08 GT. What is the factory pad material, and is there a better choice with the stock rotors?

 

Don't know about OEM, but I use Hawk Plus pads for street and road course track events.

 

Hawk Pads are better than stock and they offer a wide range of performance options. As for rotors, unless you need to replace yours, you're not gain much from going with anything but a larger brake system, if you're not tracking the car. Some CD/S rotors have been known to crack, leading to obvious issues. I would watch the boards and invest in a set of take off GT500 brakes. I've seen members post them for around $500-600. Which is about $1500 less than the new take off price. They are larger rotors and more importantly, more pistons per caliper.

So to recap: most effective brake upgrades are pads and calipers.

 

Been there, done that! Hate Hawk pads, for street, anyway. I experienced longer stopping distances and was always cleaning brake dust off my rims. Never again!

 

I have EBC reds and very little dust.

 

That's what I'm using now. Don't like the EBC slotted/drilled rotors though. Drone noise!

 

I stayed with stock pads. Work well, quiet and very little dust.

 

The best stopping power comes from organic pads, which unfortunately create the most dust and have the shortest lifespan. I use organic pads only.

 

looking into ebc reds with only slotted rotors - ebc (not drilled)...do you think I'll still get the noise?

 

I've used the EBC USR rotors for years and they don't make noise. I've used EBC Reds and they are low dust like advertised but you give up a bit of stopping distance. I now use EBC Yellows and deal with the dust although it's no worse than OE pads.