Ferodo Brake Pads FRP3106

Pad Types - the differences

DS2500 (H)

Although we always recommend using a dedicated race pad for the track, the DS2500 is one of the best hybrid street/track pads on the market. It features the moderately high bite and solid fade resistance of a track pad, with the relatively low dust and noise levels of a street pad. When used as a street pad, it can produce some squeal on certain vehicle platforms. During aggressive driving the DS2500 is known for its flat torque curve, which means as temperatures go up, the response through the brake pedal remains consistent. If you drive aggressively on the street, do some canyon runs, autoX, and maybe some light track duty on street tyres, the DS2500 is tough to beat.

The main characteristics of DS2500:

• Race developed.
• Performs equally well on heavy and light cars.
• Long pad life - 20% less pad wear than competitive products.
• Minimal bedding-in. Supplied ready to use.
• Disc friendly.
• Consistent friction level with changing temperatures and speeds to give optimal pedal modulation.
• High friction level at low temperature (good cold braking).
• High friction level at high temperatures.
• 35% less compressibility than competitive products (gives race pedal feel).
• Less noise for increased driving comfort.
• Suitable for road use as well

Note: When used on high BHP, heavier cars (1300Kg+) on the track with race tyres, pad wear rates tend to be higher than on Ferodo Racing's other pad compounds. Under those conditions, Pay Later Parts would recommend the Ferodo DS1.11 or DSUNO.

DS1.11 (W/WB)

Several brake pads on the market boast 'ceramic' technology. DS1.11 is the real thing as Ferodo Racing's latest endurance race pad offering. It is based upon a chemical family known as Siloxanes. Unlike carbon based materials, siloxane chains do not decompose at high temperatures and so DS1.11 keeps on working up to the highest temperatures a brake pad could ever see. That means it won't fade and has excellent life, the best in the Ferodo Racing range. Moreover the performance remains exactly the same throughout the pad's (long) life. It is formulated to provide a very flat friction profile at a medium/high level of friction. It has slightly less bite at high temps. vs their older DS3000, but doesn't decompose nearly as quickly under extended heavy use on the track. The pad compression is very low, always, and so pedal travel is short and consistent. The DS1.11 is known for its extremely flat torque curve, which means that as temperatures go up, the response through the brake pedal remains consistent. The DS1.11 can be thrashed all day without having it burn up or fade, it's easy on discs, and doesn't have many of the judder or vibration issues that competing products have. If you want an extremely solid, all around race pad that will perform well and last a long time, the DS1.11 is the perfect choice.

The main characteristics of DS1.11 are:

• Heavy duty endurance material
• Applications - touring car, GT, single seat
• Average friction coefficient 0.46 over working temperature range of 200°-700°C
• Long life
• Very kind to discs

Warning: DS1.11 IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ROAD USE

DSUNO (Z/ZB)

Ferodo Racing has made great strides in pad development over the past few years, and DSUNO is their latest offering. For our customers who enjoy the performance of the DS1.11, but just want a little more bite, we recommend the DSUNO. It doesn't wear quite as long as the DS1.11, but it does offer a higher overall mu once it reaches track temperatures. DSUNO is the latest heavy duty racing material from Ferodo Racing. It has replaced DS2.11 and is already race proven in GT, touring car, Formula & rally. The technical objective for the material was to provide a high friction output, whilst improving pad and disc life and to offer excellent modulability throughout the brake event. The latter means the risk of wheel lock is significantly reduced compared to other pads with the same high nominal friction coefficient, without any loss of output. This is the ultimate feel-good pad.

• Heavy duty semi-endurance material
• Applications - touring car, GT, single seat, rally
• Average friction coefficient 0.48 over working temperature range of 200°-700°C
• Very controllable torque output
• Very kind to discs
• Long life

Warning: DSUNO IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ROAD USE

DS3000 (R)

DS3000 as been Ferodo's most popular racing compound since 1998. The predecessor to DS1.11, DS3000 offers high initial bite with excellent feel and release. Popular among rally teams, DS3000 has a relatively low cold temperature threshold while still offering high temp stability for tarmac. DS3000 is very easy on discs at the expense of pad wear.

