View Full Version : Consistent and reliable pads
With taking part in this big brake group buy (will also get cusco stopper and braided goodridge) I will also need to get some better pads for the front, im running blackstuff in the back which is what is recommended for standard rear brakes I believe.
Ferodos I gather are meant to be the best for the front, but IIRC SM goes though a set in one trackday. Especially if im going to spa and nordsleife I dont want to be eating through expensive pads. So what cheaper pads can provide ok cold performance but be last long esp on the track with good enough performance? 120 quid is a bit to much for a throw away item as good a grip as they are.
I think you're into "get what you pay for " territory.
I'm a cheapskate but still use Ferodos.
I wouldn't base your brake usage on SM, I hear he is one of he heaviest brakers around and I've heard rumours he has shares in Ferodo, Mintex and EBC ;)
EDIT : I've used 2500's for over a year now, and do some pretty heavy braking on roads and they are still ok so far.
I wouldn't base your brake usage on SM, I hear he is one of he heaviest brakers around and I've heard rumours he has shares in Ferodo, Mintex and EBC ;)
:nod:
last year i did 3 elvingtons, 2 angleseys, Trax and Japfest on the same set of DS2500s;)
Hmm ok if they can last longer then one day as ive believed lol, i will get some. But im pretty heavy on the brakes too (current discs have massive lip and uneven scorn wear all around, prob last legs lol), although i wont have as good a set up in brake terms I have a very heavy right foot so am worried that I might chew through a set so might get an emergency track use set. My rear blackstuff pads were very cheap do you recon a front set should do as a backup to the ferodo 2.5ks?
Just for your information, the DS pads last twice as long as the cheaper Mintex variety.
Also if you are going on track, take a spare set of rears too, you may find you wax them before the fronts run out
Will do they are fairly cheap for the rears. Was just a little worried about KOing 4-8 120quid pads in the 4-8 track days I hope to do this year. :)
Every pad I've tried on track except the 2500's has suffered from serious fade within several laps :nod: so I gave upon my exploration of alternatives as it just led to disappointment :wack:
The DS2500's last me several trackdays too :thumbs:
Only Kev kills pads so quickly, I dont know anyone else who is so hard on brakes :no:
BreadBin
04-01-2006, 19:22
It must be the weight of his LPG tank :nod:
It must be the weight of his LPG tank :nod:
:no:
you need to passenger with him - the man's braking defies physics:wack:
BreadBin
04-01-2006, 20:00
:no:
you need to passenger with him - the man's braking defies physics:wack:
I've seen the vids - I was amazed how late he brakes in the dry :nod:
I usually get about 3-4 trackdays from a set of DS2500s.
I've got a set of DS3000 to try next - they're sposed to last longer with a higher co-effecient of friction :)
Sounds like Kev needs to try going round corners faster ;)
David_S14
05-01-2006, 08:47
I usually get about 3-4 trackdays from a set of DS2500s.
I've got a set of DS3000 to try next - they're sposed to last longer with a higher co-effecient of friction :)
Sounds like Kev needs to try going round corners faster ;)
The 3000's have a higher metal content so will do higher temps that the 2500's and maintain mu but they are pretty bad at low temps so need a good warm up. They are also tougher on discs than the 2500's so keep an eye out for disc wear/crazing/hot spotting.
Si sadi the same thing about the cold ability of the DS3000 iirc.
The cold bite isn't really a prob for me, so it sounds like they maybe ideal :)
You should buy some sexy 342s, theyd stop you with the 2500s perfectly well :p
I practically set fire to a set of DS2500's at Brands last week after being shown the lines by an instructor:eek:. He was a nutter though:D
Not a hint of brake fade.:thumbs: And they seem fine now, not checked the wear though.
:rolleyes:
You'll be fine with DS2500's I would have thought, I certainly havent found a better pad for trackdays. (Mu Street for the road :thumbs: )
I havent tried the DS3000's, wasnt impressed with the Mu HC's but will try them again as they didnt have the best conditions for testing. R4's were average and Redstuff were utter-utter crap despite other respected trackdayers liking them
for myself, I'm hoping the 310 kit will run cooler and therefore with less pad wear. I also think/hope that the 300ZX rear conversion will mean there is less reliance on the front brakes, but again hasnt had a proper testing since conversion. I've got 310/300rears for the S13 :nod:
As stated, for whatever reason, I get more brake pad wear than anybody else. Reasons for this may be the way I brake, (late and hard), how many fast laps on the trot I do, length of sessions (but I have the same issues on sessioned trackdays).
