Cryo Rotors and Hawk Pads *Review*

[12guns]

Ok, I installed my Powerslot Cryo rotors along w/ a set up Hawk LTS pads on the front of my 05' V8 Sport 4x4. I've driven around town on and off this week and can't decide if I like the new set up. I did have a frozen caliper, so I bought a new set of Raybesto's. You would think w/ a $600 set-up, I would be able to stand my ride on the front tires, but no.
I broke the pads in per the directions. First thing I noticed was the excessive pedal travel, so the next day I bled the brakes for a second time which helped slightly. Even after bleeding two more times to ensure there is no air left in the system, I still get quite a bit more travel before the brakes engage. I know the Cryo rotors are "harder" and should give a lot longer life, so maybe they will continue to "break in" with the pads and increase stopping power as I drive more. Hawk had instructions for breaking in their pads, but I'm certain they will continue to seat w/ the rotors the more I drive.
I won't be changing anything yet, but I did want to let you guys know how they were so far.
What would I change? If I could go back in time, I would stick w/ non slotted rotors, probably Napa. I'm not convinced that the cryo and/or slotted will give you anymore stopping power. The pad is where the shorter stopping distance comes from. If the Hawk pads don't get any better as I drive more, I'll give some serious though to upgrading to EBC Yellow Stuff pads, which should be the best of the best for good stopping power that will hold up under the heat of towing boats and such. My OEM brakes seemed more "sticky" than the new set up, but they would not hold up to the heat of hard driving or pulling heavy loads, hince going w/ the Hawk pads and cryo rotors. I'll update after some more driving. May even take the pads off and ensure they are clean-I noticed a few lines around my rotors like there may have been something on the pad surface when I installed them. Shouldn't make a difference, but it will give me a chance to check everything over.

 

[12guns]

After reading some other pad reviews, I thought I would add that the Hawk pads DO stop very well when you have to really get on the brakes. I guess I was expecting the new set up to feel more "touchy" or "grabby" which I do not. When the pads are cold coupled w/ the high rpm's on start up, I have to press fairly hard to keep my ride from walking off on it's own. Once they are warm, they get better.
I will say they are smooth as silk and no loud at all. Again, I'm hoping as I put some more miles on them, they will "wear" into the rotors giving me more surface area touching and improving stopping power. We shall see!

 

[riceandpho]

the ebc greenstuff 6000s i was using, had the break in material on the pad, it was really sensitive at first, but it was biting good. so how is the hawk pad working for u, do it leave alot of dust?

 

[12guns]

the ebc greenstuff 6000s i was using, had the break in material on the pad, it was really sensitive at first, but it was biting good. so how is the hawk pad working for u, do it leave alot of dust?

I don't feel like the Hawk LTS pads are "biting" as well as they should. Having said that I only have 60 or so miles on them. I don't think they have anykind of break in layer, but I'm hoping as they wear slightly I may get a better "bite" like I'm looking for. I have braked hard a couple times (after the break in was done) and they seem to grab pretty good, but with normal driving they require more pressure than the oem pads/rotors. My last thing to do will be ATE Super Blue fluid and SS brake lines up front. That may give them a "touchier" feel. I did change the fluid when I did the calipers, but I used some cheap dot 3 prestone.
Not much dust that I've noticed, but I'll know more after taking a trip this weekend up in the hills.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

12guns, I noticed similar results with my Napa's, granted I've not bled them and that would probably help. The OEM's are actually really good, may just be a difference there. I do know I've got a lot more pedal travel now before they catch, and they aren't as touchy as they were before.

 

[Nashvillerunner]

12guns, I noticed similar results with my Napa's, granted I've not bled them and that would probably help. The OEM's are actually really good, may just be a difference there. I do know I've got a lot more pedal travel now before they catch, and they aren't as touchy as they were before.

Changing out brakes is my next project. I have about 65k miles on my 4Runner and the factory pads and rotors look good and will probably get another 7-10k miles out of them but it is time to change!

