PFC Z rated or Ferodo DS2500

[Mmn710]

Looking for a very good street pad and it sounds like I'm torn between these two. I do maybe 1-2 track days a year with the car. It's a weekend car for me so I don't want to spend the money on track pads, I can deal with a little fade on track since it's rare I make it to an event. My main track car is a spec miata. Curious as to which one to go with now? I thinking I'm leaning more towards the Ferodos unless I'm proven wrong. Thanks.

[Ervin87]

DS2500 is a great pad, can't go wrong with them.

[Mmn710]

Originally Posted by Ervin87

DS2500 is a great pad, can't go wrong with them.

After doing some more research, I ended up ordering the ferodo pads. Gonna write up review on how they did on track when I get back.

[dparm]

DS2500 is fine for the street. It'll handle some light track usage, too.

[HP Autosport]

Z rated is more or a street leaning pad and DS2500 is more of a track leaning pad. Z rated is perfect for street use whereas the DS2500 may produce slightly more dust and some noise(not always though).

[Nihilation]

I've had the Ferodo DS2500 on previous daily drivers that I also tracked and they seemed to fair okay on the track. What pad is the next level up pad in terms of trackability but still similar in street performance? A little more dust is fine but squealing isn't.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

I've had the Ferodo DS2500 on previous daily drivers that I also tracked and they seemed to fair okay on the track. What pad is the next level up pad in terms of trackability but still similar in street performance? A little more dust is fine but squealing isn't.

The DS2500 is pretty much the best you'll find when it comes to a hybrid. They'll work fine for a street car that gets onto the track once in a while. Some here do speak highly of the Endless or Project Mu pads but those are expensive and hard to source for what might be a very negligible change.

My only complaint about the DS2500 is that they do get a little noisy in the colder months, but it's far better than running a track pad on the street (ridiculously loud, chews rotors up, and pads don't last long).

I have run the DS2500 on my old B6 Audi S4 and now on my M3 (StopTech BBK). I've been very happy with it on both cars.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

I've had the Ferodo DS2500 on previous daily drivers that I also tracked and they seemed to fair okay on the track. What pad is the next level up pad in terms of trackability but still similar in street performance? A little more dust is fine but squealing isn't.

There isn't really any in the Ferodo lineup or any others. Hawk HP Plus is as close as they come, but DS2500 is better in terms of track performance and rotor friendliness.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

I've had the Ferodo DS2500 on previous daily drivers that I also tracked and they seemed to fair okay on the track. What pad is the next level up pad in terms of trackability but still similar in street performance? A little more dust is fine but squealing isn't.

The next level up in trackability is probably the DS1.11 but they say you shouldn't use it on the street. When I've left 1.11s in on the street to scrape off transfer layer before swapping back to DS2500 (this is on a BBK) I haven't noticed any problems even though I suspect rotor wear is increased. All that being said the ferodos are a zillion times quieter than the PFC08s on the stock setup.

[Mmn710]

So tried them out this passed Sunday and FADE! I kind of figured that would happen though. They were much better then the oem pads though. These cars are just too fast and heavy for the crap oem brake setup. Car needs a bbk. Eh luckily I barely track this car.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Mmn710

So tried them out this passed Sunday and FADE! I kind of figured that would happen though. They were much better then the oem pads though. These cars are just too fast and heavy for the crap oem brake setup. Car needs a bbk. Eh luckily I barely track this car.

I ran ds2500's on my ap racing bbk. It's not the pads that are fading, it's your rotors.
2500's did fine with the bbk, just didn't last long.

[SYT_Shadow]

If you want more track-oriented pads, the PFC12 I've run this last season is a full endurance track pad which is incredible quiet on the street.

If I did a couple days a season I would just swap. The car works fine without a BBK, but you need proper pads

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Mmn710

So tried them out this passed Sunday and FADE! I kind of figured that would happen though. They were much better then the oem pads though. These cars are just too fast and heavy for the crap oem brake setup. Car needs a bbk. Eh luckily I barely track this car.

If you wait for a sale/promo, you can get the basic StopTech ST40 kit for under $2500. That's what I did.

[becausephilchow]

DS2500 don't really handle track duty well. They're a good street pad though, in my opinion.

I'm about to try the new Hawk HPS 5.0. I used to run HPSs before, and I thought they were great on the street. the 5.0s seem to be an even bigger improvement.

