Thursday, May 10, 2012

How to Find Out What Size Brake Pads You Need

By Phil Seddon

Brake pads compliment disc brakes used in automotion and other applications. Brake pads are steel backing plates with friction material bound to the surface that touches the brake disc.

Two brake pads are contained in the brake caliper with their friction surfaces facing the brake disc. When the brakes are applied, the caliper squeezes the two pads together into the spinning brake disc to slow/stop the vehicle.

Although almost all road vehicles have only two brake pads per caliper, racing calipers utilise up to six pads, with varying frictional properties for the best performance. Depending on the properties of the material, disc wear rates may differ. Brake pads can be viewed as a consumable car part and need to be replaced regularly (depending on pad material which are of differing wear and performance rates).

EBC Brake Pads

Above is an example of a set of high performance disc brake pads.

There are various different types of brake pads, depending on the use and type of vehicle, from very soft and aggressive (such as racing applications) and harder, more durable and less aggressive compounds. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a specific kind of brake pad for their vehicle, but compounds can be changed. This may depend on personal tastes, driving styles and type of use.

Care must be taken to purchase the appropriate brake pad for your needs. Selecting the wrong pad can result in excessive heat, increased wear, increased brake fade and drastically reduced performance. In cars that suffer from excessive brake fade, the problem can be reduced by purchasing better quality and more aggressive brake pads.

EBC Brakes aftermarket disc pad range is huge and supply to countries all around the world. Using top quality materials EBC develop and produce their own products in Bristol, England - a truly homegrown British company working in the right way to supply customers with the very best value brake products for their cars!

EBC Pads and discs are all ECE R-90 approved or carry ABE and are one of the only upgrade brake ranges in the world approved to new European regulations.

Ultimax Pads. If you need a quality replacement brake pad, look no further than Ultimax. Here we have a beautifully engineered brake compound that lasts well, produces minimal dust and is the perfect choice for the urban or daily driver. Why spend more if all you need is a quality replacement pad. Do not be put off by the relatively low price - these are a quality pad that you can trust.

Redstuff Pads. EBC's flagship street brake pad material for prestige and faster cars above 200BHP, EBC Redstuff sets high standards in braking performance. Redstuff has always been known for producing a low amount of dust, but the latest blend has greatly reduced the phenomenon of pad 'pick up' or disc scoring and reduced dust even further.


Tested at Motor Industries Research Association - MIRA have proven a Redstuff equipped car stopping distance in tests by almost 50 feet from 100 MPH offering a huge 30% brake improvement!

Redstuff are a harder compound that does take longer to fully bed in to achieve its highest levels of performance - up to 1500 miles/2500 Kms use - during which time the odd 'chirp' of brake noise may be heard when starting from cold in damp and cold conditions at very low speeds. Be patient and in a very short space of time the pads warm and really start to deliver.

Yellowstuff Pads. EBC yellow compound is s true all rounder, has high friction from cold, not requiring warm up for street use.

EBC yellows are brake safety tested which means they have to work perfectly from cold at least as good or better than standard pads.

When Yellows see some heat they really show their quality. On Japanese cars built with lower friction rated pads these deliver a full grade higher stopping and on German cars these are about the only aftermarket pads that will match or beat the already good German OEM spec pads - pretty impressive!.

Greenstuff Pads are regarded as a first level brake improvement over standard and can deliver up to 15% improvement in stopping power. However Greenstuff is not a hard and long lasting pad and drivers may find Greenstuff last less than other EBC pad varieties.

It is essential to note that EBC offer THREE RANGES of Greenstuff pads, engineered for each application
  • Greenstuff 2000 series for small sports cars and hot hatches
  • Greenstuff 6000 series for entry level truck and 4x4 upgrade
  • Greenstuff 7000 low dust Truck and 4x4 Brakes

Appreciated by drivers of cars up to 200 BHP year 2009 sees the launch of the 9th version of EBC 2000 series Greenstuff which has once again pushed the performance barriers of organic friction materials. The latest version of Greenstuff is a deliberately softer compound to improve pedal feel on lighter cars at lower speeds. This resulted in a medium dust material with good lifetime and minimal rotor wear.

Bluestuff Pads are a high friction sport and race material that can be used for aggressive street driving and some types of track use. The material has had much success on the track with quality aftermarket calipers.The biggest advantage of EBC Bluestuff NDX is their bite from cold and progressive brake feel and the ability to bring a car to a complete stop.

It would be well worth your while to search for a quality supplier to source you with the appropriate EBC Brake Pad or disc that will perfectly suit your needs and provide you with the very best value braking experience.

Phil Seddon is an aspiring author who specializes in writing short stories and articles on common topics or interesting debates. In this article he is attempting to steer people clear of making the wrong choice in the EBC Brake Pads buying market so that they have a better understanding of what to consider when making their purchase!

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Seddon

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