Ferodo DS2500 + Castrol SRF Review

[cooler2442]

I had a track day coming up on Saturday the 11th and needed new pads + fluid before then. I contacted Harold at HP Autowerks and he was able to get me both pads and fluid within a week even though he didn't have any pads left in stock. Now that is what I call customer service.


IMG_0599 by baldadar, on Flickr

I then took my car to Minicorsa in North Hollywood to have the fluid and pads changed. What I learned is that it was a good thing I decided to do the change when I did because my stock pads have stress cracks all over them and that is only after 9000 miles.


IMG_0618 by baldadar, on Flickr


IMG_0615 by baldadar, on Flickr




IMG_0611 by baldadar, on Flickr

After having a tech at Minicorsa bed the pads in for me I was able to drive the car and test it myself. I was very surprised with the upgrade. I truly felt like I had an extra 25-40% braking power due to the pads + fluid. The pedal just felt very firm and linear. While my old stock setup had started becoming a bit mushy and not giving me courage to use it in a track day. Overall I am very impressed with the upgrade and would gladly spend 250$ again to make it feel as if I have 25-40% more braking power. I'm also happy to report that I have not heard my brakes squeal once at all. They have been extremely quite.

[pixelblue]

that's what I am running. top grade stuff. that trunk looks sweet!

[int2str]

A few questions:

1) Do your pads "clunk" a bit if you change direction and brake?
Example: Roll backwards slowly and brake. Now roll forwards gently and brake. Any clunks?

2) Really, no squeal? My pads squeal like an 18 wheeler...
Did you put any grease/anti-squeal on the backing plate?

3) Did you re-use the thin, silver shims from stock pads?

4) Did you only change the fronts?

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by int2str

A few questions:

1) Do your pads "clunk" a bit if you change direction and brake?
Example: Roll backwards slowly and brake. Now roll forwards gently and brake. Any clunks?

2) Really, no squeal? My pads squeal like an 18 wheeler...
Did you put any grease/anti-squeal on the backing plate?

3) Did you re-use the thin, silver shims from stock pads?

4) Did you only change the fronts?

1. I have not heard any kind of clunks that would make me believe it is coming from the brakes. Only kind of noise I get is suspension travel over bumps with my KW V2's compressing. Are the clunks loud / noticable? I ask because my car is a straight pipe and even with the windows up it doesn't sound bad at all due to the great sound proofing of our cars.

2. Yup, no squeal at all. I have no idea about the grease / anti-squeal because a shop did the install for me. But they are a normal maintenance + race shop, so if your squealing with these same pads then they must have done something right for my pads lol. But I will ask them about it for you.

3. Sorry no clue once again since a shop did my install. But I will ask them for you.

4. Yup I only did the fronts so far. Rears will be done later. I also didn't do SS lines either, kept the regular ones.

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by pixelblue

that's what I am running. top grade stuff. that trunk looks sweet!

Thanks. I just wish I had hood pins on so I could have left the SLeK hood on for the track as well.

[Elsabor67]

Question, do you only use these pads for track or do you use them for daily duty + track? Have you tried other pads before these and how would you compare them.

Just curious 'cause i'm running cool carbons right now and even though they have performed flawlessly for me, i'm always looking for something better.

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

Question, do you only use these pads for track or do you use them for daily duty + track? Have you tried other pads before these and how would you compare them.

Just curious 'cause i'm running cool carbons right now and even though they have performed flawlessly for me, i'm always looking for something better.

I daily them and used them for that one track day so far. I have only used the OEM pads so far before these. But I purchased these on a recommendation from friends who have been tracking for many years but don't swap to special track pads and they recommended DS2500's as the best daily + track pads.

[pixelblue]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

Question, do you only use these pads for track or do you use them for daily duty + track? Have you tried other pads before these and how would you compare them.

Just curious 'cause i'm running cool carbons right now and even though they have performed flawlessly for me, i'm always looking for something better.

