Brake pads Carbotech or OEM Mazda
2016.5 CX-5 with 89,000 miles. So far I've had to replace the belt tensioner, accessories belt, water pump belt and breaks (technically I only needed pads and front rotors but I chose to just do them all in one shot since it made a negligible price difference since I was already doing the back pads.
Brakes - about to get them changed for the first time.
Just for daily, whatever the best Duralast pads AutoZone had to offer with some centric blanks. For the mountains, I run Carbotech AX6 on DBA rotors and love the performance they offer. They just dust like hell and their expensive, so I don't run them back home.
I have a ~375whp WRX about the same weight as your car and am running Carbotech XP10 / G-loc R10 (they're the same pads) and have had no fade.When I installed my front bbk I ran the Stoptech sport pads and they were not enough, swapped to the R10s and had zero brake issues all day.
I installed Carbotech XP10 brake pads in the front, and they seem to work really well. When I drive the car, it will squeal sometimes when I’m not even pressing the brakes - when this happens, I can make it stop with any pressure on the brakes. I like the idea of keeping these brakes in because I like the added stopping power, and I like being ready for the track at all times.
At 55,XXX miles and still haven’t changed my brakes on 2019 AWD Mazda 3(not as heavy as yours but heavier than a FWD 3) Last service, I was in the green for both sets still, but they said I would likely be in “yellow” by 60-65k. I did want to note—I hear no scraping/squealing and brakes feel relatively strong just not as great as new.
Carbotech 1521 or G-Loc GS1 (same compound). Same stopping power as stock but much more progressive, don't have that really harsh initial bite the stock ones have and make way less dust. 10/10
I recommend Carbotech Pads, and no I'm not affiliated with the company, but for my street pads, I only run them on my vehicles. Drastically reduced brake dust, didn't notice any loss of performance or increase in heat from spirited driving.
Seems a bit sus - but it's not unusual for rear pads to wear faster than front on certain cars. My Ford Flex and CX-50 both wear pads faster out back (it made sense on the Flex because of long wheelbase but was surprised the 50 did it too). That said they should last twice as long.
I ran into some brake issues. The pedal started getting squishy even in wet conditions. It never got dangerously deep, but it was still unpredictable. In the last session, the track dried up and I was able to push. I experienced somewhat serious fade. I had to absolutely stand on the brake pedal to get the car stopped. After pulling into the paddock and circling around to let the car cooldown, I still smelled brakes for the next 20+ minutes. The pedal firmed up on the way home.
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