Endless Brake Pads Guide: MX72 vs. MX72 PLUS, ME20 and ME22 Explained

Endless Brake Pads Guide: MX72 vs. MX72 PLUS, ME20 and ME22 Explained

Endless is a premium Japanese manufacturer renowned for its high-performance braking solutions. Founded on a philosophy of uncompromising quality, Endless develops and produces all its brake pads, calipers, rotors, and fluids in Japan, with a strong emphasis on motorsport-grade engineering. Their compounds are trusted by racing teams across WRC, Super Taikyu, and endurance championships, yet they remain accessible to serious street and track enthusiasts.

Whether you're chasing lap times or carving through B-roads, Endless pads offer exceptional modulation, heat resistance, and pedal feel, all backed by decades of motorsport R&D.

Endless Brake Pad Compounds Compared

Here’s a breakdown of four of Endless’ most sought-after compounds, including their technical stats, ideal use cases, and how they stack up against each other:

Compound

Friction Coefficient

Temp Range (°C)

Best For

Key Benefits

MX72

0.37–0.47

50–700

Fast road & light track

Low dust/noise, great cold bite, disc-friendly, ideal for dual-purpose builds

MX72 Plus

0.39–0.47

50–750

Street & aggressive track days

Higher initial bite than MX72, better control at high temps

ME22

0.33–0.38

150–800

Track days, endurance racing

Smooth modulation, disc lubrication, consistent bite, great pad life

ME20

0.35–0.40

150–800

Racing & rally

Strong initial bite, high heat stability, water fade resistance


Endless MX72 vs. MX72-PLUS vs. ME20/ME22: Which Compound Do You Need?

Choosing the right Endless pad comes down to how your car is driven and how much heat your braking system generates on track. Endless utilizes advanced ceramic-carbon-metallic matrices, meaning even their track-focused pads maintain impressive disc friendliness and pedal modulation compared to conventional race pads.

Here is how their three most popular performance compounds stack up against each other:

1. Endless MX72 (Fast-Road & Occasional Track)

The MX72 is the global benchmark for a true dual-purpose street/track pad. It was engineered specifically for drivers who want high-performance stopping power on fast-road runs without sacrificing everyday street driveability.

  • Operating Temperature: 50-700c
  • Friction Coefficient: 0.37 - 0.47mu
  • Initial Bite & Pedal Feel: Moderate, smooth initial bite with a very linear pedal feel.
  • Noise & Dust: Low-to-moderate dust and minimal noise under street driving.
  • Rotor Friendliness: Exceptional; extremely gentle on brake discs.
  • Best For: Daily-driven performance cars (e.g., Golf GTI/R, BMW M240i, Fiesta ST) that see fast-road use and the occasional light track day on street tyres.

2. Endless MX72-PLUS (Tuned Fast-Road & Heavy Track Days)

The MX72-PLUS takes the core formulation of the standard MX72 and cranks up the high-temperature control and initial bite. Endless engineered this compound specifically for heavier, modern high-horsepower platforms that overwhelm standard street pads on circuit.

  • Operating Temperature: 50-750c
  • Friction Coefficient: 0.39 - 0.47mu
  • Initial Bite & Pedal Feel: Stronger initial bite than standard MX72, with tighter pedal feedback under severe braking.
  • Heat Management: Superior high-temperature torque retention, making it much more resistant to thermal fade during consecutive hot laps.
  • Best For: Heavy, high-torque, or tuned modern cars (e.g., BMW M3/M4, Audi RS3, GR Yaris, Nissan GT-R) running sticky semi-slick tyres on track days while still being driven to and from the circuit.

3. Endless ME20 / ME22 (Dedicated Circuit & Track Days)

The ME20 (and its slightly higher-torque variant, ME22) are genuine motorsport compounds developed for sprint racing and aggressive track day use. Unlike the MX72 series, these compounds are engineered around high heat and absolute pedal precision under severe thermal loads.

  • Operating Temperature: 150-800c
  • Friction Coefficient: 0.35 - 0.40mu (Linear, high-torque curve)
  • Initial Bite & Pedal Feel: Sharp, immediate bite with legendary pedal modulation—allowing precision trail-braking right up to the threshold of ABS intervention.
  • Noise & Dust: High dust and noticeable low-speed squeal when cold on the street.
  • Best For: Dedicated track-day builds, time attack, and circuit cars running full semi-slicks or slick tyres that spend their lives pushing hard into heavy braking zones.

Summary:

Choosing the right brake pad isn’t just about friction levels, it’s about matching your driving style, vehicle setup, and performance goals. Endless offers a refined range of compounds that cater to everything from daily driving to full-blown motorsport, all with the precision and reliability you'd expect from a top-tier Japanese manufacturer.

Whether you're building a fast road car, prepping for your next track day, or chasing podiums, there's an Endless pad that fits the bill and delivers when it matters most.