Combining Different Brake Pads

[BiscottiGelato]

Don't know if this sounds way too crazy.... that's why I'm asking here I guess.

Is it a really bad idea to combine brake pads? I'm thinking of using Ferrodo DS2500 up front and just stock OEM brake pads at the back.

Reason is I track the car, and OEM brake pads just doesn't cut it up front. On the street however, the Ferrodos, esp for the rear brakes just squeals way too much.

Feedback welcomed. Thanks!

[Nugget]

It will work but you just might not get optimal braking performance.
Weirdly my rear DS2500s are very quiet so I leave them in all the time and swap in more agressive track pads in the front.

[TheSt|G]

Poor decision, why not just swap the pads?

[Ginger_Extract]

I'm running EBC Yellowstuff up front, and OEM in the back as my DD/light track (rain,etc.) setup. Biased has moved forward a little bit, no harm done though.

[BiscottiGelato]

Hi Nugget,

You claimed your DS2500 is quiet all around? Mind to describe you install process?

Did you re-use all the original shims from the old OEM pads, front and back?

Did you re-use the harmonizing weights from the old OEM pads for the back?

Did you apply any brake quiets for the install?

Do you track your DS2500 setup?

What I find is that after a set of pads have went through tracking, they will start squealing and get worse overtime. Probably brake quiets melted or something....

Thanks!

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Ian///M

DS2500 will sqeal if in abrasive mode (no transfer layer). If you bed-in every few weeks I found there was no squeal. The squeal is minimal though and easy to live with. The 135i may be different though.

This. I had them in my previous car as well and they were fine as long as you used them hard regularly. After a week our two of slow commuting all the transfer layer wears off and they get noisy.

It's all about the transfer layer.
Read the aticles here

Originally Posted by BiscottiGelato

Hi Nugget,

You claimed your DS2500 is quiet all around? Mind to describe you install process?
Normal

Did you re-use all the original shims from the old OEM pads, front and back?
Hardbrake titanium shims

Did you re-use the harmonizing weights from the old OEM pads for the back?
Nope

Did you apply any brake quiets for the install?
Normal brake grease

Do you track your DS2500 setup?
I did, and wasn't 100% satisfied.

What I find is that after a set of pads have went through tracking, they will start squealing and get worse overtime. Probably brake quiets melted or something....
I found the opposite, they got noisy if I didn't track them or go for very spirited drives.

Thanks!

I only have the DS2500s in the rear of my car right now, but they are nearly finished and I am going to replace them with Endless MX72s.
I have a Stoptech BBK up front and I switch the pads, Stoptech Streets for the street, Endless ME20 for the track. I have no issues with performance or brake bias, the car pulls up hard consistently every lap and the mixed pads don't seemed to have ruined the bias or have done anything weird with ABS.
No funny noises or vibrations.

I put the Endless Pads in a few days either side of a track outing and they clean up the rotors nicely with non aggressive driving.

[amigo]

I use ds 2500 also. Full time. Track 6 times a year. Not much street driving, 30,000 km total on a 2009.
I am quite hard on the brakes at the track. Have stoptech st 60 up front. Stock rear calipers have stoptech aluminum pistons. No stock shims or weights. A LITTLe brake silicone lube.
No noise. I also make sure i use them hard every few weeks,