Brake Pads

[Slagathore]

I've noticed that some manufacturers state their pads are for track/race use only.

Does that make them illegal to use on the road, or is it just not recommended to use them on the road?

I want as much stopping power on track, but I still have to drive to the track?

Was looking at maybe Ferodo DS3000s or Wilwood Polymatrix range of pads?

A lot of them state that they work from low temperatures, so should be OK to drive on the road?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[bulldog5046]

I believe its a case of not being certified for road use.

my RS29's are are track use only but the cold stopping power is still substantial and sufficent for the MOT...

Might be an issue if you caused a big enough accident on the road though?

[tvrolet]

Slagathore said:

I've noticed that some manufacturers state their pads are for track/race use only.

Does that make them illegal to use on the road, or is it just not recommended to use them on the road?

I want as much stopping power on track, but I still have to drive to the track?

Was looking at maybe Ferodo DS3000s or Wilwood Polymatrix range of pads?

A lot of them state that they work from low temperatures, so should be OK to drive on the road?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Recommendation - nothing 'illegal', although if it's a road car the may fall foul of the insurers 'non modified' clause if they're not on the recommended list...but I guess no more so that running non-recommended tyres.

Re DS3000s though - I tried loads of pads years ago when I started tracking a Cerbera, and ended up running DS3000s for road and track. Of all the pads I tried the felt the best, had awesome stopping power when hot and worked just fine cold, to the extent that there's probably postings by me from years ago recommending them.

BUT, I was forever getting brake judder and getting the disks skimmed with a regular task. I always put it down to 'they all do that sir', as TVRs are kind of renowned for getting brake judder.

But a couple of years back I was talking to a brake guru and he blamed the DS3000s. An older style of compound apparently that over time will build up resedue on the disk and give a judder. He recommended Mintex F2R (also a race-only pad) and since switching the judder has never come back. They need more pressure to give the same [hot] stopping as the DS3000 (at least I think so), but no fade whatever the temperature, they work when cold - and there's no judder despite loads of miles, mainly on track And these do get some real punishment, my 'local' track is Knockhill, which is renowned as a brake killer.

[Slagathore]

Thanks for the replies.

Gone for the Wilwood Polymatrix E ones in the end. Should be good for track and road use.

I wanted to get everyhing from the same supplier, so was easier to get the Polymatrix E ones instead of the DS300s.

Just hope they're better than the Mintex ones that are on their at the moment. Nothing wrong with them as it is, but could do with a bit more inital bite.

Thanks again!