[RACE M3]

I think everyone is as confused what to buy. There’s just as many happy as unhappy with their decision. We’re basing our purchases on vendor opinions “only negative feedback is posted.” Not true, the vendor is a dog and doesn’t care if he sells us 2-3 sets because the next one works for other people. Picture comparisons will help us make a definitive choice of pad dust vs braking feel.

It’s experiment time!


1. Clean one front wheel as well as possible.

2. Drive about 25-30 miles (no rain)

3. Swipe your finger and take a picture in the same spot I did.



Post up your pad brand/model, mileage on pad, screen shot of the actual mileage driven and if there’s anything we should know( noise, pedal feel etc)

I will update this thread with all the info at the top to make it easy to find. Maybe we can do a longer increment in the future.


Oem pad
16,500 miles

[Boogie2121]

Buy ebc red stuff.

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by Boogie2121

Buy ebc red stuff.

Do the test and let’s see how it compares to the yellow. They may end up being very similar without giving up any feel.

[Berzerker]

I think these tests are highly dependent on driving style as well. It's impossible to judge a difference with different people driving because of that. I think we can all agree that EBC Red Stuff, iSweep 1500s and some other lower priority ones like Carbotech 1521s, etc, generally have a similar amount of minimal dust and no noise.

If you're ok with *anything* more than that, you can try 2000s or Yellow Stuff, but it's going to be impossible to judge anything fairly with different people driving differently.

[FriedPiston]

Been very happy with EBC blue pads after two track days and over 2000 miles of daily driving.

* Low dust compared to stock
* No squealing
* Very good initial bite
* Have yet to experience brake fade with Motul RBF 660 and RE71-RS
** Now available on FCP Euro

EBC suggests the Blue pads over Yellow for Street/Track use:
https://ebcbrakes.com/ebc-brake-pad-selector-tool/ but I would recommend them even if you have no plans of hitting the track.

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

I think these tests are highly dependent on driving style as well. It's impossible to judge a difference with different people driving because of that. I think we can all agree that EBC Red Stuff, iSweep 1500s and some other lower priority ones like Carbotech 1521s, etc, generally have a similar amount of minimal dust and no noise.

If you're ok with *anything* more than that, you can try 2000s or Yellow Stuff, but it's going to be impossible to judge anything fairly with different people driving differently.

Agreed, highway driving vs city driving varies. I should have been clear about city driving. The more sample data we have the more we can gauge what to expect.

The guys that buy the red seem pretty happy while the 1500 has more mixed reviews. It could be because the isweep sets cost double so the cost raises expectations. For $400 you get the red pads and that’s not much money to expect a night and day difference.

[PipeM3]

Originally Posted by RACE M3

Agreed, highway driving vs city driving varies. I should have been clear about city driving. The more sample data we have the more we can gauge what to expect.

The guys that buy the red seem pretty happy while the 1500 has more mixed reviews. It could be because the isweep sets cost double so the cost raises expectations. For $400 you get the red pads and that’s not much money to expect a night and day difference.

So for daily driving/some highway the red stuff is the one more similar to OEM?

[kgelfen360]

How someone rides the breaks matters a lot. I don’t follow people closely but if u did then u ride breaks all the time. Break dust builds like crazy. There are so many variables.

Like others said iSweep 1500 and be done.

You are proposing very imprecise method of testing. That’s going to introduce more questions then any kind of answers.

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by kgelfen360

How someone rides the breaks matters a lot. I don’t follow people closely but if u did then u ride breaks all the time. Break dust builds like crazy. There are so many variables.

Like others said iSweep 1500 and be done.

You are proposing very imprecise method of testing. That’s going to introduce more questions then any kind of answers.

I’m not debating if it’s perfect, but it’s 1 picture and 1 screen shot. The more people the chime in the more data and a pattern will emerge.

As the saying goes “Accepted theories may be modified or overturned as new evidence and perspective emerges.”