The main characteristics of DS3000 are:

• Heavy duty all-round material choice
• Short bedding time
• Multiple applications including touring car, rally, Group N, single seat, hill-climb
• Average friction coefficient 0.48 over working temperature range of 200°-650°C

Warning: DS3000 IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ROAD

Note: Stock images used. Actual product may vary.

WHICH FERODO PAD COMPOUND IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Not a day goes by when we aren’t asked for a Ferodo pad recommendation. Choosing the correct compound to meet your needs depends solely on your priorities. How will you use your car, and what are you trying to get out of your pads? In this article we’ll compare how three of Ferodo’s most popular pad compounds stack up against each other across a range of characteristics. While there are other Ferodo compounds available, we have found that the DS2500, DS1.11, and DS3.12 will satisfy the vast majority of driver needs and wants. In other words, one of these three compounds will serve you well, regardless of how you’ll be using your car.

As you read through these comparisons, you should start to get an idea of which one might be the best fit based on your needs and how you plan to use your car. Please keep in mind however, that choosing brake pads is all about tradeoffs. There is no one perfect pad for all situations and usage environments. To make the correct choice, you’ll need to determine which characteristics are most important to you and purchase accordingly. For each quality or characteristic below, the three compounds are ranked in order from best to worst on that characteristic. Since feel is subjective, that category is not ranked in any particular order.

The descriptions below are based on internal and external dynamometer testing, track-testing, and real-world feedback from the many thousands of customers we’ve helped driving a diverse array of racecars, sports cars, and sedans. Our clients range from novice HPDE drivers to lifelong, elite-level professional racers.

Please keep in mind that Ferodo classifies all three of these compounds as race compounds, not road compounds.

FADE RESISTANCE AND MAX OPERATING TEMPERATURE

DS3.12- DS3.12 has the greatest max operating temp and fade resistance of any pad in the Ferodo lineup. On our dyno we took this compound through repeated series of stops over 1600°F with no fade, and we’re unaware of anyone ever fading this compound in real-world use.

DS1.11- DS1.11 also has an outstanding max temp and fade resistance, just not quite as high as 3.12.We’re not aware of anyone who has faded them, and most people differentiate between the DS1.11 and DS3.12 based on feel.

DS2500- Despite its excellent manners, the DS2500 has superior fade resistance vs. any street or sport pad on the market. They are extremely popular for someone who wants to use their car as a multi-purpose vehicle. If you have a heavy, powerful car and want to run race tires on the track, you may find the upper reach of their temperature range. That said, we’ve had cars like the C7 Z06 run the DS2500 in our AP Racing brake kit on street tires at VIR without fade. Many of our AP Racing by Essex Brake Kit customers can get away with running the DS2500 on the track with street tires because our systems run considerably cooler than an OEM brake package.

DURABILITY / WEAR RATE (MILES PER PAD SWAP):

DS3.12- The DS3.12 is an endurance racing pad and is the longest-lasting pad in the Ferodo DS lineup, as proven on both our brake dynamometer, track testing, and client race reports. It’s tough to pinpoint the actual number, but all data suggests something along the lines of 15% longer pad wear than the Ferodo DS1.11. This compound has now had several winning seasons in GT endurance racing around the world. The higher mu of the 3.12 will wear discs a little faster than the DS1.11, but overall, they are still easy on discs vs. other race pad brands when run at track temps.

DS1.11- DS1.11 is also an endurance racing compound. It will last a fairly long time vs. many other pad compounds on the market but does not last quite as long as the DS3.12. They are very gentle on discs at track temperatures when a proper pad transfer layer is maintained.

DS2500- The DS2500 will not last as long as the DS3.12 or DS1.11 when consistently tracked at high temperatures on heavier, more powerful cars, particularly when run on race tires.

