Which Brake Pads?

[salthepal]

I need some new front pads. Are EBC Ultimax pads worth getting or can you recommend another brand?

Thanks very much in advance.

Sally

[matt@theforce]

Sally,

I bought & fitted Ferrodo pads earlier this year replacing EBC greenstuff and they do the job as well as the Greenstuff and cheaper on the insurance too

Matthew

[Parts-King]

The standard genuine pads are perfectly acceptable on your model Sally, not too badlt priced either, PM me for details

Kingo

[salthepal]

Sally,

I bought & fitted Ferrodo pads earlier this year replacing EBC greenstuff and they do the job as well as the Greenstuff and cheaper on the insurance too

Matthew

Thanks Matthew - but why are they cheaper on the insurance?

[bothwell_buyer]

Sally,

I bought & fitted Ferrodo pads earlier this year replacing EBC greenstuff and they do the job as well as the Greenstuff and cheaper on the insurance too

Matthew

Thanks Matthew - but why are they cheaper on the insurance?

Maybe he found they didn't work at that roundabout?? :shutit: :shutit:

Mr T pads are fine - not a lot of point putting EBC stuff on for normal driving.

[matt@theforce]

Sally,

I bought & fitted Ferrodo pads earlier this year replacing EBC greenstuff and they do the job as well as the Greenstuff and cheaper on the insurance too

Matthew

Thanks Matthew - but why are they cheaper on the insurance?

Technically EBC are a performance upgrade pad and should be declared to your insurance where-as the Ferrodos etc (depending on compounds) are like for like replacements.

[anchorman]

You usually find with friction material it is "horses for courses".

I am not familiar with this EBC stuff but I can tell you that when working for Ferodo, we were aware of any serious competitor and so were all the vehicle builders and this make never popped up as a concern. Of course there were a few that dabbled in so called performance pads but they were never a serious threat because they didn't have the resource to become a competitor in terms of development or production and distribution. You can tell if a pad manufacturer is a serious one because they will supply vehicle manufacturers and not just the aftermarket. To be honest you could probably make some pads in a reasonable small workshop that you could get approved and sell in the aftermarket and when you haven't got any OE (Original Equipment) pedigree you have to come up with marketing ploys like painting your pads fancy colours and making bold claims about them. In fact most of them would make it through the door at Subaru, Merc or Toyota let alone less glitzy makers lake Ford and Vuaxhall.

You will find as Matt says, the bog standard pads out of a Ferodo or TMD (Textar, Mintex, Don) box will out perform anything they make and that is without getting into fancy price ranges either its a very clever way of getting your money because you pay a premium for something that isnt as universally good and wouldnt get past the welcome mat at Reliants 3 wheeler factory never mind something with 350bhp! If they could they would.

So why the claims and the testimonials from those that swear on their spaniels life that they are proper racing pads?

Well to know that you have to have some pretty fancy test kit that usually involves a bank of dynamometers and a test track that will get some severe use before you even bother knocking on the door of a vehicle manufacturer. Production pads have to meet a huge array of requirements covering performance to various global standards, manufacturing and distribution. You also need to have enough grunt to handle any significant warranty issues if they arise. Look what happened to the little known supplier of accelerator potentiometers that supplied the biggest manufacturer in the world with a £5 part that would spark the biggest lawsuit of modern times had you ever heard of CTS? Theyll be fighting to stay out of prison for the next 20 years.

If on the other hand you sell parts to Derek for his Subaru and make him feel more like a rally driver than his silly exhaust already does you can make them look good through the holes in his Demon Tweeks, and screw him for a set of discs with slots and holes that will convince him he is Iron Man on wheels when in fact they make hardly any measurable difference to the brake performance. The mind is a powerful weapon and yes you can up the friction but probably to a level that takes them out of the adhesion utilisation curves that are set out for safety by EEC legislation. It gives them a feeling of more bite but in doing so probably takes the car out of its design brake force distribution making it unstable and more work for the VSC and ABS in difficult moments. If Derek comes unstuck and ends up tangling with an old English oak you can soon sort out his widow without even affecting the company liability insurance premium.

Brake performance on modern vehicles has now gone beyond the requirements of safety they can easily manage that at TMD and Ferodo and their millions in development budget is dedicated to refinement these days not trying to woo people into buying a set of aftermarket pads.

Having said that, while these organisations can provide you with a set of bog standard production pads that will certainly provide more than enough performance for any Police, Fire or Ambulance vehicle, they have aftermarket divisions that will try and sell you rubbish. If you by Ferodo it must come in a red and silver box that indicates the premium product. They do have a world class manufacturing facility here in Chapel-en-le-Frith with world class manufacturing and development people working there. Your task is to choose the right pads form the right place and that isnt always easy whatever it says on the box. The only real way if Im brutally honest is to buy from the manufacturer and in terms of pads you must stay away from secondary brands they sometimes sell. Kingo only sells good stuff and depending where the vehicle is built that might well be Ferodo or TMD. It will never, never be EBC.

[shcm]

Hey, Anchs you're not allowed a long winding ramble like that, you don't even work in the industry anymore! :P

Not sure what Gregg's would have to say about it either.

Seriously, it's an interesting and informative read! :thumbsup:

[anchorman]

Don't get much time to ramble these days!

[Parts-King]

Somebody mention Greggs? Well known pie supplier of this parish

Kingo

[bothwell_buyer]

Somebody mention Greggs? Well known pie supplier of this parish

Kingo

Greggs make exceedingly good pies; rolls; cakes; etc from a factory just 3 miles away...passing the Tunnocks caramel wafer factory on the way. Neither are known manufacturers of pads although I guess you could make pads by over-cooking their pies. :lol:

[shcm]

Neither are known manufacturers of pads

What you can't even use a couple of Tunnocks wafers as substitute?

What about some irn-bru frozen in the shape of pads? Next you'll be telling me irn-bru isn't actually made from girders.

Oh well, pass us another Teacake then.

[stewyinpagham]

I thought Dereks, Scubi's exhaust was an improvement. Less farty than the OEM one.

[anchorman]

Don't get me started Stewy :ffs:

One thing we are guilty of in the RAV section is wandering off topic. All in good spirit though

Every now and again we wander back on!!!

[crofter]

Someone mention my name?

The nearest I got to a Scubi was just a year ago when the driver didn't like where I was waiting for the :censor: to pass before pulling away and rear ended my beloved MK1 and pushed me ten yards down the road!!

So it would really be appreciated,for the sake of my blood pressure,not to mention the two names in the same breath.

Ithaankyew.

Del

[anchorman]

My Derek is a hyopothetical one

[crofter]

Thats me, I think thats the word the wife uses on me sometimes