If I had to decide between the 1500 or red right now I’d pick the reds. People are generally happier with their purchase. Most that buy the isweeps do because the reds are hard to come by.

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by PipeM3

So for daily driving/some highway the red stuff is the one more similar to OEM?

Based on my research the red/1500 will have a little less bite than oem, which can be seen as an advantage to many if you’ve ever driven a mini cooper. The dust is significantly better than oem the noise is consistently gone. I haven’t found a single person that’s said the reds squeal.

There’s a few posts saying the yellows squeal, but more people saying they don’t. I asked for pad mileage to see if it’s something that happens over time or right off the bat. My m3 didn’t make any noise until after 2-3k miles. If someone with the yellows says they’re right after the first tank of gas, that’s their review. Will they update later?

The 1500 has great reviews like the red, but there are a few that say it’s not as good as expected and they feel cheated out of the money. Would not do again.

2000 feels like stock bite and is an improvement in braking power.

[forcefed]

Cleaned 350 miles/two weeks ago, ebc reds.

[PipeM3]

Originally Posted by RACE M3

Based on my research the red/1500 will have a little less bite than oem, which can be seen as an advantage to many if you’ve ever driven a mini cooper. The dust is significantly better than oem the noise is consistently gone. I haven’t found a single person that’s said the reds squeal.

There’s a few posts saying the yellows squeal, but more people saying they don’t. I asked for pad mileage to see if it’s something that happens over time or right off the bat. My m3 didn’t make any noise until after 2-3k miles. If someone with the yellows says they’re right after the first tank of gas, that’s their review. Will they update later?

The 1500 has great reviews like the red, but there are a few that say it’s not as good as expected and they feel cheated out of the money. Would not do again.

2000 feels like stock bite and is an improvement in braking power.

Thank you!!!

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by forcefed

Cleaned 350 miles/two weeks ago, ebc reds.

I messaged Mike 5 minutes after you posted up lol thread closed.

I’ll have them in 2-3 weeks

[forcefed]

Cleaned one spoke, 33 miles

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by forcefed

Cleaned one spoke, 33 miles

Awesome! Thank you for posting!


Hopefully someone with a yellow pad participates soon!

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by forcefed

Cleaned one spoke, 33 miles

All of that dust is only after 33 miles? Or is this what that one spoke looks after you've driven 33 miles after cleaning that one single spoke? If the later, about how long has the rest of the dust accumulated over?

[forcefed]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

All of that dust is only after 33 miles? Or is this what that one spoke looks after you've driven 33 miles after cleaning that one single spoke? If the later, about how long has the rest of the dust accumulated over?

Yes just that one spoke, see the previous post above, 350 miles.

[christianb5s4]

I guess it depends on how one defines low dust, but I run EBC redstuff on my S4 with Brembo calipers and drilled rotors and it generates quite a bit of dust.

However, I'm sure it's lower dust than OEM pads and another point is the dust (iSweep or EBC) is likely easier to clean.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by christianb5s4

I guess it depends on how one defines low dust, but I run EBC redstuff on my S4 with Brembo calipers and drilled rotors and it generates quite a bit of dust.

However, I'm sure it's lower dust than OEM pads and another point is the dust (iSweep or EBC) is likely easier to clean.

Also isn't an ugly brown color.

[christianb5s4]

Good point lol.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by FriedPiston

EBC suggests the Blue pads over Yellow for Street/Track use:
https://ebcbrakes.com/ebc-brake-pad-selector-tool/ but I would recommend them even if you have no plans of hitting the track.

Im using your link and getting different results, here what they are recommending for sports cars and premium sedans

fast street: green, yellow or red (no blue)
Track day and race: yellow or blue
Full track use: RP or SR

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Im using your link and getting different results, here what they are recommending for sports cars and premium sedans

fast street: green, yellow or red (no blue)
Track day and race: yellow or blue
Full track use: RP or SR

Thanks again Mike! I appreciate the great service as usual and honest ETAs! The stuff usually shows up sooner than you guess!