Uprated pads on stock discs/calipers?

saitrix

saitrix

saitrix

Soldato
Joined
2 Jun 2003
Posts
8,950
Location
Nottingham
Hi,

I wanted peoples opinion of using uprated pads with stock discs and calipers. The discs I have a standard but new enough, then the calipers had a full refurb only a few months ago so those two bits are in good condition. The pads I think are oem standard ones. Well the braking is not the best with the Dolomite, 220mm solid discs don't often give the best braking. :p

So, what have people found when they have fitted uprated pads like greenstuff ones for example.
 
Pads are usually the weakest part of a stock setup imho. Maybe that's not the best choice of words, by that I mean they tend to make the most difference without spending silly money. Get some braided hoses along with them if you can, this improves things no end imho.
 
Ev0 said:
Pads are usually the weakest part of a stock setup imho. Maybe that's not the best choice of words, by that I mean they tend to make the most difference without spending silly money. Get some braided hoses along with them if you can, this improves things no end imho.
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Think I already have braided hoses, need to check, but I am sure I saw some when I was changing the calipers.

Hope better pads will get rid of some of the fade I get.
 
Pads can definalty help fade, as better pads will be designed to cope with higher temperatures. You may need to use dot5 brake fluid as it has a higher boiling point, which will also help prevent fade. But changing from dot4 to dot5 can be a pain, needs the system to be completely flushed out as they are 'incompatible' with each other.

Apparently there is a dot5.1 fluid, which is glycol based just like dot3 and dot4, but has similar performance to dot5 silicone based fluid... Certainly worth investigating.
 
Yeah you can get 5.1 which is compatible with 3 and 4. But Surely no need to goto 5.1 for the sort of system I have. Afterall I don't even have vented discs. :p
 
I've got high metal content kevlar pads on the Anglia. Stock solid Capri discs and twin pot calipers. It used to stop exceptionally well. Worked well when cold too.
 
saitrix said:
Hi,

I wanted peoples opinion of using uprated pads with stock discs and calipers..
Click to expand...

Warped my crappy standard disks first time I went on track. £115 set of front 'race' oriented pads vs 8 year old nasty disks = just no. Uprated disks and 1.5 sets of these pads + many track days later and the new disks are still fine.

Edit: They gave good stopping power until they warped the disk. As said above and as I've heard many times elsewhere, its the pads that seem to provide the most gain. I think uprated disks just survive better. Many a thread on whether grooved + holed are worth it. No idea myself on that.
 
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Have run a racing car in the past where you had to use the standard disks on front, and standard drums on the back, but you're allowed competition liners.

Worked fine, only cooked the system once at Silverstone, arrived at copse with no brakes.

That was using competition fluid tho, which you SHOULD NOT use on a road car.
 
I think the plan will be Mintex or Ferado heavy duty pads. The discs are new enough so should be fine with it, plus also get braided hoses.
 
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