti-rattle clips)
  • Loose lug nuts or caliper hardware
  • Debris caught between the rotor and the surface of the brake pad
  • Heat cracked or worn rotors
  • Uneven finish on resurfaced rotors

In some cases, a user may experience brake noise when no maintenance is required. Hawk calls these NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness ) issues. Brake squeal is typically caused by vibration between the brake pads, rotors, and brake calipers. Some brands of semi-metallic brakes are more likely to experience brake squeal due to the metallic ingredients in the brake pads. Hawk Performance has a great reputation for manufacturing low-noise, high-performance brake pads. All Hawk Performance products have an OE quality shim, severe duty powder coat surface treatment and “GearHead Grease Paks” to virtually eliminate the risk of brake noise. Below are the instructions for proper use of Hawk “GearHead Grease Paks.”

1. To silence brake noise – Apply 1-2 grams on the backside of the brake pad and evenly spread across the surface making sure to cover any areas where the pad contacts the caliper or piston.

2. To lubricate calipers – Clean and inspect all brake caliper parts making sure to inspect for damage or excessive corrosion. Apply to pins, slides, bushings, pistons, rubber sleeves and seals. DO NOT APPLY TO THE ROTOR FACE OR THE BRAKING SURFACE OF THE PAD!

Caution: For eye and skin contact, flush with water for 15 minutes. Wash skin with soap and water; call a physician if irritation persists. If swallowed do NOT induce vomiting; call a physician. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

How do I break - in my new pads?

Brake Pad Burnishing/Bedding-In Instructions

  • After installing new brake pads, make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 30-35 MPH applying moderate pressure.
  • Make an additional 2 to 3 hard stops from approximately 40-45 MPH.
  • DO NOT DRAG BRAKES!
  • Allow at least 15 minutes for the brake system to cool down.
  • After previous step is completed, your new Hawk Performance brake pads are ready for use.
Why should I follow a break - in procedure on new brake pads?

Correct brake pad break-in (bedding) is important to assure quality braking performance over the life of the pad. This procedure allows the rubbing surface of the brake pad to be brought to temperatures, creating a transfer-film layer of friction material to be applied to the rotor surface. This allows the brake pad material to rub against itself rather than the bare rotor. This increases the stopping performance of the brake pad and can reduce pad and rotor wear.

Can I run cross - drilled or slotted rotors with Hawk Performance brake pads?

Yes you can. Hawk does suggest a slotted or solid faced rotor for performance applications. Cross drilled rotors are primarily for looks and as such some trade offs will occur, such as increased brake pad wear and increased dust.

What can I do during installation to ensure my brakes won't squeal?

First, choose Hawk Performance high performance disc brake pads as your upgrade over other aftermarket brake suppliers. The next best steps you can take to avoid having noisy brakes are:

  • Turn / machine the rotors (machining off a small layer of the brake rotor to make it smooth again)
  • Wash and dry the rotor to rid of debris
  • Install the pads securely and according to instruction
  • Properly bed-in the pads according to instruction (see following question) Apply a thin layer of a silicone compound called anti-squeal brake lube on the back of the brake pads. Hawk's standard installation procedures are outlined below. This information is printed on the box of every brake pad set that Hawk manufacture, and should be followed in accordance with the application-specific brake pad installation instructions provided by the vehicle manufacturer.

MOTORSPORTS PADS

What are racing brake pads made from?

Racing brake pads are made from a variety of ingredients like metals, resins and fillers. The combination of ingredients and the size and weight of the ingredients used in the friction formula can create very different performance levels and characteristics.

With all the different brake compounds available today, how do I make the proper choic e of what to use on my racecar?

Choosing the proper brake pad compound that will provide the best performance for your Motorsports application can be made easier by following the guidelines outlined below:

  • Determine what compounds and styles of brake pads are available for your calipers and type of racing.
  • Determine the operating temperature of your car’s brake system. Heat sensitive paint can be applied to the brake pads and rotors to help you gauge temperature. Tire pyrometers can be used, but due to the cool down time the temperature numbers may not be accurate.
  • Upon learning your system's temperatures
  • Other drivers that share your driving style will sometimes provide valuable information that may allow you to learn what brake pads other drivers have used and liked or disliked.
  • Contact your local racing products dealer and inquire as to what brake pads they offer and recommend for your application.
  • It’s important to understand different types of racecars, racing surfaces and driving styles may require different levels of braking performance, and many drivers expect the brake system to have a certain feel that suits their individual needs. Because of this, it should not be assumed that what works for one driver would work for all. In some cases the best way to learn what is best for you is to experiment with a variety of friction com pounds to determine how a particular pad differs from another regarding issues such as pedal feel, consistency, and rotor and brake pad wear.
What are some noticeable signs that I have made the wrong pad choice for my Motorsports racing application?

