EBC yellow stuff pads & dot 5.1 fluid

[Dr Imran T]

May I ask what people's opinions are of these brake pads? My brother and I have a trackday coming up soon and we are looking for a 'cheapish' set of trackday pads.

I found a set for about £80 on ebay so they seem reasonably priced.

Also, is it worth switching to Dot 5.1 brake fluid too?

Car is Rover Coupe Turbo, lightened a bit so around 1100Kgs or maybe just under if that helps?

Thanks

Dr T

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 17th July 11:27

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 17th July 11:28

[fergus]

Decent fluid will help more than fitting EBC pads. Personally for that money I'd fit Ferodo DS2500, 3000 or 3000+. If you can stretch to it, do for either DS1.11, 2.11 or a pagid race pad.

EBC are marketed at the 'max power' sense of the word 'fast road' and 'track' IMHO. They never seem to release any results of any brake dyno work they may have ever done to prove their claims.....

[Munter]

In terms of fluid you want to look for dry and wet boiling points. Most of the high boiling point fluids are DOT 4. However DOT 5.1 fluids will still work at -40c....

[Jamz]

Munter said:

In terms of fluid you want to look for dry and wet boiling points. Most of the high boiling point fluids are DOT 4. However DOT 5.1 fluids will still work at -40c....

Aye but what track days would you go on when the temp is -40c

[Dr Imran T]

thanks chaps. I have previously used Ds2500 pads but after an open pit lane at croft and some 6+ hrs of abuse they ended up in the bin at the end of the day.

They also cost me £125 so with this in mind, I am looking for a 'cheaper' alternative.

Interesting that you think the fluid will make such a difference. I currently use Dot 4 but I am thinking of going on to Dot 5.1.

Dot 5.1 has a higher boiling point? is it ok for road use as well?

cheers

[teabagger]

yellow stuff are not bad for the price
expect some pad transfer and a little vibration from the brakes that should clear up once the brakes are used on the roads again

[Munter]

Dr Imran T said:

Interesting that you think the fluid will make such a difference. I currently use Dot 4 but I am thinking of going on to Dot 5.1.

Dot 5.1 has a higher boiling point? is it ok for road use as well?

DOT 5.1 fluid is unlikely to have as high a boiling point as Racing DOT 4 fluid. They are just standards and have many more requirements then simply boiling point. If you make a brake fluid thats able to cope with +400degC it'll exceed both top temperatur specs for DOT 5.1 and DOT4. But it'll not satisfy the DOT 5.1 requirement to work at -40 deg C.

So basically if you change from racing DOT 4 to bog standard DOT 5.1 you'll have worse brake fluid for the track. But much better brake fluid if it's -40 outside....

Unless you are driving to Russia/Alaska anytime soon. Buy some racing DOT 4 fluid.

[fergus]

Dr Imran T said:

Interesting that you think the fluid will make such a difference. I currently use Dot 4 but I am thinking of going on to Dot 5.1.

Dot 5.1 has a higher boiling point? is it ok for road use as well?

I've got some AP PRF 660 on my desk in front of me, which is 'only' DOT4, but has wet and dry BPs of 204C and 325C respectively. If you want better performance, you'll need Castrol SRF (again DOT 4), but it's twice the price for only a marginal improvement (wet 270C, dry 310C). The wet isn't important if you flush your fluid regularly.

I know guys who used to race in the rover coupe cup, so I'll see what they recommend.

[Dr Imran T]

great advice chaps - I will have a look at some racing Dot 4 fluid and look into the yellow stuff pads a bit more.

[Dr Imran T]

is this stuff any good?

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?prod...

[fergus]

Dr Imran T said:

is this stuff any good?

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?prod...

s/be fine. Remember that if you brake as per on the road, i.e. gradual application, the brakes will get VERY hot, whereas learning to threshold brake, or at the limit of the ABS initiating, will mean you are braking harder, but for a much shorter period of time, hence giving your brakes more of a chance. Have you got braided hoses on the car?

[Wh00sher]

I`ve used EBC Yellows on my brakes for the last 2 years without any issues. Its a MK2 Golf, weighs 980kg, runs on 888`s and has done over 9,000 track miles in that time. I highly recommend the pads, I`ve done LONG sessions on track with zero fade.

EBC used to have an awful reputation (rightly so IMO), but the Yellow pad compound is different now and they are totally different to before. I`d suggest trying them and letting us know what you think.

I use plain vented disks and have NO any issues with deposit build up and vibration.

I run cheap comma 5.1 fluid and change it every year.

Edited by Wh00sher on Friday 17th July 16:10

[fergus]

Wh00sher said:

I`ve used EBC Yellows on my brakes for the last 2 years without any issues. Its a MK2 Golf, weighs 980kg, runs on 888`s and has done over 9,000 track miles in that time. I highly recommend the pads, I`ve done LONG sessions on track with zero fade.

EBC used to have an awful reputation (rightly so IMO), but the Yellow pad compound is different now and they are totally different to before. I`d suggest trying them and letting us know what you think.

I use plain vented disks and have NO any issues with deposit build up and vibration.

I run cheap comma 5.1 fluid and change it every year.

Edited by Wh00sher on Friday 17th July 16:10

How hot do your brakes get though? Have you used caliper/disc temp strips? In applications where the temps are >550-600 degrees C, I'd like to lay a bet that every product EBC offer would lose all effectiveness. You could also boil spuds in your 5.1 brake fluid!

[Dr Imran T]

fergus said:

Dr Imran T said:

is this stuff any good?

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?prod...

s/be fine. Remember that if you brake as per on the road, i.e. gradual application, the brakes will get VERY hot, whereas learning to threshold brake, or at the limit of the ABS initiating, will mean you are braking harder, but for a much shorter period of time, hence giving your brakes more of a chance. Have you got braided hoses on the car?

no net yet, I though B/H were more for pedal feel and safety?

[fergus]

Dr Imran T said:

I thought B/H were more for pedal feel and safety?

Both, although this is as a function of them not tending to bulge when the fluid gets warm. You have a more consistent pedal over a far wider range of temps.

[Wh00sher]

fergus said:

How hot do your brakes get though? Have you used caliper/disc temp strips? In applications where the temps are >550-600 degrees C, I'd like to lay a bet that every product EBC offer would lose all effectiveness. You could also boil spuds in your 5.1 brake fluid!

Honestly? I dunno. I know it isn`t the heaviest car in the world, so obviously not as hot as some would. They get a good workout though.

All other `track` brake pads would be the same at 550-600 would they ?, or are you just singling out EBC.

Edited by Wh00sher on Saturday 18th July 06:30

[Dr Imran T]

well, I think I will give the EBC 'yellow stuff' pads a go, I currently have standard mintex brake pads on the car at the moment. It seeems some rate the yellow stuff pads whilst others don't - worth a go I believe.

Regarding the brake fluid - can anyone recommend a decent 'racing' Dot 4 fluid that is well priced? and a link where to buy it from?

cheers

Dr T

[Munter]

The stuff I was happiest with so far in the MX5 was this:
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-862-silkolene-pro-race...

Then I switched to this (comes as 1L vs 0.5L) but I dont think the pedal feel is as good:
http://www.k300performance.co.uk/ate-super-blue-ra...

[teabagger]

ATE super blue from eurocarparts as all you need.

about £12 a litre.

[Dr Imran T]

right chaps, thank you all for your input. It has been most useful.

I will change the fluid as suggested and give the yellow stuff pads a go as well.

Cheers.