Fast laps and sessions may sound the same, but in reality I often have a slow lap every 5-6laps otherwise my concentration cant cope with 45min sessions in open-pitlane conditions. In sessioned trackdays I usually can manage 20mins flat out with 5 (2laps) mins warm and 5 mins warm down, or 15mins flat out with 1 lap warm-up and 1 lap depending on 20/30 mins sessions and still manage to keep my concentration.
Im sure your 40 min sessions do indeed add to your spectacular pad destroying abilities ;)
Jezz_S13
05-01-2006, 10:39
Just a thought, but could the fact that Kev's using the 310 kit be also contributing the the pad wear due to the fact that it will run hotter than a bigger disc. Particularly after 40 mins of being a nutter.
The 310 is bigger :confused:
I havent used the 310 kit on track, just got it at the end of the year.
Bigger disks run cooler, I was on 280mm before :nod:
Jezz_S13
05-01-2006, 11:33
The 310 is bigger :confused:
I know it's bigger, but it's not very big is it?
What I'm saying is a disc bigger than 310, 342 for eg would run cooler for longer than the 310, and hence keep pad temps down and aid their longevity.
Jezz_S13
05-01-2006, 11:34
I havent used the 310 kit on track, just got it at the end of the year.
Bigger disks run cooler, I was on 280mm before :nod:
Right, didn't know that.
So read my initial post with 280mm instead of 310, the theory's the same.
I know it's bigger, but it's not very big is it?
What I'm saying is a disc bigger than 310, 342 for eg would run cooler for longer than the 310, and hence keep pad temps down and aid their longevity.
Oh yeah, our 343mm kit doesnt wear pads very quickly.
Yup, and thats the main reason I went to the 310 kit, I would have gone bigger but cant afford multiple sets of 17's or 18's to fit over anything bigger.
I've got plenty of S14 wheels and rubber isnt too expensive for them compared to 17's and 18's. 310mm fronts and 296mm vented rears are about as Big as you can manage ona budget. Theres nothing wrong with the braking on 280mm, its stops very well.
Kev, before I forget, our Shogun seems to have a rev limiter of around 4.5k on gas, is this normal? I know yours switched to fuel at a certain point.
Give me a call :nod: but speak to Caleni first to see what he says.
I used a set of DS3000's at my last trackday, worked very well but it was wet and grip was awfull so I doubt they were taxed much tbh.
As switching pads only takes 10mins I use lower temp pads for street.
I don't feel like I have to compromise either way now :nod:
rallycross
08-01-2006, 16:08
2005 I think we did only 5 track days in our S13 and went through 1 set of Mintex 1144 one set of DS2500 and now on second set of DS2500. Even with backing plates removed and brembo 280mm 10 groove disks fade is still a huge problem.
You must really be pushing on :eek:
Sure its not your fluid?
I'm often abused for my brake-pad destroying abilities, yet dont have fade in 40mins on track, and can destroy a set of DS2500's in a day.
As Kev said, are you sure its not fluid. When you say youre getting fade whats actually happening?
Only Kev kills pads so quickly, I dont know anyone else who is so hard on brakes :no:
Im getting there. At Cadwell I mostly deaded a set of red stuff fronts and totaly killed a set of back stuff rears and rear disks (though this was due to sticking callipers). Ive got pad backs with lips in them :wack: .
Was doing a bit of a Kev though and was out for over 30mins in the last session which is when I had the disks glowing red :smash:
Im quite tempted to try Yellow ones next time.... if they still do them for the S13?
rallycross
15-01-2006, 18:52
We use race spec brake fluid (dot 3?, which has been changed a few times) it still does it when driven hard. Obviously we drive round the fade, but there are 3 people sharing the car so its on the track all day.
As for driving round the problem its no problem, except when you get in a dice with someone you always tend to brake a bit later!
Bayside Blue
15-01-2006, 19:08
I really rated my Endless pads :cool: They never saw track use but some very spirited road use at the stevenburg meet :thumbs: I still have half of them left I thought they were up as they started squeaking a bit. but there was loads of them left.
Saved them for later :wack:
Much better than the :ghey: standard pads I have on there which fade about when i reach the bottom of my road lol :wack:
Will be buying some Ferodos from bren for track use this year and then another set of Endless once there up for my own comparison :thumbs:
BeerBringer
23-01-2006, 13:36
I use Ferrodo Performance DS. They seam to work fine at my powerlevel.
No fade what so ever even after 40 mins of flat out track abuse.
The pads still is only worn 1/4 after 3 trackdays + 3 auto-x events + hard forest road driving.
But thats on stock power and I am not on using semislicks.
set of Endless once there up for my own comparison :thumbs:
I found the Endless acceptable, but not as good in any area as the DS2500.
I doubt you'll go back ;)
Bayside Blue
23-01-2006, 16:42
Will try DS2500 :thumbs: though I have a half worn set of Endless pads I think I will wear out first. :thumbs:
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