I was using cool carbons before I switched to ferrodos. I must say I had no complaint with the cool carbons minus some vibration under hard braking. they had no dust and it rarely faded for me on the track. however, the ferrodos performed better on the track with no vibrations or fade and they have a nice progressive feel like the cool carbons. they do squeak sometimes and they are dusty but not as bad as the oe pads. will look at pagid for my next set. apparently they make one for our car

[Elsabor67]

Thanks for the advice guys. I appreciate it. Time to look for more infomation on t he Ferrodo's. I know a friend who has the Pagids on his Audi TT. I can ask him for info on them and will pass along.

[uberschnell]

The DS2500's are the best pads I've run, hands down.

I'm going to be replacing my rears including rotors.

Any feedback on what grade caliper works best with these pads? I think OEM rotors are g3000 grade steel. Wondering how g3500 grade would work with these pads

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

I daily them and used them for that one track day so far. I have only used the OEM pads so far before these. But I purchased these on a recommendation from friends who have been tracking for many years but don't swap to special track pads and they recommended DS2500's as the best daily + track pads.

Keep us posted after couple more track days on these DS2500's.

[Gimlet]

Just ordered a set from Harold yesterday (thanks man!). I've got a track day in about a month and will report back. Cheers -

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by Gimlet

Just ordered a set from Harold yesterday (thanks man!). I've got a track day in about a month and will report back. Cheers -

Sounds good! Which fluid did you decide to go with? I still want to try Motul 660 and ATE later on but so far SRF is keeping up like a champ with no mushy pedal feel. Now I know why it's the most expensive fluid lol.

[pixelblue]

you definitely don't want to go to ATE! not even in the same ball park. RBF 660 is good but SRF wet boiling point can't be beat.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

Sounds good! Which fluid did you decide to go with? I still want to try Motul 660 and ATE later on but so far SRF is keeping up like a champ with no mushy pedal feel. Now I know why it's the most expensive fluid lol.

ATE is going backwards in performance.

[1&done]

Originally Posted by int2str

A few questions:

1) Do your pads "clunk" a bit if you change direction and brake?
Example: Roll backwards slowly and brake. Now roll forwards gently and brake. Any clunks?

2) Really, no squeal? My pads squeal like an 18 wheeler...
Did you put any grease/anti-squeal on the backing plate?

3) Did you re-use the thin, silver shims from stock pads?

4) Did you only change the fronts?

I get clunking with my carbotech race pads, they squeal like a stuck pig too and from the track, however they perform flawlessly. I may switch to these for the street & autoX and dump the OEM pads

[Gimlet]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

Sounds good! Which fluid did you decide to go with? I still want to try Motul 660 and ATE later on but so far SRF is keeping up like a champ with no mushy pedal feel. Now I know why it's the most expensive fluid lol.

I went with the Motul -

[vantagesc]

So how did they do at Buttonwillow?

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by vantagesc

So how did they do at Buttonwillow?

Much better than OEM pads + fluid did at Big Willow. I definitely felt the OEM Pads + Fluid give out after 2 sessions at Big Willow but at Buttonwillow the setup didn't become mushy or give out. But I feel like I definitely pushed it harder at Big Willow since the track was less technical and more straight aways while at Buttonwillow I was pretty much a complete newb and still don't have the line down lol.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

Much better than OEM pads + fluid did at Big Willow. I definitely felt the OEM Pads + Fluid give out after 2 sessions at Big Willow but at Buttonwillow the setup didn't become mushy or give out. But I feel like I definitely pushed it harder at Big Willow since the track was less technical and more straight aways while at Buttonwillow I was pretty much a complete newb and still don't have the line down lol.

PM me for a free brake mod!

[JWC]

one stupid question here. Isn't dealer replace the new pads for us when they are worn out?
so you are saying OEM pads is not good enough? I am thinking to change the Motul 600 brake fluid and upgrade the stainless steel brake line for Buttonwillow.

[Rikx1M]

I did Ferodo 2500 pads, SS lines and Dot 5 fluids...and that combination worked awesome during my Nurburgring laps where I braked later than faster cars, allowing me to keep up with them.