Performatek - Alfa Romeo - About Porterfield

About

Porterfield is a premiere manufacturer of Carbon Kevlar high performance brake pads. Their products enjoy a very high reputation among Alfa racers. One very important consideration for all Alfa racers is the fact that Porterfield offers race compound pads for all Alfa models from 1600 Giulias (with ATE) to 164s. In addition, Porterfield has race compound rear pads for all Alfas. Even more remarkable is the fact that they will make custom pads for very little extra, and will re-line brake shoes as well. Porterfield’s product offering is enormous – and pads can readily be supplied for any make or model – including your everyday car and your tow vehicle. Please call with any questions you may have about availability.

Porterfield’s original product was the R4 racing pad that has proven to be both versatile and a truly superior performing product. The Carbon Kevlar R4 compound, designed for race applications, has a moderate friction level, exhibits no fade, works best from temps 450' F and above and withstands temperatures up to 1,375ºF. They are very rotor-friendly, work well hot and reasonably well cold. The R4 material requires minimal break in and gives a very flat torque curve with excellent modulation and predictably smooth release regardless of pad temps. They are extremely rotor friendly. They can be noisy and make some dust.
Excellent pad for rears used in conjunction with R11 front pads.

Porterfield’s R4S high performance street Pads use a slightly modified version of the R4 compound. These pads are designed for street and limited track use. It is a serious highway pad with high friction levels (just slightly below the R4) and is designed for driver’s schools and light track events. Again, these Carbon Kevlar compounds are very-rotor friendly, work well either hot or cold, are quiet, and produce less dust than OEM pads.

The R4E pad is a racing compound that is designed for endurance racing. They are priced the same as the R4, and give slightly lower friction levels and approximately 10% greater life. They are ideal for endurance races of 12 or more hours.

The following is a brief unsolicited testimonial from a successful Alfa racer and very happy Porterfield user in Texas:

"After a year and half of driving with R4S on the street, all of my vehicles now have a carbon based pad. They stop immediately both hot and cold, they last at least twice as long as the softer street pads, and they do not make any more noise than street pads. The big negative is they cost more. I highly recommend them on any vehicle that you may need to stop. I have had many times here in Houston where someone pulls out of nowhere in front me with no where to go but to stop. The only reason I was able to stop quickly enough was that the carbon based pads bite so well. I even used the R4 on the street because I was tired of changing pads back and forth in the race car when it was street driven. The R4 pads really like a little heat, but no problems. These pads just work!"

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