Advice tonight please - Rear Brake Pads - Ferodo or EBC?

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:06 pm

Local shop has let me down on my brake pads (or rather THEIR supplier has, due to computer system going down)

Anyway, the guy at the local store is a good guy and has apologised as he can't get the discs he normally uses for me in time.

I'm not actually sure what make, but they look a cheepie make, but anyway........

He says, to avoid me going without he's ordered from EBC pads (I've no idea which type/version they are?)

I then rang around some local stores, and another bike shop also has some EBC pads (again I'm not sure which type) for Â£17

And yet another bike shop has got Ferodo sintered pads for Â£19.

The guy in the 1st store, kinda said, EBC would be ok as it's just for the back (fair comment) but I got the impression he did not like them as much as the ones he normally uses.

Ferodo, I know have been doing brakes for donkey's years, but I guess that does not mean they are nesesarily good, only that I think they are a good brand name.

anyone care to comment.

EBC (depending on type?)

Or Ferodo sintered?

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:10 pm

I'm guessing, the rear Ferodo ones are these?

http://www.intobikes.co.uk/products?vhl ... &x=25&y=13

Looks like these "Platinum" ones, (even though the name makes them sound the best) are a lower spec than the sintered ones above:

http://www.intobikes.co.uk/products?vhl ... 2&x=29&y=3

The guy did say "Sintered" on the phone, so I'm guessing he means the 1st ones I listed.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:17 pm

Prob gonna sound like a silly question.......

The Firestorm rear brake disks are Stainless Steel are they not?

I ask as I ground one up yesterday and I did wonder this, so checked it with a magnet and it was very magnetic (Our Stainless at work is generally non or very little magnetic - but that is medical grade)

And it ground quite easily (which Stainless does not usually)

Just wondering, as those Sintered Ferodo pads say for Stainless disks only.

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:34 pm

Mate, does it really matter is only the rear?
As long as you run decent pads on the front, nothing to worry about.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:47 pm

Beast wrote:Mate, does it really matter is only the rear?
As long as you run decent pads on the front, nothing to worry about.

Perhaps not in the grand scheme of things..........

But just having a nice fresh flat disk I wanted to put some good pads with it to, that work well and also don't shag the disk away after 2000 miles!

I recall some talk about EBC being like compressed Camel Dung, so I thought perhaps not a good thing, but then again, that may have been just 1 "type"

Just didn't want to fit, or spend money on junk.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:03 pm

Reading some reviews, it does indeed seem that quite a few people like the:

EBC FA174HH Sintered Pads, and the specs and tech stuff all sounds good too.

Even tempted to get these for the front also as my Storms front brake has never been THAT impressive. my TDM deff has better front brakes.

Perhaps I'll see if I can get some EBC FA174HH pads tomorrow.

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:12 pm

Sintered pads are more agressive on a rear stock disc as they are made from a lower quality steel. And there is a greater chance that sintered pads will groove and wear the rear disc more.

EBC sintered pads on the front no problems there, but to improve braking, upgrade to braided hoses mate! ;)

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:33 pm

Beast wrote:Sintered pads are more agressive on a rear stock disc as they are made from a lower quality steel. And there is a greater chance that sintered pads will groove and wear the rear disc more.

EBC sintered pads on the front no problems there, but to improve braking, upgrade to braided hoses mate! ;)

Thanks for that.
I did not know that rear dics where made from lower grade metal than front ones.

Oddly, I do have Goodridge (if thats the right spelling) braided fron hoses and the outlet (wrong word!) on the handlbar is the better 2 outlet type (I know I'm using the wrong words here) ;)

But the braking is still not THAT hot, as I say, not as good as my TDM and that's got nothing fancy on the braking dept all stock on that bike.

Perhaps my front pads are poo.
I did a LOT of bleeding with fresh fluid a few months back, but it made zero difference.

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:47 pm

I have Goodridge hoses with two bajos from the res.
Braking is on the button as they say, only need to touch/dab the lever.
And thats running sintered EBC pads, not sure on type.

Only thing i can recommend is when you fit new pads, try to bleed the brakes again, when finished use a cable tie on the brake lever pulled in as far as you can and handle bar. Leave overnight and see if that makes a difference.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:59 pm

Beast wrote:I have Goodridge hoses with two bajos from the res.
Braking is on the button as they say, only need to touch/dab the lever.
And thats running sintered EBC pads, not sure on type.

Only thing i can recommend is when you fit new pads, try to bleed the brakes again, when finished use a cable tie on the brake lever pulled in as far as you can and handle bar. Leave overnight and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for the advice.

don't get me wrong, the brakes stop the bike, it's just quite noticable after riding the storm for a few days, then getting on the TDM, how much sharper the TDM brakes are (and the TDM has had no mods)

Will do your brake lever cable tie idea when I next bleed them.

will have to take a look at the front pads and see how the wear is.
The disks are not bad in themselves (just a tiny lip)

Looks like you are my only hero tonight!!!! ;)

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:34 pm

Tempest wrote:Looks like you are my only hero tonight!!!! ;)

LOL, no probs.

Bonart · Post by **Bonart** » Fri May 11, 2007 1:11 am

Not sure if this helps but me personally would pick the Ferodo. I don't know why but they seem to have a nicer, more progressive feel than others I've tried, including EBC. I know this is not really a issue as it's for the back but just my 2p worth.

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Fri May 11, 2007 8:00 am

Bonart wrote:Not sure if this helps but me personally would pick the Ferodo. I don't know why but they seem to have a nicer, more progressive feel than others I've tried, including EBC. I know this is not really a issue as it's for the back but just my 2p worth.

Thanks for that.

Given the choice I'd go for "Normal" pads on the rear (after reading quite a few thoughts on various forums) But locally it looks like it's going to be "Sintered" or some very low grade EBC ones in the stores near me.

So, perhaps will go Ferodo.

Just didn't want to eat the disc away, however, seeing as the back is not used that much, perhaps that's not much of a issue anyway?

Tempest · Post by **Tempest** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:47 pm

Just and update (for anyone who is not totally bored with this) ;)

Phoned another shop and they also had Ferodo pads, both Sintered and Un-Sintered (the Platinum ones)

Tried to do some more (various forum) searching, and did tend to see quite a few don't put sintered on the back comments.

What finally swung it was some web site that sold custom disks, saying they don't recommend sintered for the rear, as all pads glaze and it needs heat and pressure to unglaze them, the sintered ones need MORE to get a clean surface and this is fine for the front where they work hard, but the rears (in normal use) won't get the work on them needed to make sintered pads bite very well, and they say, put "normal" ones on the back.

Also, being told that once you put sintered on, you can't go back to normal pads again, due to the material embedded in the disc surface from the sintered pads.

Anyway, after reading all this (plus seeing bikers comments) I've just gone with Ferodo Platinum (normal) pads on the back.

Interestingly enough, the guy in the bike shop, said he's recommend anyone with either a Honda or Yamaha, actually fit genuine disks, esp Honda as they are excellent pads, and last for an amazing amount of time.

So, They're fitted (after having a struggle to push the calipur back!) and it's off to the MOT station tomorrow, and get my fresh years worth

Post by **sirch345** » Fri May 11, 2007 7:12 pm

Hi Paul (Tempest),
An interesting thread

glad too hear you got it all sorted in the end

Chris.