[W126 Coupe] (W126 coupe) Brake Pads

[Divov]

From: "Divov" <divov at tiscali.co.za>
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Brake Pads
Date: 01 April 2007 10:01 PM

Steve, I thought Ferodo was a US company - or is it British? They certainly are a multi-national.
I have found them to be kind to the rotors. omo.
I am not a brake fundi and can only repeat what my brake shop guy told me. 
When I had the problems with the merc oe pads on the race car I took them to him and he read the data on the back and said these are Tektar linings and explained that the white residue visible on the cross sectional edges was the resin which had melted from over-heating and had bled out and explained that when that happens there is no longer bonding of the friction material which could now be relatively easily scraped/gouged out with a pen knife which he illustrated.
The other bit of wisdom he told me was that with new pads I needed to give them at least 2 heat cycles to fully cure the resin. He said to get the brakes good & hot and then let them cool down completely and then repeat the cycle. Apparently this increases the life of the friction surfaces substantially.
It was interesting to note that on these overheated pads there were shiny patches of silver about 3/8" x 1/8" which looked almost like specks of tin foil. These were bits of the rotor's metal transferred to the friction surface.
Using the Ferodo Platinum Ceramic pads for 2 race meets I have not had the same experience plus I have full brakes for the entire race which makes a delightful change. My rotors still look good.

Writing this post has suddenly let the penny drop and explained a problem I was experiencing with front brakes locking up after I fitted the new pads. Obviously the Tektar pads had ripped and roughened the rotor surface which was then causing the front wheels to lock up far too easily. The problem has gone away by itself probably because with use, the roughness has been smoothed away as the pads bedded in?? I think that's my answer because I had no such problem this week-end....
Alec
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve Nervig 
  To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists 
  Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 6:14 PM
  Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Brake Pads




  On Apr 1, 2007, at 4:36 AM, Divov wrote:


    Hi Clay,
    The standard oe pads from Merc are Textar. They work just fine for road use.
    I found that racing my 84 SEC that they were not up to it....but this is so far removed from even the most vigorous road use!
    I fitted Ferodo Platinum Ceramic and all my racing brake problems vanished - and they are fine for road use. e.g. work fine from cold.
    For squeal problems, I apply a very thin coat of Copperslip to the back of the brake pads when fitting, (NOT the friction side!!! - the back side) The noise is often from the calliper piston contact to the back of the brake pad.
    Regards
    Alec Divov


  Alec, do you know if those Ferodo Ceramics will eat up rotors faster in normal, day to day driving? 


  Does anyone know if and where they are available for MBs here in the states?


  Thanks,
  Steve




------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  The MB Coupes Website!
  W126 SEC Mailing List
  Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20070401/49116330/attachment.html>