Hawk Performance Brakes for the Lexus IS-F: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Hawk makes four front pad compounds for the Lexus IS F, all in the same HB616 pad shape at .607 inch thickness: Performance Ceramic (HB616Z.607), HPS (HB616F.607), HP+ (HB616N.607) and HPX (HB616C.607). They all drop into the factory Brembo six-piston front calipers. For a daily-driven IS F, pick Performance Ceramic or HPS; step up to HP+ only if you autocross or do track days, and treat HPX as a competition pad.

How the IS F front brakes work and why the pad choice matters

The IS F is not a regular IS with a bigger engine. Lexus fitted it with a Brembo system: 14.2-inch cross-drilled front rotors clamped by six-piston aluminum calipers, and 13.6-inch cross-drilled rear rotors with two-piston calipers. That hardware sits behind a 5.0-liter V8 rated at over 400 horsepower, so the front pads do most of the work of hauling a heavy, fast sedan down from speed.

Because the caliper is a fixed six-piston unit, the pad is a large, specific shape. Hawk catalogs it as the HB616 shape, and the same pad shape is used on several other Brembo-equipped performance cars. That matters for you in one way: every Hawk HB616 pad at .607 thickness fits the IS F front caliper, and the only real decision is compound.

All four Hawk compounds below are designed for iron rotors. The IS F uses iron rotors from the factory, so there is no compatibility problem, but do not run these pads on carbon ceramic discs.

The four Hawk compounds for the IS F compared

Temperature ranges are Hawk's published figures for each compound. Hawk does not publish a numeric range on its Performance Ceramic pad page; it describes it as a street compound.

Performance Ceramic (HB616Z.607)

This is the pad most IS F owners should buy for a car that sees commuting and weekend driving. Hawk describes it as extremely quiet with ultra-low dust, stable friction output and gentle on rotors for longer pad life. If the factory pads left your wheels black with dust, this is the fix. Shop the Hawk Performance Ceramic front pads for the Lexus IS F.

HPS (HB616F.607)

HPS is Hawk's classic high performance street pad. Hawk rates it at 20 to 40 percent more stopping power and higher fade resistance than most standard replacement pads, with less dust. It works from cold, with an optimal range starting at 100 F, which is why it suits a street car driven hard on back roads. Expect more bite than the ceramic pad and somewhat more dust. See the Hawk HPS front brake pads for the IS F.

HP+ (HB616N.607)

HP+ is aimed at autocross and entry-level track days. Its optimal window of 300 to 600 F means it is happiest when warm; on a cold morning commute it will not feel its best, and like most aggressive compounds it is noisier and dustier than a street pad. It is a good choice if your IS F does a handful of track days a year and you want one pad for both. Details: Hawk HP+ front brake pads for the Lexus IS F.

HPX (HB616C.607)

Hawk lists HPX among its motorsports compounds and engineers it for autocross braking, with clean modulation and a predictable initial bite. Treat it as a competition pad: swap it in for events, not for daily driving. Here are the Hawk HPX motorsports front pads for the IS F.

Which years and which axle these pads fit

All four pads above are front pads. Our listings are fitment-verified for the 2008 and 2009 Lexus IS F. Hawk's own application list for the HB616 Performance Ceramic pad also includes later IS F model years, because the car kept the same Brembo front caliper. If your IS F is a later car, compare the pad shape against your existing pads before ordering; the HB616 outline is distinctive and easy to match.

These pads do not fit the regular IS 250 or IS 350. Those cars use smaller brakes and a different pad shape. If you are shopping for one of them, start with our brake pads collection.

The IS F rear axle uses its own two-piston caliper and a different pad. Replacing fronts only is normal, since the front axle wears pads faster, but inspect the rears whenever the wheels are off.

