HP+ throwing off sparks, is that normal?

[Earendil]

New question, I'm sure.

I've had HP+ pads on my E30 all summer. They function okay cold, and a lot better hot. So the other night I was on a spirited drive going down mountain roads. Everything was warm, and they were biting hard. However, this spirited drive was at night, and I noticed that the pads (at least the fronts) were throwing off sparks if the brakes were pressed firmly.

Nothing that glowed all the way to the ground, but there were glowing bits going by my passenger window.

Is that normal? I've never noticed anything during the day, and haven't noticed any unusual scaring on the rotors. I just want to make sure this isn't a sign that the pads are disintegrating :)

Thanks!

[Rigmaster]

I've never run HP+ Pads, but the first time I installed Hawk Blues (race pads), I was told how important proper bedding was- so I took the car down the street in front of my house one night after installing them, got the car up to speed then nailed the brakes and the sparks were flying!!! It was amazing.

[Jean]

Normal... my carbotech's did the same thing.

[Jaxx_]

I've seen it before. pretty normal.

As long as you're not seeing metal shavings from your rotor I think you should be okay. If you're at that point (really aggressive race pads on the street) you need to think about a less aggressive pad. Some pads will do this to get them upto temperature but in the mean time they destroy rotors until they're hot. Great for the track, horrible for the street.

[nrubenstein]

The concern I'd have is that if you're working them really hard, you may be getting close to the fade limit. HP+es fall off a cliff when they overheat. They go from working great to not working at all with essentially no warning.

I love mine, but I would not stress them too hard. For those sorts of circumstances, a weaker pad that gives some warning as it fades is better. (Or a real track pad.)