When a friction compound is used in a substantially higher temperature range than intended, the material can quickly lose its ability to perform correctly. Generally, an overheated brake pad will continue to provide a hard pedal but require more foot and pedal effort to achieve even marginal performance. Continued use during this type of circumstance can result in complete brake pad failure.

What happens if I choose a brake pad compound that does not have a high enough temperature range for my applic ation?

It’s important to understand the chain of events that take place when a brake pad becomes too hot to work correctly. As the pad begins to lose performance effectiveness the driver may try to compensate by pushing harder and longer on the pedal. This may cause friction surface temperature to increase thereby increasing the brake problem. When this occurs, great stress is put on the friction material and the material can begin to crystallize. In extreme cases delaminating between the friction material and the pad's backing plate can sometimes occur. This type of situation may be corrected by choosing a friction compound designed to withstand higher temperature.

Why should I perform a break - in procedure on new brake pads?

Correct brake pad break-in (bedding) is important to assure optimal braking performance over the life of the pad. This procedure allows the rubbing surface of the brake pad to slowly be brought up to racing temperatures. Proper bedding creates a transfer layer film of friction material to be applied to the rotor surface. This allows the brake pad material to rub against itself rather than the bare rotor. This increases the stopping performance of the brake pad and can reduce pad and rotor wear.

What is the proper procedure for breaking in new brake pads?

Brake Pad Burnishing/Bedding-In Instructions:

  • After reaching medium speed engage brake pedal to slow car without coming to a complete stop. Release pedal quickly and do not drag brakes. Repeat four or five times.
  • At higher speeds engage brake pedal to slow car without coming to a complete stop. Release pedal quickly and do not drag brake s. Repeat five times.
  • At or near race speed engage brake pedal to slow car without coming to a complete stop. Release pedal quickly and do not drag brakes. Repeat three times. Allow a few seconds between brake engagements while car is in motion.
  • Do not hold brake pedal. Park car for approximately 20 minutes or until brake rotors are completely cool to the touch.
  • If during the above steps the brake pedal becomes soft or brake fade is noticed, park the car immediately for approximately 20 minutes. Do not hold brake pedal.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS WHEN BURNISHING/BEDDING BRAKE PADS

  • Do not attempt to use badly worn or damaged rotors with new brake pads.
  • Do not drag brakes while car is moving during break-in procedure.
  • Do not engage pedal while car is stopped at any time following the break-in procedure.
  • Upon completing the procedure, allow the brake system to completely cool before racing.
  • Applying the pedal a few times before the start of the race will allow the brake pads to heat up befor e attempting to reach race speeds.
  • Clean a used rotor surface with fine sand paper or steel wool, rinse with water, dry and install before bedding new pads.
  • Some forms of racing don't allow time for the proper break-in procedure to be performed. Howe ver, it is still very important to attempt to perform at least the core of the procedure: Build up heat slowly and allow the system to completely cool down before racing if possible.
What can happen to my brake pads if not bedded properly?

Proper break-in will assure that small amounts of heat are introduced to the brake pad. Brake pads that are brought up to temperature too fast and not properly allowed to cool down may quickly become glazed and not perform as originally intended. The pad’s rubbing surface reaches extreme heat levels during racing use. The surface needs slow temperature increases to help prepare the pad. Large amounts of heat all at one time can cause the brake pad rubbing surface to become somewhat liquified and coat the pad surface with a glaze. This will dramatically reduce stopping performance as certain ingredients in the friction compound breakdown and cause glazing of the rubbing surface of the brake pad.

How can I tell by looking at the brake pad if my pads have been glazed over?

When a brake pad glazes over, the friction surface develops a cloudy or glassy looking coating. It is possible to remove the glazed surface by using sand paper to grind away the damaged layer and expose a new layer that will require the proper bedding procedure.

What is a pre - bedded brake pad?

Some brake pad manufacturers offer a pre-bedded pad and/or a pre-bedding service. Pre-bedding involves placing pads in a caliper and running them against a mechanically driven rotor in a controlled environment. The rotor and pads are slowly brought up to temperature and allowed to cool down over several cycles. This process simulates on track situations while allowing the two surfaces to mate correctly in an optimum environment. While this process can be very expensive, it greatly reduces the break-in time prior to pad purchase. In most cases the rotor and the pad are, and should be, sold as a matched set.

What is a pre - burnished brake pad?

Some brake pads are pre-burnished during the manufacturing process. Pads that are pre-burnished have had high temperature applied to the rubbing surface to simulate the first few engagements on an actual racecar. The process will allow the pad to break-in quickly and to begin working more effectively in a shorter time. Pre-burnished pads still need to be properly bedded to help assure that the pad and the rotor have an opportunity to mate correctly.