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Re: quattro-digest V4 #2804



> Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 21:52:42 -0700
> From: "Rick  Stamm" <ras_mas@email.msn.com>
> Subject: Porterfield R-4S Pads
>
> Does any one have direct or antedotal experience with these pads?  I
> understand Porterfield also makes  more aggressive racing pads that have the
> nasty habbit of eating rotors.  The more docile pads would be fitted to an
> 85 U.S. spec UrQ.
>
> Rick

 Rick,

I have some experience with them, but haven't (yet) tried other high performance
pads to compare . I've used Porterfield R-4S pads on my GTX (weighs about 2,700
lbs., I believe) at the last three club driving schools I've done, all at Watkins
Glen (a high speed track).  I liked these carbon/kevlar pads on the track - they
seemed to have good stopping ability and no fade, just good solid braking lap after
lap. As I said, I haven't yet tried another pad for comparison, but I'd guess the
R-4S's are relatively moderate in rotor wear in this use.  I did use up the entire
front pads and half the rears per school.  (I also pushed my rotors too far, and
was forced to pull out halfway through the next-to-last session this year (Porche
Club school) due to cracking both front rotors, but then again they were on the car
when I bought it in '94 and did three schools.)

For the limited time I used them on the street, they seemed pretty good, however I
did notice they didn't have the immediate cold bite of basic street pads. I
personally would stick with stock pads on the street unless I experienced hot/fade
conditions on a regualr basis.

I bought the pads direct from Porterfield Enterprises in CA.  Prices/service seemed
reasonable - they even threw in a bottle of some fancy DOT 4 fluid with my last
order (don't recall the brand at the moment).

HTH.

Frank M.
'90 200TQ
'88 Mazda 323 GTX