Girodisc Magic Pads - 7k mile review

**chaotichoax** · Sep 3, 2009, 01:19 PM

Note:

My car is daily driven and is strictly a street car.

Testimonial:

I have had these pads on my car for the last 7k miles. I got the Magic pads when they were first released. Martin had asked that I post up a small review and I did. 7k miles later here I am and I have only good news to report.

These pads are the ultimate stock replacement solution with price and efficiency in mind. They are super cheap and provide a very similar (slightly better) feel. The greatest things about them are they require no shims, emit virtually NO brake dust, and are dead silent.

Three key points:

-Let's face it, shims are annoying and most pads require them to be greased and even then they still squeak. Eliminating them is the only true way to eliminate the noise.

-They simply don't emit brake dust. I wash my wheels about once every 2-3 months. I hate washing wheels so this alone seals the deal for me.

-You don't have to worry about getting random stares from nearby motorists after screeching your way to a complete stop. The only time these ever make any noise at all is going .5 mph and very lightly applying the brakes to a stop. And even then it's only an occasional quick squeak.

Bottom line:

If you are on a budget and don't auto-x/road race your car, there simply is not a better solution in terms of a brake pad.

Kracka · Sep 3, 2009, 02:16 PM

Good to hear. I do auto-x my car but got sick of noisy pads so I figured I'd try a set of Magics. I ordered them earlier this week so hopefully next week I'll be able to report back on them. I put Magics in my fiancee's WRX earlier this summer and so far they're good. Quiet, dust-free, and better bite/stopping power than stock.

deadring · Sep 3, 2009, 02:16 PM

Just put them on my car two days ago, silence is golden!!

Import Junky · Sep 3, 2009, 02:20 PM

Mine aren't dead silent. They seem to squeak under light breaking for me. It doesn't happen all the time but it does happen on occassion. I'm never bedded them though so I don't know if that has to do with anything.

**chaotichoax** · Sep 3, 2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

Good to hear. I do auto-x my car but got sick of noisy pads so I figured I'd try a set of Magics. I ordered them earlier this week so hopefully next week I'll be able to report back on them. I put Magics in my fiancee's WRX earlier this summer and so far they're good. Quiet, dust-free, and better bite/stopping power than stock.

I would think they will be fine for most auto-x events. I don't know that I'd ever attempt road racing with them though. Be sure to keep us posted on how they work out though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Import Junky

Mine aren't dead silent. They seem to squeak under light breaking for me. It doesn't happen all the time but it does happen on occassion. I'm never bedded them though so I don't know if that has to do with anything.

bedding them is the most important part

project_skyline · Sep 3, 2009, 05:19 PM

I've been looking at these, my only question is will they get messed up from a few drag racing stops from 120 mph. Any input?

Kracka · Sep 3, 2009, 05:33 PM

They'll be fine for the drag-strip; stock pads can do that.

ak47po · Sep 3, 2009, 05:37 PM

I'm almost ready for pads and these will be it!I hate squealing and dust.

ikuto · Sep 3, 2009, 05:51 PM

Not entirely true about the shims. I bought them when they first came out too and after properly bedding them in and 1000 miles later it would squeal everytime the brakes warmed up. This was all street driving and before any AutoX events. It turns out it was the rear brake pads and Girodisc had revised the rear shims since they were first released. The new rear shims were noticeably thicker than the original ones.. Girodisc sent me new rear shims and no more squealing

.

*Update: Just noticed the OP was talking about a Evo 9 not 10.

Mike@AwdMotorsports · Sep 3, 2009, 05:55 PM

Damn sounds like a nice upgrade.. We dont do much brake work here but ill keep note of these.. I hate the Noisy Hawk Pads..

MIke

**chaotichoax** · Sep 4, 2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike@AwdMotorsports

Damn sounds like a nice upgrade.. We dont do much brake work here but ill keep note of these.. I hate the Noisy Hawk Pads..

MIke

they'll slow down your drag animals and do it quietly

**Zeus** · Sep 4, 2009, 09:49 AM

Nice review... I sent Martin a PM on these for my own Evo.

derangedazn · Sep 4, 2009, 03:28 PM

So far 500 miles on the pads and they are ninja silent.

redcat · Sep 20, 2009, 06:15 AM

So does the no shim / no grease comment stand for the VIII? I'm planning on buying a set of these pads soon.

Also, I get a little shake in the steering wheel when braking. The car is my DD and has never been tracked (no hard stops from 100+ mph). The rotors have about 55K miles on them. I've read elsewhere that the shake may be just pad deposit on the rotors, but was wondering if anyone else had experience with warped rotors with so few miles. Just wondering if I should replace the rotors when doing the pads.

Finally, I bought one of these off eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123). Used it yesterday when pulling my rear caliper. Worked great!

**SmikeEvo** · Sep 20, 2009, 07:22 AM

You can take 120 grit sand paper to the rotor surface or turn the rotors if you have pad deposit. Sometimes sanding is not enough.