Brake problem and pads

[GT6k]

My brakes don't work as well as they might and i would just like to take some advice. I sprint my car and on courses with a tight first corner I am finding it difficult to stop. I get a fair amount of brakes but i can't lock the wheels until I have done a couple of seconds of braking. The pedal feels very hard with no feel and then the wheels lock without any feedback or change in pressure on the pedal. Pads are just standard and everything is in good condition including new 5.1 fluid.

So do i just need better pads ? I don't want to go for anything to aggressive and obviously they have to work cold, EBC yellow stuff is being used buy some other sprinters.

I also wondered whether it might be a weak servo as i am going from a standing start up to the rev limit then full on the brakes. Vacuum pipe looks OK pedal goes down (a bit slowly) when then the engine is started etc. And the pedal doesnt pump up.

[Twinkam]

Not a Cerbera-specific answer but, if your brakes are fine on subsequent use, I would say it's just a working temperature issue, and you therefore need to experiment with other pad materials. What do your fellow sprinters use?

[CER927]

Ian, my original pads behaved this way. I changed to Ferodo DS 2500, they improved the braking performance, especially from cold. They make the wheels dirty, but I can live with that. Mark

[Tanguero]

The joys of sprinting! I tried all sorts of pads and kept coming back to Mitnex 1144 for cold performance sprinting. Noisy buggers though for road use.

[GT6k]

Thanks for the help.

[jesfirth]

Hi Ian,

mark et-al are right. for that first stop when you are sprinting soft pads are what is needed. I used to use Pagid on my cerb. very good but squealed like anything so not sure I would recommend them.

Something that could also help you. On short sprints where there is the opportunity I also drag the brakes on the way to the start (resting my left foot on them) to get some heat into them for that first bend. On long sprints like Goodwood, Hethel etc I don't drag the brakes because they overheat by the end of the run anyway and I don't want to make that worse. cheers Jes

[Brummmie]

Decent brake pad manufacturers provide torque graphs, so you can make a informed decision.
http://www.cl-brakes.com/en/products/cars/range/

[TailEndCharlie]

Tanguero said:

Mitnex 1144 for cold performance. Noisy buggers though for road use.

Yes I agree with that statement...

[gruffalo]

Pagid rs14 are the best all round pad I have found.

Tried the Ferodo, ok but not a patch on the Pagids.

Also tried the EBC's, they are cheap and you get what you pay for, mine fell apart after a couple of track days didn't like the wet, I will never use them again.

The Pagids also seem to be gentle on disks, stop really well work from cold and do not squeak I get at least 10 track days out of a set of fronts and more on the rears.

Pagids are not cheap but are truly excellent with great feel, longevity, stopping power and quiet.

[GT6k]

Thanks for all advice. It is comforting to know that this is an issue not a fault and also I am pleased that it means that i am pushing the edge of the cars perfomance envelope rather than the more normal simple lack of talent.