It has been a half year since Ferodo DS2500 brake pads upgrade. Lots of variables have changed and also new challenges arose. Aftermath results were not optimal because I was unaware of rear brakes poor performance. In other words, they didn’t brake properly (common cause – rusted and stuck rear callipers).
New rims & tires
First, I want to test all possibilities to determine right solution. You have to test both sides of extreme, otherwise you don’t know what is good or bad !!!
Octavia has got air vents for better air flow through wheel area. There are two restriction for proper air flow – steel rims and brake dust guard acting as yet another thermal shield !
Light rims and wider tires were prerequisite for remap and better handling.
Anti-roll kit
New wheels substantially increased grip but there was still a DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE.
During heavy breaking, on unbalanced family cars, rear end of car dances as drunken people. It is obvious for drivers with racing background but I wanted to test a theory often discussed in endless polemics on various car forums.
During heavy cornering, rear end of car has got excessive lateral body roll. Heavy braking and your rear end of car dances badly. Of course first solution is to adjust braking style for nose heavy cars – braking earlier so that front of car doesn’t nose dive too much. Braking is about balance of car and utilising as much grip on all wheel as possible.
It is fun to slam the brake hard and brake just with front wheels but your brake distance will increase substantially – LESS IS OFTEN MORE !!!
Second solution is rear stabiliser. I’ve purchased and installed Eibach Anti-Roll kit. First, I installed just rear one to see the difference and handling improved significantly.
Front stabiliser doesn’t make any visible difference but it is a prerequisite for upcoming Eibach sport suspension.
ECU remap
My philosophy is simple “suspension/chassis must be faster than engine” – what is point of high performance engine if you crash in first corner.
Oh boy, how many times I heard “tuners” complain about their cars. Well, what do you expect if you remap ECU and still using comfy stock suspension setup!!!
Latest chassis upgrade felt so good that I’ve remapped my ECU.
Worn rear brake pads
Some decent weather showed up in Austrian Alps and I traveled for last days of summer mountaineering season. It suppose to be long distance trip and I noticed worn rear brake pads. I imagined my favourite alpine roads and smell of burnt friction material of pads.
I replaced worn pads with Ferodo Premium pads and tried to get working rusted rear brake callipers. It all looked good but rear left didn’t work very well.
I was tired from my first climb and drove to famous Glocknerstraße where all fun started. Soon, I’ve realised that rear brakes are overheating – especially the left rear one.
To be honest, I didn’t expect rear brakes to brake so good after the initial test.
If I omit the fact that left rear calliper is stuck and overheating the disc even without braking – 450deg of Celsius is simply too much for standard brake pads.
Temperature difference between rear left and right disc was 130 deg of Celsius.
Visions & solutions
- I’m satisfied with front brakes performance for now but it will be at its limits after inevitable suspension upgrade. Once disc would be worn, they will be replaced by drilled Brembo Sport Line disc and upgraded to 312mm diameter.
- rear brakes needs repair and stuck left calliper is reason for upgrade – new callipers and carriers from RS to fit 282mm drilled Brembo Sport Line discs.
- suspension and chassis upgrade – Powerflex bushing and Eibach/Bilstein setup.
- keep working on most limiting factor of every car – the driver. Karting is fun but it is just basics for never ending learning curve. It’s all about a balance and feel of tire angle slip!!! I’ve in my mind, for some time, the KTM X-bow experience at Red-Bull Ring in Austria.
Leave a Reply