SimonExtreme
New member
I have now done a fair amount of research into this subject and thought I would share with you what I have found out. This information has come mainly from Pagid themselves and from Circuit Supplies (01525 385888) who I have found very helpful.
I was initially puzzled as to why certain pads were so popular and the answer, when found out, was rather obvious. Pagid have made the OE pads used in various Porsche race series and these are the pads most often recommended because these are the pads which the racers have most experience of (obvious really!!) However, most of us aren't constrained by racing so the choices should be wider.
The use the car is put to should determine the pad required and I have found some interesting options. If I was hillclimbing I would certainly try the Ferodo DS3000. These are used by most of the rally teams and also the Touring cars. The big benefit is very high cof (.62) at all temperatures, including from cold. The downside is they are very noisy, or in the words of the expert, they squeal like a stuck pig!!
For more all round use I am going to try the Pagid RS 15 (grey). They have very good low temp friction and at operating temps just about match the DS3000 but they should be a lot quieter. They outperform the yellows even from cold while they have over 20% more friction than the orange at operating temps.
So, for all this extra performance, what might the problems be. Well, some might be concerned with how long they will last and I would hope that they would be at least as good as the orange, but not as good as the yellow. I suspect they will be about the same on disks as the orange but not as good as the yellow. In addition, there is the extra strain on the car from the better braking so there will be some reduction in the life expectancy of components such as suspension bushes and maybe even wheel bearings. I doubt that it will be material, but it does need to be considered.
Hopefully, the extra heat that must be generated by the increased friction won't be a problem but I am sure this will make it important to have decent fluid (racing blue or similar).
The big question is how these pads will effect brake modulation. From the experience my brother has had with his Caterham, if anything he believes that this has improved with these pads rather than got worse but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
As well as getting the new pads, I am getting some temp sensitive paint and I will give feedback as soon as it is available.
I was initially puzzled as to why certain pads were so popular and the answer, when found out, was rather obvious. Pagid have made the OE pads used in various Porsche race series and these are the pads most often recommended because these are the pads which the racers have most experience of (obvious really!!) However, most of us aren't constrained by racing so the choices should be wider.
The use the car is put to should determine the pad required and I have found some interesting options. If I was hillclimbing I would certainly try the Ferodo DS3000. These are used by most of the rally teams and also the Touring cars. The big benefit is very high cof (.62) at all temperatures, including from cold. The downside is they are very noisy, or in the words of the expert, they squeal like a stuck pig!!
For more all round use I am going to try the Pagid RS 15 (grey). They have very good low temp friction and at operating temps just about match the DS3000 but they should be a lot quieter. They outperform the yellows even from cold while they have over 20% more friction than the orange at operating temps.
So, for all this extra performance, what might the problems be. Well, some might be concerned with how long they will last and I would hope that they would be at least as good as the orange, but not as good as the yellow. I suspect they will be about the same on disks as the orange but not as good as the yellow. In addition, there is the extra strain on the car from the better braking so there will be some reduction in the life expectancy of components such as suspension bushes and maybe even wheel bearings. I doubt that it will be material, but it does need to be considered.
Hopefully, the extra heat that must be generated by the increased friction won't be a problem but I am sure this will make it important to have decent fluid (racing blue or similar).
The big question is how these pads will effect brake modulation. From the experience my brother has had with his Caterham, if anything he believes that this has improved with these pads rather than got worse but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
As well as getting the new pads, I am getting some temp sensitive paint and I will give feedback as soon as it is available.
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