CL Brakes

CL Brakes racing components for rally, circuit and endurance competition, from the French manufacturer formerly known as Carbone Lorraine. Every pad in the range is sintered metal, available across CL's RC compounds to suit different friction, wear and grip conditions. Product pages list pad width, height, radial depth, thickness and cross references to help you match the right shape to your caliper.

CL Brakes Sintered Racing Brake Pads

CL Brakes make sintered metal brake pads for race cars, motorcycles and mountain bikes. The pads on this page are CL's motorsport range for cars, cross-karts and motorcycles. Here's what to look for:

  • Sintered metal throughout: the entire CL range is made of sintered metal, with a friction material built from powders including bronze, copper, iron, graphite and ceramics
  • NoNiTech label: CL's "No Nickel Technology", meaning every pad is free of nickel, lead and asbestos
  • Low compressibility: a stiff pedal for better feedback and easier modulation
  • Grip in poor conditions: sintered material is designed to work in water, mud and sand, and with strong cold bite
  • Compound-coded: each pad is listed by compound, with an average friction coefficient (µ) so you can compare them directly

Choosing the Right CL Brakes Compound

The right compound depends on more than the car. Grip level, weather and terrain all play a part: a surface with less grip, such as gravel, mud, snow or wet tarmac, may suit a lower-friction compound, while high-grip conditions can make use of more friction. Each compound's average friction coefficient (µ) is listed below, and the compound graphs show how friction behaves across the temperature range.

Compound

Average Friction (µ)

Best For

RC5+

0.40

Lightweight cars and low-grip conditions such as gravel, mud, snow and wet. Low noise, easy on OEM discs, strong cold bite

RC6-E

0.46

Endurance racing, with very low pad and disc wear while keeping friction levels up

RC6

0.50

The all-rounder, from rally to circuit. High, very flat friction level that works in almost every type of race car

RC8

0.60

Very high friction, used in WRC, WTCC, NASCAR and similar top-tier series, with a flat torque curve for good modulation

RC8-R

0.60

The RC8 compound with a grooved backing plate, designed to reduce heat transfer through the piston into the brake fluid

RC9

0.63

Gravel rally. Developed with top rally teams for steady brake feel in dry, damp, wet or muddy conditions. Available in select pad shapes.

RC6 can also be run on one axle with RC8 on the other to adjust brake bias. If you're unsure which compound suits your car and event, get in touch before ordering.

coefficient of friction versus temperature


Matching the Right Pad to Your Caliper

CL pads are listed by shape, so check the dimensions on the product page against your existing pads: pad width, height, radial depth and thickness. Check thickness as well as shape, as it varies between pads. Product pages also include cross references to other brands' part numbers, which is the quickest way to confirm fitment if you know what you're currently running.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the NoNiTech label mean on CL Brakes pads?

NoNiTech stands for No Nickel Technology. Most sintered brake pads use nickel in their friction material, and some studies have linked nickel exposure to skin allergies and other health risks. CL Brakes developed NoNiTech so every pad is free of nickel, lead and asbestos, which reduces exposure to the drivers and mechanics handling them and lowers the environmental impact.

Which CL Brakes compound should I choose?

Start with RC6 if you're unsure; it's CL's all-rounder for rally and circuit. Step up to RC8 for very high friction on powerful cars, or RC9 if you're competing on gravel. RC6-E suits endurance events where wear matters most, and RC5+ suits lighter cars and low-grip surfaces.

Do CL Brakes pads need bedding in?

Yes. CL recommend a short bedding-in procedure to align the friction surfaces and bring the brakes up to operating temperature. Accelerate to around 70 to 80 km/h (roughly 45 to 50 mph), then make about 25 medium-pressure stops down to around 20 to 30 km/h (roughly 12 to 19 mph). You should feel the pedal and braking improve as the surfaces mate. Then leave the car so the brakes cool completely. With new discs, bedding can take longer, so check the disc manufacturer's instructions too. See the full CL Brakes bedding-in procedure for details.

What is the difference between RC8 and RC8-R?

Both use the same RC8 friction material with a 0.60 average friction coefficient. The RC8-R adds a patented grooved backing plate, which reduces contact with the caliper piston and acts as a radiator, cutting the heat transferred through the piston into the brake fluid.

CL Brakes RC8-R sintered racing brake pads