Pads are probably the second most important factor in determining your braking distance, next to tires.
If you want braking distance similar to OEM with maybe a little more bite, try the Axxis Metal Masters. For extra bite, use the Ultimates or Hawk HPS pads.
You'll notice a lot more dust with pads like Ultimates/HPS/HP+, but that just comes with the territory, unfortunately. The other downside to the more aggressive pads is that they need to heat up a little more before they work at full effectiveness. That's why I recommend the Hawk HPS rather than HP+, HP+ is really not in tune with street driving.
For much improved braking distance with not too much out of pocket, get a set of stainless steel brake lines, change your brake fluid, and get some Axxis Ultimate or Hawk HPS pads. Obviously, change rotors if needed. Brembo blanks would be my suggestion there.
Originally posted by bbbradley
Large rotors are good for preventing brake fade from heat build-up not much good for decreasing stopping distances.
Actually, given that torque = force times distance, the farther your caliper is from your axle, the more torque it will be able to create. Which is why you don't see brake pad size increase much when you move to larger rotors... you are really only looking for distance from the axis of rotation and, like you said, less brake fade.