I read some of the earlier posts, but am a little confused - Are the Hawk HPS pads the best option for both cold and hot performance with a little less dust and no real noise issues for a street car with limited autocross and track use? I care less about the dust and more about brake feel/performance and noise. I generally like the OEM feel - how will the Hawks feel in comparison?

 

I'ev got HPS pads on the front wheels of my Cooper. No noise, feels close to stock to me, but with better initial "bite". I haven't taken them to the track yet, so I don't know what the difference there will be. But they work fine for the street and the really tight autocross I've had them on so far.

 

HPS (as I've used them in the 13" kits) offer pretty responsive initial bite. They do top out for temp under severe use however.

Depending upon the brake system as a whole and your intended use you may keep them under you a bit or they may fade for track day use. For a beginer you'll be fine, as you go faster and thing really start to heat up you'd do well to consider more dedicated pads for harder use.

 

Are the Hawk HPS or ceramic pads available for the 05 models with the correct notches for the brake wear sensors?

 

The 05 brake pads aren't different are they?

 

My understanding is the rear pads were changed late in the 04 MY or early in the 05 MY. Might be wrong. If I am please post correct info. I am waiting on a reply from Tire Rack on the availability of pads for my 05 MCSc.

 

I beleive it was Jan/'04 that they changed it. But I'm probably wrong.

 

How do I know if they were changed? I got a set of red Box and I was never asked the year....