I think if you're going to track though, you have to go for a DTC-70 equivalent or more IMO.

[Ant Man]

Originally Posted by Mmn710

Looking for a very good street pad and it sounds like I'm torn between these two. I do maybe 1-2 track days a year with the car. It's a weekend car for me so I don't want to spend the money on track pads, I can deal with a little fade on track since it's rare I make it to an event. My main track car is a spec miata. Curious as to which one to go with now? I thinking I'm leaning more towards the Ferodos unless I'm proven wrong. Thanks.

I cannot provide a comparison vs PFC Z but the Ferodo DS2500 are great on the road for fast driving. I run them with Essex's AP Racing system and the feel, modulation and performance from cold to hot is excellent.

I recently performed a number of consecutive, emergency brake tests (activating the ABS each time) at high speed 70mph to zero and there was no fade. (At a track - not the road)

Given their temperature range is far higher than the stock pads, using them primarily for fast road use and a few track days is a good fit.

As with most non-race pads, any fool can abuse them at a track day! I find with a little thought and care, it is easy to keep a pad within its operating window by simply incorporating 'cooling' laps with the fast laps.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by becausephilchow

DS2500 don't really handle track duty well. They're a good street pad though, in my opinion.

I'm about to try the new Hawk HPS 5.0. I used to run HPSs before, and I thought they were great on the street. the 5.0s seem to be an even bigger improvement.

I think if you're going to track though, you have to go for a DTC-70 equivalent or more IMO.

My DS2500s do just fine on the track (StopTech ST40 kit up front).

[becausephilchow]

Originally Posted by dparm

My DS2500s do just fine on the track (StopTech ST40 kit up front).

Guess it depends on what track.

I've used DS2500s on a track before, and I don't think they held up too well, just my own personal experience!

Went to Hawk DTCs, can't remember which number, and I thought those were much better.

However, DTCs are awful daily pads, they squeel, they dust, and the initial bite isn't great.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by becausephilchow

Guess it depends on what track.

I've used DS2500s on a track before, and I don't think they held up too well, just my own personal experience!

Went to Hawk DTCs, can't remember which number, and I thought those were much better.

However, DTCs are awful daily pads, they squeel, they dust, and the initial bite isn't great.

I ran them on Autobahn CC's full/combined track.

[jeffkukuruda]

I run the PFC Z pads all around with SS lines, and for a street pad, they are still my absolute favorite... dust is reduced by at least 1/2 and the temp range for fast street driving is much better than stock. I've put them on every BMW i've owned, except my E39 M5 because unfortunately they only make the pad shape for the rear. That being said, I think the Ferodo is more track oriented. I've used the PFC on a very short track with decent success, but if I was on a more traditional track that was fast like COTA or Watkins Glen, they would definitely not make it.

I recommend PFC Z for daily and swapping out the fronts for one of their track pads before heading to the track.

If the Ferodo was as low dust as the PFC, I'd probably do what you're thinking and run them as a good compromise option with Cryo'd rotors and brake cooling kit.

just my opinion of course, many swear by hawk and carbotech etc, but none of them come close to the PFC Z for a street pad.

[kyoo]

bumping this old thread, but did you guys experience any soft pedal swapping from OEM to the ferodos? My calipers are flexing more with my Ferodos than my worn OEM pads, less stiffness in the brake pedal itself. I've swapped back and forth and back again, isolated to something with the pads

[wyatth]

^ Proper bleeding? That is not something I've heard before. I've had DS2500s on a Brembo GT BBK (E46M) and loved the pads, particularly the feel/modulation/consistency.

[kyoo]

Originally Posted by wyatth

^ Proper bleeding? That is not something I've heard before. I've had DS2500s on a Brembo GT BBK (E46M) and loved the pads, particularly the feel/modulation/consistency.

no soft pedal feel with them? i've bedded and bled the brakes, but when I swapped from stock I hadn't touched the fluid. furthermore, i swapped back to the oem pad and the pedal was firm again. i'm not sure what it is, i'm going to try replacing the oem hardware but it's doubtful given putting the oem pads back in made the brake pedal firm again

I also noticed the DS2500s have nubs on the back, the oem pads don't. i'm going to look closely to see if the nubs are making contact with anything - doubt it, it looks like there's space but i'm reaching for answers here