 

[12guns]

Stock pads do seem to be "stickier" but I needed the higher heat resistant pads for towing and such. Guess it's a sacrifice I'll have to make. They do seem to be getting better and I noticed a wear line on the face of my new rotors. I may have a small rock or something hard that's stuck on the pad. If it doesn't go away and show more even wear I'll pull the pads and ensure they are clean and smooth. The new pads are not all that bad, but I do miss the grabby feel of the OEM pads. The good news is these pads should last a long time and the rotors even longer.

 

[Krazynative]

Unfortunatelly a higher temp pad will not be as stickey untill heated up. For My RX7 I have two sets of Hawk pads. One for the track and one for the street. When I put my track pads on, during the first lap, I have to keep my foot on the brakes almost the whole way around the track to warm them up. Even the street pads need a little warm up. It's just the way performance pads are.

Since you have the sport your front rotors are larger in diameter. Just mentioning this in case you might have ordered the smaller ones on accident. I checked out Summit racings site... They don't list the larger ones in the Cryo version.

 

[midnight runner]

Hawk pads are crap. They are over priced for their low bite, low max temps, making noise pads.

I have the StopTech performance pads which might be now relabeled in Centric Fleet performance pads for the 4runner. High bite, higher max temperature range. They also bite at normal driving temperatures. If your a bit more aggressive on the brakes here and there, you'll like these pads. Downside? there's dust, but that can be cleaned off, or just use the armorall wheel protectant. That stuff actually works until you wash your car.

 

[12guns]

Hawk pads are crap. They are over priced for their low bite, low max temps, making noise pads.

I have the StopTech performance pads which might be now relabeled in Centric Fleet performance pads for the 4runner. High bite, higher max temperature range. They also bite at normal driving temperatures. If your a bit more aggressive on the brakes here and there, you'll like these pads. Downside? there's dust, but that can be cleaned off, or just use the armorall wheel protectant. That stuff actually works until you wash your car.

I'm beginning to think your right! They seem ok after driving all day on them, but still not the "bite" I like. As mentioned before, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make if I have to to get the high heat resistance, but if the stoptech pads are better, I may have to give them a shot in the near future. You have a part number handy for the larger size rotor w/ 17" wheels???

 

[midnight runner]

This is one of their best distributors. He knows the stuff pretty well.

Toyota 4Runner Products: StopTech big brake kits, stainless steel braided brake lines, brake pads, tires

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Just so you know stoptech= TRD I have two compunds as well. when I go to the track I use my carbotech pads and for everything else I use either TRD or stoptech pads, which ever is cheaper.

 

[Krazynative]

You have a part number handy for the larger size rotor w/ 17" wheels???

126.44127CSR front right 13.31" dia

 

[12guns]

126.44127CSR front right 13.31" dia

I meant the part number for the pads that go w/ the larger rotors, sorry.

 

[Krazynative]

that's cool. IIRC they are the same pads.

 

[12guns]

So after a few hundred miles of driving, my pads/rotors seem to have a bit more "bite" that I wanted. I drove them hard pulling my 4 wheeler over the weekend. I noticed they don't fade any like the old stock pads did. The seem to bite even harder as they warm up. Anyway, I wish I had gone w/ the Hawk HP pads or EBC Yellow Stuff. They would give me the most bite possible and have a touchy feel like I want. Anyway, no big deal for now. Next is to get rear pads, they are all but gone!

 

[12guns]

Just an update on my rotors/pads.
I have put 10k miles or so on them. All in all they are fine. Rotors are wearing little at all. I still have the factory cross pattern showng that they have not worn much. Pads are ok. If I did it all over again, I would probably go with a more aggressive pad like the Hawk HP or EBC Yellow Stuff. With such a durable rotor, I think I can go w/ a pad that will give me the extra bite that I want. These Hawk pads have had a annoying squeal for several thousand miles. It's kind of a "harmonic" squeal, and I think is from the harder rotor and higher quality pads. I've just finished up pulling the pads and coating them w/ some anti-squeal stuff. We'll see.