I want to replace out OEM pads on the 99 Accord with something that has a little better stopping. I'm thinking of getting Hawk's HPS pads. Since the rotors are fairly new would I be ok to stick with them? I have read that some people in the past purchased Brembos when getting these pads. They also have a lifetime warranty, if I were to purchase them from TireRack would they send out another set under warranty before having to send the set back? Also does anyone know if we have to have a certain minimum thickness before sending them?

If you have rear drums, Hawks on the front would be ok, if disc on the rear do all 4.

I've had good luck on the gen 6 with Hawks. They do dust heavy purplish dust though. On the '98 it got the same mileage as the stock pads, 94k front and rear.

I'm not sure if the warranty is for wear, but may be for defects. I had tire rack send me a set of rotors AND pads for free when the shims on the pads slipped and cut into the hats of the rotors at all 4 corners on the '98 V6. I emailed them pics through the wheel spokes and they overnighted me pads/rotors no questions with no need to send out the old ones to them.

I just checked Tirerack and found that the HPS pads are composite not ceramic. They mention that Honda recommends ceramic in use for the Accord but from what I understand on the OEMs they are also composite. So is the information Tirerack is saying incorrect?

The Honda front pads are a ceramic of some sort, on rear disc cars the rear pads appear to be organic. If you have rear drums the shoes are a organic/metallic mix, they do last a long, long time.

The Hawks are supposed to be some kind of carbon/metallic material. I looked at Hawk's website, and the warranty doesn't cover wear, it does cover defects over the life of the pad though.

The ceramic pads are used mainly because they are quiet. The Hawks on the '98 here do squeal. My EBC Yellows are dead quiet.

The Honda front pads are a ceramic of some sort, on rear disc cars the rear pads appear to be organic. If you have rear drums the shoes are a organic/metallic mix, they do last a long, long time.



If the front are some sort of ceramic, is that the reason why Honda braking typically is subpar? Isn't ceramic typically meant for high heat applications? i.e. They need to be warmed up before they get grippy? Or maybe not . . . that would contradict the incredible brake fade my V6 6MT had after repeated highspeed braking. :-/

I think it depends on what type of mix is with the "ceramic". They are used mainly due to the quiet operation, more initial grab, and low dust, and very easy on rotors than for any very high heat stability. The easy on rotor part, can be a disadvantage with a car that gets used or parked where it gets wet, they have a much harder time cleaning the rust that develops on rotors. Usually this causes the rotors to rot away, especially on the backsides much faster. They were originally intended to replace organic pads.

They are supposedly a better alternative to semi-metallic pads, which can be very noisy, are very abrasive, and wear rotors. The original semi-mets also had poor cold braking performance and needed to be warm, but not super hot.

The EBC pads I use don't have the super "grabby" feel that the stocks do, but are more linear and grip like velcro when they get hot.

From what I've seen Honda, most of GM, Nissan and some Toyota use a "ceramic" type pad. The ones that are like Honda's pads, fade just as bad. The pads fade long before any real heat is in the rotors. Nissans have odd issues, of great braking, than nearly none when heated, then the pads come apart and destroy the rotors.

My 6-6 had that fade at ONE hard stop from around 80. I had replacement pads on it when I got back, I was on vacation on a cross country drive when I found that one out.

There are so many different pad compounds out there, even from the OEM, for example if you have a Ford, you can get the OEM pads, which are hideously expensive, Motorcraft replacement regular pads, or Motorcraft severe duty pads. This is possible for many of their cars and nearly all the trucks. This doesn't even take the aftermarket into account.

Ah didn't realize the Hawks would be more noisy. So what do you recommend that I get that are as quiet as OEM but bite a little better for the 99 LX (we have OEM shoes on the rear)? I had a fairly new Elantra as a rental a few weeks ago and the braking system was day and night compared to the Accord's (even my sister's 08 Accord).

Look at NAPA's adaptive one pads, our shop has had good luck with them when OEM pads weren't available. They aren't cheap though.

If you have wheel covers that limit cleaning access to the brakes to get rid of dust the Hawks can get noisy. The '98 here gets cleaned infrequently and does it get LOUD.