Pagid Pad Disintegration and Clicking Noise (2 parter)

I posted this in the Racing/DE forum, but thought some here might not troll over there. Part I: I have been running pagid yellows for a while, but they tend to become worthless below 1/3 of a pad. I usually swap them at 1/3 to be on the safe side. I went out to MSR this weekend with just under 1/2 a pad remaining (inside and outside) on all 4 corners. During one session, I had one front pad chunk horrbily - to the point it was literally disintegrating under braking - and was eaten away to the backing plate. It was so disintegrating/chunking so fast that under braking it caused the car to turn. Keep in mind that this was just 1 pad on the front driver's side (the outer pad), the inner pad still had about 1/3 remaining - and although it was chunking, it was not disintegrating. Both rear pads still had more than 1/3 remaining. [I'll post pics later.] As expected, the rotor was also ruined, but they were almost to the point of being heat cracked out anyway (OEM cross drilled). But if I was running 2 piece or something else relatively expensive, I would have been really PO'd. I was always aware of the chunking and low pad issue, but didn't realize it could fall apart like a granola bar. Word to the wise: keep an eye on your Pagid Pads - and when they start flaking, pay extra attention to them. Part II: So I upgraded to PFC-01 in the front / PFC-97 in the rear (on recommendation of the track support gurus - we'll see how this turns out). However, now I have a clicking noise when I tap the brake. My guess is that when there is no pressure in the line, the pads back off the rotor just a bit, and when you tap the brakes they are pushed onto the rotor causing the clicking noise I hear. Maybe the spring clip isn't tight. Dunno. Has anyone experienced this? -td

I had a nearly new Hawk HT-10 come apart on my M3 a couple years ago and ruin a brand new Euro rotor ($250) on at the same time. Really ticked me off so I know where you're coming from. Dunno about the clicking. Are the springs even in there? I thought you couldn't install them with the PFC pads? I could be wrong as I don't have first hand experience but I'm thinking about making the move to the PFC's this year. Andy. p.s. -01's in the front and '97's rear? Shouldn't it be the other way around to move brake bias back?

Part 1: Sounds like the caliper pistons are not working properly if one side(outer) is wearing faster than the inner. Are the pads overheating causing it to disintegrate? Cooling ducts?

Quotes source post: 6294792

The calipers are working properly. They are not WEARing faster, they came apart. Pagids do generate heat, but being an endurance racing pad, they are supposed to. I have Cup car cooling ducts, so this is not an issue. -td

PFC01 in the front definitely Clack a little under initial application. I only hear/notice this on the street.

Quotes source post: 6294951

Do you guys also hear clicking/clacking when you hit bumps, or only under braking - or tapping the brakes? -td

no clicking clacking when I hit bumps (PFC97s), only under braking application.

I've never experienced the "chunking" you describe with Pagids, but I've never used yellows (only Oranges and Blacks). Let me know what you think of the PFC's

I have seen yellows RS19s chunk like this on another 996. I can speculate but can't really provide any real answers to why it's happening. Maybe this issue is resolved in the new compound RS29. The PFC-01s however you can run down to the backing plate no problems. Great pad, except for the dust.

Quotes source post: 6297279

FWIW, I was running the RS-29... Here are the pics. -td 1_inner_1.jpg 2_outer_1.jpg 3_outer_2.jpg 4_inner_3.jpg 5_inner_4.jpg 6_outer_5.jpg 7_outer_4.jpg x_sidebyside.jpg

did this happened to only 1 side front? or both?... how old is the pads?... it almost looks like the pad wasnt bonded propery to the metal base (see the corrosion under the pad)... Maybe you should send the pics to Pagid and see what they have to say...

IIRC, most brake pads are sintered meaning they start with a dust of the ceramic brake material and press/heat this powder into the desired shape. If this process is not performed properly/completely you will have more porosity and see chunking like this. It becomes a problem when the chunk can extend to the backing plate or a corner and come off as shown in your last picture. The PFC pads don't breakup quite this bad, and are cheaper. Only problem (with both PFC 01 and 97 compounds) is the brake dust will harden on your wheels if it gets wet. It's a real pain if not impossible to get off, so I run yellows on street and track.