FEEL, FEEDBACK, STABILITY, AND TORQUE CURVE (NOT RANKED IN ANY ORDER)

DS3.12- DS3.12 has a considerably higher mu (coefficient of friction) than the other pads in the Ferodo lineup. That means they will feel ‘grabbier’ when the brakes are applied, particularly at track temperatures. Some people find them borderline too grabby on street tires, and ABS will intervene with less leg force than it will with the other Ferodo compounds. Those switching from other Ferodo compounds to the DS3.12 typically need a few sessions to relearn how to apply their brakes. You don’t need to stand on the brake pedal to get a response, and they respond extremely well to proper squeezing or brushing of the brakes to settle the car.The DS3.12 torque curve is table-top flat, which means they respond the same way to pedal inputs at all temperatures. The top drivers love them for this incredible consistency, as they always feel the same throughout an entire lap or race. On the Essex dyno, the DS3.12 showed the flattest, most consistent torque curve of any pad compound from any brand ever tested.

DS1.11- The DS1.11 has a lower mu than the DS3.12 at all temperatures and can be characterized as a moderate mu pad vs. other endurance racing compounds. They require more pedal force than the DS3.12, and they have a slightly declining torque curve as temperatures rise. As they get hotter and you dive deeper into a turn, you may feel like you need to push a little harder on the brake pedal to elicit the same response (which is a feel many drivers actually prefer). Some drivers feel that the DS1.11 is more controllable on street tires than DS3.12 since ABS cannot be activated as easily.

DS2500-DS2500 has a considerably lower mu than the DS3.12 and DS1.11 at all temperatures. They are a better match to street tires than they are with racing tires. While their performance is stable, their torque curve declines more with temperature than the other compounds. Despite the lower torque curve, they are going to feel far better than a pure street pad at any temperature experienced on a racetrack.

MANNERS (COLD BITE, NOISE, DUST, DISC WEAR)

DS2500- Despite technically being a race pad, the DS2500 has very good manners, and are by far the best in this area out of the Ferodo DS line of pads. They have more than ample cold bite and as long as they are bedded-in properly, the 2500 typically doesn’t make any noise. When they do, it is a small squeak or chirp on the tail end of a stop. They are no harsher on discs than typical street pads. They have a moderate amount of dust that would be similar to the typical OEM pad on a European car, but the dust is not harsh and won’t cause any problems with paint finish, etc.

DS3.12- The DS3.12 has low to moderate cold bite. You do need to give yourself a little extra space on the first couple stops when they are cold. As with any higher mu race pads, they will wear your discs significantly faster than a road pad when run cold. They are virtually silent on most applications, making them extremely rare among race pads, which typically squeal like a stuck pig when run cold! The dust is heavier than the DS2500, but most people don’t have any trouble removing it.

DS1.11- For most people the DS1.11 has an unacceptable noise level when driven cold. They squeal and scrape when cold, and even sometimes when hot. Some owners drive them to and from the track, but they definitely aren’t ‘date night’ pads. Cold bite is not especially good, but they aren’t quite as harsh on discs as the DS3.12 when cold due to their lower mu (which falls between the DS2500 and DS3.12). Dust is like most other race pads, but not corrosive or problematic.

Again, keep in mind that performance is relative. These are race

compounds and are not going to perform as quietly or dust-free as a pad

designed explicitly for those purposes

PRICE

DS3.12- The DS3.12 is the culmination of 100+ years of Ferodo pad research and development and is the costliest compound to produce in Ferodo’s lineup. It is leveraged by championship-winning race teams around the globe and carries a premium price that is comparable to other elite-level options.Keep in mind however, that DS3.12 is one of the longest-lasting options available, and your actual track miles per dollar may be considerably higher with the DS3.12 vs. other alternatives. The fact that they can potentially eliminate the need to purchase multiple sets of pads (and spend valuable time constantly swapping them) makes them an even greater bargain.

DS1.11- DS1.11 is produced using many of the same ingredients as DS3.12 and carries a similar price tag.

DS2500- Given its incredible versatility and unique capability as a dual-purpose pad, DS2500 is one of the best bargains in enthusiast brake pads today. It mates manners similar to an aggressive street pad with the fade resistance and track capability of a race pad, at a price resembling many OEM replacement pads. If you assign any type of cost to the number of pad swaps the DS2500 can save you, its remarkable value becomes apparent.

DISCLAIMER AND NOTE ON COPPER

Ferodo Racing Brake Pads are designed and sold for off-road use only. They contain copper, and it is up to the owner to determine their fitness, suitability, and legality for the environment in which they intend to run them.