Front pad recommendations please...

[AMBO]

Have the 4 piston upgrade calipers which I presume are the AP items, although they are branded Caterham. What pads to do people recommend for trackdays and the speed events please and is Redline the default place for them?

Thank you...!

[aerobod - near CYYC]

The standard front pads with the 4 pot calipers take a lot with no problems for track days, the rear pads if you have the single piston calipers are the problem. I run slicks on a fairly brake intensive track and have no problems locking the front tyres at 170km/h no matter how aggressive the braking has been before that in a 30 to 40 minute session.

I've found the upgraded Caterham rear pads still go off and wear at about 5 to 10 times the front pad rates, the Ferodo DS2500s seem to be a better match for the rear with a bit less wear and better bite when hot at the expense of increased brake rotor wear.

[AMBO]

Thank you for that! I will look into standard front pads and have a look at the rear calipers too. I've got good experience with DS2500's, but not on a Caterham.

[Richard Price]

AMBO,

There have been several different revisions of 4 pot calipers. What year is your car?

I'd suggest that the requirement for speed events and track days are quite different. For speed events you really need brakes that work just as well cold as hot, where for track days, you have time to warm the brakes before needing them.

Another factor that needs strong consideration is front to rear bias. A large proportion of our stopping power actually comes from the rear brakes, so "improving" the front stopping power can actually reduce your overall stopping power.

I'd agree with James. The rear brakes are far more of a weakness. The Caterham supplied pads to match the big fronts have a higher coefficient of friction so create more heat, but, with heavy track use, that heat is to much for the pads so they wear very fast.

I'm personally a fan of Mintex 1144s.

 

[AMBO]

Thank you again Richard!

Car is 2001 and as far as I can see the 4 pots were fitted from the start...

Interesting point about the difference between speed and trackday events. I wouldn't have thought of that, at least not yet! I've always tended not to think too much about the back brakes, as long as they were in good working condition (with go faster Clio's). I'll have a look at both the suggestions for rear pads and get some ordered.

Interesting and much appreciated! Hope to meet you all at Anglesey or later in the season...