My 2004 Infiniti G35 came with brake pads that were strong and very effective, but “grabby”. The smallest application of force on the brake pedal caused pretty strong response. I personally don’t mind, but a lot of people consider this kind of behavior objectionable.

The wheels would get covered in black brake dust very quickly. And, worst of all, the brake pads (both front and rear) wore out in 15K miles in non-severe service. The OEM brake pads were replaced at an Infiniti dealership under brake warranty. The new pads were less “grabby” and lasted longer, but made pedal feel more “squishy” and not very reassuring. After 27K miles they also were toast. At the same time, the front rotors wore out to be out of spec and needed to be replaced.

Did I mention that the pads would also get pretty noisy in cold weather when they were about 80% worn? I decided to look for something better in terms of the brake pads. And I chose Hawk HPS (high-performance street) pads both front and rear and new OEM front rotors.

About Hawk HPS

The Hawk HPS pads are advertised as being superior to OEM pads in virtually all respects. Among claimed benefits were low levels of dust and noise, long life, being gentle on rotors, high stopping power whether they are cold or hot.

My Experience

I have the Hawk HPS pads both in front and rear of my G35. I currently have approximately 7K miles on the pads. They produce much less dust than OEM pads and Nissan/Infiniti’s replacement pads and the dust is much lighter in color (light-brown instead of black). The rotors also look very good with no visible wear.

The Hawk HPS pads are not as grabby as OEM pads and do not produce the spongy feel of the replacement Nissan ones. They have an almost perfect combination of sensitivity to initial braking input and linearity of braking.

I don’t yet know how long they will last, but based on what read elsewhere, they should be durable. Overall, I am very satisfied.

Pros: Reasonable price, low levels of dust and noise, brake dust is light in color, excellent combination of "grabbiness" and linear, strong braking performance

Cons: Need to buy them online since dealers' service departments only have manufacturer's replacement brake pads.

Bottom Line

The Hawk HPS brakes are superior to OEM brakes of my car in every way. I highly recommend them.

Recommended
Yes