Signs your IS F needs front pads

• Squeal from the wear indicator while driving without the brakes applied, which usually means the pad is near its minimum.
• Grinding or scraping, which means the backing plate may be touching the rotor. Stop driving and inspect; rotor damage follows quickly.
• Longer stopping distances or a softer pedal after hard use, which points to glazed pads, overheated fluid, or both.
• Vibration under braking, which is usually uneven pad deposits on the rotor or a rotor that has worn unevenly, not a pad problem alone.
• Cracks spreading from the cross-drilled holes. Fine hairline marks can be normal on drilled rotors, but cracks that run between holes or reach the edge mean the rotor should be replaced.

What to replace at the same time and how hard the job is

Pads on the IS F front are a straightforward job for a competent home mechanic. The fixed six-piston caliper stays bolted to the car; you remove the pad retaining hardware, push the pistons back evenly, and slide the pads out. Push pistons back gently and watch the master cylinder reservoir so it does not overflow.

While you are in there:

• Rotors: measure them against the minimum thickness stamped on the rotor or listed in the factory service manual. New pads on worn or grooved rotors will not bed in properly. Browse replacement brake rotors if yours are below spec.
• Hardware and lube: Hawk recommends a thin layer of anti-squeal brake lube on the back of the pad. Replace worn clips and pins; our brake hardware kits cover common needs.
• Brake fluid: if you are moving to HP+ or HPX and driving on track, fresh high-temperature fluid matters as much as the pad. Use the fluid type specified on your reservoir cap.

Torque the caliper and wheel fasteners to the values in the factory service manual.

Bedding in Hawk pads on the IS F

Bedding lays down a transfer film of pad material on the rotor, so the pad rubs against its own material instead of bare iron. Skip it and you get noise, vibration and weaker stops. Hawk's street pad procedure:

1. If the rotors are not being resurfaced, scuff them with 130-grit sandpaper using moderate pressure, then wash with soap and water so no oil, grease or old pad material remains.
2. Make 6 to 10 moderate stops from 30 to 35 mph.
3. Make 2 to 3 hard stops from 40 to 45 mph.
4. Do not drag the brakes, and do not sit with the pedal held down on hot rotors.
5. Allow about 15 minutes for everything to cool.

Hawk notes new pads can take up to 200 miles to fully bed. HPX and other motorsport pads use a separate track-speed procedure described on Hawk's how-to page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hawk pads fit the stock Brembo calipers on the Lexus IS F?

Yes. The HB616 pad shape at .607 thickness is made for the IS F front six-piston Brembo caliper. No caliper or bracket changes are needed.

Which Hawk pad is best for a daily-driven IS F?

Performance Ceramic if you want quiet, clean wheels; HPS if you want noticeably more bite and fade resistance and can live with a bit more dust.

Can I use HP+ pads on the street?

You can, but HP+ is designed for autocross and track days with an optimal range of 300 to 600 F. In cold street driving it is noisier and dustier than a street compound and does not work at its best.

Do these pads fit an IS 350 or IS 250?

No. The regular IS models use smaller brakes and a different pad. Among Lexus models, the HB616 pads are for the IS F.

Do I need new rotors with new Hawk pads?

Only if the rotors are below minimum thickness, grooved, cracked between drilled holes, or causing vibration. Otherwise scuff them with 130-grit paper and clean them before bedding the new pads.

Sources

1. Hawk Performance - HB616Z.607 Performance Ceramic pad - HB616 pad shape, .607 thickness, IS F application, ceramic features, iron rotors only
2. Hawk Performance - HPS compound - HPS 100-700 F operating, 100-500 F optimal, 20-40 percent more stopping power claim
3. Hawk Performance - HP+ compound - HP+ 100-800 F operating, 300-600 F optimal, autocross focus
4. Hawk Performance - Motorsports compounds - HPX 100-700 F operating, 100-600 F optimal, autocross competition use
5. Hawk Performance - Break-in procedures - Street and motorsport bed-in steps, 130-grit rotor prep, up to 200 miles to fully bed
6. Hawk Performance - FAQs - Anti-squeal lube on pad backs, cross-drilled and slotted rotor compatibility
7. ConceptCarz - Lexus IS F specifications - 14.2-inch cross-drilled front rotors, six-piston aluminum front calipers, 13.6-inch rear rotors with two-piston calipers, Brembo, 5.0L V8 over 400 hp