Brake Pads

Message

mickt1964 · #1 Post by **mickt1964** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:27 pm

Just wondering what brake pads Falco owners use.
Whats good, whats not

Anyone using iron disks? What pad set up do you use.

I have a choice of iron disks or steel so thinking of Performance Friction pads, which is suitable for both kinds of disks

Mick

D-Rider · #2 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:32 pm

When I used the original Falco Brembo 2-Pad callipers I found the standard ones they came with (sintered Toshiba pads) were fine.

Not sure what brand I've got in the Brembo 4-pads

Not used iron disks.

fatboy · #3 Post by **fatboy** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:50 pm

Are you sure they are iron ?
Steel discs have been commonplace for a looonnnnggg time now.
If you use iron discs you may have problems with modern friction pad material failing to grip on cast iron.
Ive had problems in the past with veteran cars that we've rebiult failing the 'mot' on braking effort because modern asbestos free compounds cant grip iron discs and drums like the good ol toxic stuff.
Steel discs will out perform iron ones in every way you could imagine working life, warpage, shattering when you ride thru a puddle ect.
Cast iron is a product of the Victorian era !

mickt1964 · #4 Post by **mickt1964** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:02 pm

Hi Fatboy

Yes the are ductile iron - see link below, I have a set of the sports, bought new a few years ago.
You cannot use pads with metal content

Read the site, I think your understanding of iron disk performance may change.
Iron disks are more pad critical though

www.thestopshop.co.uk/pfm.php

But I have also ordered a set of the Blackshadow disks as a comparison, I have also spoken with Performance Friction today and any of their pads will work with either material, but they are not the cheapest.

fatboy · #5 Post by **fatboy** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:36 pm

Hi mickt,
Be intersting to see how they both perform as one of cast iron's failing points is/was that it simply lacked ductile strength.
Can see the iron having superior heat dissipation qualities but maybe a shorter working life?
If it works for race bikes ect ect !
Might be time for some of us old bastards to modern up a bit

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:42 pm

looks lovingly at his galfer disks and 4 pad brembos :)

davebms · #7 Post by **davebms** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:55 pm

hello all. ive got PFM discs s/s , and ferodo sintergrip road hh (and 4 pad calipers) very impressive , i had some very interesting talks with PFM re pads and discs, there recommendation was, ferodo or sbc .. i used to use ebc , but ferodo are loads better

dave

#8 Post by **mangocrazy** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:21 pm

Hi chaps,

I've always rated PFM's ductile iron discs and have used them on just about every bike I've owned in the last 20 years. They really do improve brake power, feel and modulation. I've got them on the Falco and use Performance Friction 95 pad material, which is excellent stuff.

It's also bloody expensive and quite difficult to get hold of. Normally only dealers who cater for racers tend to stock them. Normal sintered pads are very aggressive and wil shorten the life of a ductile iron rotor quite dramatically. I found this out the hard way... EBC are particularly bad for this.

Ferodo platinum are very good, being an organic pad, and not overly expensive. But PFC 95s are about as good as you can get for DI rotors (IMHO).

And sorry to disillusion you Pete, but nearly all Galfers are made from stainless. Only the very expensive race rotors are iron... PFM are the only vaguely affordable iron rotors on the market, to the best of my knowledge.

Aladinsaneuk · #9 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:39 pm

Lord yes you are right but, they are better than the original disks ;)

And they look different as well

davebms · #10 Post by **davebms** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:33 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:Lord yes you are right but, they are better than the original disks ;)

And they look different as well

different

i presume you you have the wavey things i personally don't like them ... but with my pfm stainless/steel discs they are shed loads better , i think the originals were brembo ? so why did i have to change discs to get good brakes.. i assumed mine had been ruined with some incorrect pad before i got the bike but possibly not !

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:40 pm

davebms wrote:... but with my pfm stainless/steel discs they are shed loads better , i think the originals were brembo ? so why did i have to change discs to get good brakes.. i assumed mine had been ruined with some incorrect pad before i got the bike but possibly not !

Some originals were Brembo and some were Sunstar (the people who also make the Braking Brand).

I have the Brembos that came with the bike on my OZ wheels and I bought a pair of Sunstars for my BST wheels.
Not had a problem with either.

davebms · #12 Post by **davebms** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:33 pm

I have the Brembos that came with the bike on my OZ wheels and I bought a pair of Sunstars for my BST wheels.
Not had a problem with either.

mine were/ are Brenbos (they are in the shed) did not have problems just crap brakes ..

...just curious as Aladinsaneuk has changed his and found an improvement ?[/quote]

blinkey501 · #13 Post by **blinkey501** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:30 am

davebms wrote:
I have the Brembos that came with the bike on my OZ wheels and I bought a pair of Sunstars for my BST wheels.
Not had a problem with either.
mine were/ are Brenbos (they are in the shed) did not have problems just crap brakes .. ...just curious as Aladinsaneuk has changed his and found an improvement ?

I have ridden petes/aladinsanes bike and the brakes are better, definatly an improvement over standard brembo's

Aladinsaneuk · #14 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:00 am

to add and clarify

the standard falco brakes are imho pretty good

BUT

the standard brakes, properly bled become better (Anyone else noticed a inference after following KZMille's guide to bleeding?)

Add to that - changing to pazzo levers made a difference

The galfers look different but also seem to work better - the original brakes are better than i will ever be but.... I am not sure as to the exact make up of the galfer's but i can check - I found the box a couple of days ago !

finally, the 4 pad brembo's also add in a bit more :)

D-Rider · #15 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:37 am

I don't believe the brembo discs (or the sunstars) are bad.
I think it really comes down to the condition of the callipers and the pads.

When I fitted the 4-pad callipers it didn't make a massive difference but that was because I had recently service the 2-pad callipers - which did make a big difference.

More recently I have fitted radial master cylinder/lever units too.

The old 2 pad callipers and brembo disks had more than enough power but the later changes have improved feel.

All in all excellent brakes, whichever combo - as long as they are kept in good nick - particularly with clean pistons.