Hello guys, i would like your advice. A few days ago, i installed Hawk HPS front brake pads, along with DBA Gold street series slotted/grooved rotors, and i have a problem. The pad is not grabbing the whole rotor surface, it is leaving a few mm of the rotor unused. I would like to ask if someone else has experienced the same problem with Hawk front pads. Forgot to notice, my car is a 2002 Cooper, with stock 276mm brakes.

 

No pad will use the whole surface. None that I know of, at least. Mine are the same with HPS's, my Dad's M3 with OEM, my Mom's 'Vertible Cooper S with OEM, and the brother's TT (OEM as well).

- Matt

 

Are you concerned about the outside edge (rusty area)?

Then as is posted above........

 

Looks fine to me!

Jim

 

As stated, I find that most pads do not cover the whole rotor area. The only issue it will cause is a lip will form because that area of the rotor will not wear down. The only impact of the lip, that I know of, is that it can make it a little harder to get the pads off when the pads need replacement. You might have to push the pads/pistons in a little to provide clearance to get the pads off past the lip.

 

You will notice that even your stock rotors will end up grooving out around the outer edge...it's normal.

 

That's as good as it is going to get, sorry. Looks normal to me too. Are those grooves in the rotor already showing up? Maybe my pic isn't very good. That seems awfully soon for a new pad and rotor to be grooving already.

 

Looks fine to me too!

 

Guys look at the inner side of the rotor, not the outer. Take a carefull look, at the rusted area above the gold anti rust paint. It is about 4mm of diameter. The stock pads are larger (wider) than the Hawk, i can't understand how can this be normal!

 

I just went out and looked at 2 MINI's we have on our used car lot.
They BOTH show the same wear pattern that you show in your photo.
Heck, the StopTechs on my MINI look the same!
So......
It's normal!


Jim

 

I have changed two sets of pads before the Hawk on the Mini, and none had this problem. Also, on my last car, a BMW E36 Compact, i changed lots of sets of pads while i owned it, and i never faced such a problem.

 

Well.....
I just showed your photo to one of our Techs. (ASE Certified Master Technician).
His verdict..........
It's normal.
I Quit.
Over and Out...

Jim

 

Ask your technician then, why no stock pad would cause that.

 

Chiming in here...I just compared a stock set of front pads with HAWKs. The width of the pads are identical and so are the backing plates. Suggest that the difference is caused by variation in the rotors, not the pads. You are getting the same amount of swept area with what you have vs. stock.

 

What's your problem with the pad not coming into contact with the entire rotor? Is your braking performance affected?

Everyone said it's normal and you have nothing to worry about. Get OEM pads and rotors if you feel your braking performance is in jeopardy.