Experience with EBC Red and Yellow pads?

[roamingnick]

Has anyone had direct personal experience with both EBC Red and Yellow pads (ideally on the same vehicle)? There's a range of viewpoints online - some say the Reds are crap, some say OK - so I'm interested in hearing real-world experience.

I don't need a track pad - the car is a daily driver, mostly urban but the occasional spirited long-distance back-road thrash. It's an APR-tuned 3.0T Avant, so plenty fast (and heavy). Brake set-up is RS5/R8 (i.e. 8-piston Brembo calipers). Primary considerations (in order of importance) are: warm/hot bite, dust build-up/juddering (i.e. minimise/avoid), cold bite, noise (a little is OK but not tiresome squealing), rotor longevity, pad life.

I am using Ferodo DS Performance pads at the moment - they were awesome on a previous ride with 4-piston Alcons, but underwhelming on this new car. I like a pad that really grips. Thanks in advance for sharing.

[robocop47]

I’ve got redstuff front pads waiting on my adams rotors to come in before I put them on so when that happens I’ll get back to you

[GasMan]

I've got reds on my RS7. They're okay. Less dust than OE, they do squeal from time to time, and if you get really spirited I'd say more fade than OE. I rarely beat on my car so the increased longevity and decreased dust were the big selling points for me. If you're looking for a track worthy pad these probably are not it.

[digdah]

I had the redstuff on mine that I recently changed to Powerstops z26s. I just cannot recommend the EBCs, sorry. They never had much bite and the fade is really obvious coming down from higher speeds. So obvious it was a little disconcerting. Worst thing I found was at about 80% wear on my redstuff the squealing came in as well as brake dust that matched what I was seeing on my OEM pads. I'm sorry but if I am going to have noise and dirt it had better come with OEM performance. As it stands the powerstops are MUCH better brakes both in initial price as well as performance. I am waiting to have more mileage on them before I give a final verdict but otherwise so far so good.

[trmills]

I'll second brake dust problems and fading when hot with RedStuff. I am not happy with them.

[christianb5s4]

I don't have experience on the C7 platform, but I run them on my B5 S4 along with 18Z calipers. They dust a lot but I haven't experienced fade in any type of driving condition (I have not tracked the car), and that includes numerous 1/2 mile runs where they saw repeated 155mph - 0mph stops. Not overly noisy either and get grabbier the warmer they get.

That said, I'm sure there are better options.

[rs6aavant]

I do not have any experience on the C7 platform, but I do run them on my B8.5 S4. I suggest this, make sure you follow the bed-in procedure of EBC. These are hard wearing pads and require about 1000 miles to be ready to be completely bedded-in. Complete the bedding in procedure and there will be some dust but much less than the OEM with a lot more bite and better modulation than the stock pads. You may hear some noise, but this usually will go aware as the pads take the shape of the rotors. Fade has not been an issue for me with EBC Red Pads but I do not track my car and but when the chance is presents itself, I do occasionally drive very spiritedly without any issues concerning braking or brake fade. Another, nice feature with EBC brake pads is you can put them on the existing rotors and do not have to clean off the previous brake material
before you use the rotors. As well, if you use them on new rotors you can just change out the pads without the eating up the rotors and having to replace every time the pads are worn. I am about to put a third set pads on the same rotor and will not have to replace the rotors at this time. I am referring to the EBC "Reds" as I have not nor need the "Yellows" until I do I start tracking my DD. One last thing to remember is with a ceramic based pad you do not want to try to force the adhesion of the brake material on to the rotor by trying to rush bedding in time before the 1000 miles have past. Be patient and you will be rewarded with a good to excellent initial bite and the same for modulation with little fade on the "Reds". The "Yellows" can be used on the street but probably need some heat in them to be effective. I hope this helps on your next selection of brake pads.

P.S. I heard the Hawk HP5.0 are supposedly very similar to the EBC Reds. I have not tried then yet but maybe in the future. Time will tell.

[6yyy]

I do not have any experience on the C7 platform, but I do run them on my B8.5 S4. I suggest this, make sure you follow the bed-in procedure of EBC. These are hard wearing pads and require about 1000 miles to be ready to be completely bedded-in. Complete the bedding in procedure and there will be some dust but much less than the OEM with a lot more bite and better modulation than the stock pads. You may hear some noise, but this usually will go aware as the pads take the shape of the rotors. Fade has not been an issue for me with EBC Red Pads but I do not track my car and but when the chance is presents itself, I do occasionally drive very spiritedly without any issues concerning braking or brake fade. Another, nice feature with EBC brake pads is you can put them on the existing rotors and do not have to clean off the previous brake material
before you use the rotors. As well, if you use them on new rotors you can just change out the pads without the eating up the rotors and having to replace every time the pads are worn. I am about to put a third set pads on the same rotor and will not have to replace the rotors at this time. I am referring to the EBC "Reds" as I have not nor need the "Yellows" until I do I start tracking my DD. One last thing to remember is with a ceramic based pad you do not want to try to force the adhesion of the brake material on to the rotor by trying to rush bedding in time before the 1000 miles have past. Be patient and you will be rewarded with a good to excellent initial bite and the same for modulation with little fade on the "Reds". The "Yellows" can be used on the street but probably need some heat in them to be effective. I hope this helps on your next selection of brake pads.

P.S. I heard the Hawk HP5.0 are supposedly very similar to the EBC Reds. I have not tried then yet but maybe in the future. Time will tell.

Since this is an older thread I believe EBC changed their Red Stuff formula to be pretty similar to OEM for us as well as much lower break dust. Just putting this out there since a lot of reviews are pretty negative in this particular thread.