Caterham CSR - brake pad recommendations

[NecronomiconJules]

Fellow Seveners,

 

The subject has probably been argued many times over, please bear with me, I was not able to find it.

 

So this is about upgrading the stock brake pads - AP Racing DS25HP front and Delphi something rear - on my CSR. Nothing wrong with them - I simply want more responsiveness and initial bite.  

 

My usage is spirited street/canyon carving, no track or racing. Objectives: work from cold, provide great bite, good modulation, and keep the squealing to a minimum. Talk about squaring the circle. 

 

The candidate brands/compounds shortlisted from countless hours trawling UK Caterham forums:

- Ferodo DS2500

- Ferodo DS3000

- Pagid RSL2 (f) / RS42 (r)

- PFC 01 (f) / 11 (r)

 

Comments and suggestions welcome. Thanks,

Eric 

[Croc]

 

Rather than change pads I will suggest something else.  You are probably running the original standard master cylinder that Caterham supplied.  Upgrade it to the Caterham race master cylinder.  Try it out then see if your pads need changing.    

[NecronomiconJules]

11 hours ago, Croc said:

 

Rather than change pads I will suggest something else.  You are probably running the original standard master cylinder that Caterham supplied.  Upgrade it to the Caterham race master cylinder.  Try it out then see if your pads need changing.    

 

Thanks Mike. I attach what I have - I think it's standard for LHD CSRs. The race master cylinder doesn't seem easy to source. Caterham Parts doesn't list it and Bruce is all out. 

 

What is the effect of race vs standard master cylinder? 

 

[Croc]

Upgraded master cylinder changes pedal feel - firms it up.  improves it along the line of what you are looking for.  I suspect some of your feel concerns are not going to be changed by the brake pads alone.  

 

Try to get in touch with Luke at Team Leos Motorsport in the UK.  Very knowledgeable guy but very hard to track down.   He has a business supporting racing Caterhams including some race CSRs.  I use his upgraded rear shock mounts after the Caterham ones showed signs of failing.  

 

 

[NecronomiconJules]

Interestingly I bought the same rear "cievis" shock mounts from Team Leos. And yes, Luke is so incommunicado that Jack Webb - I got my Quantum shocks from him - had to place the request on my behalf.

 

I hear what you're saying RE: feel - sounds promising. But lacking visual clue I can see the rabbit hole: what if the uprated master cylinder outlets don't match the stock's; how about a brake proportioning valve? etc. I'd rather try pads first, if only to keep variables contained. 

 

Jack was the one who suggested Ferodo DS2500s. If that makes a noticeable difference to the stock AP pads I'll be happy.  

 

What are you using on your roadwise 7?  

[Croc]

20 hours ago, NecronomiconJules said:

And yes, Luke is so incommunicado that Jack Webb ....

 

I ended up talking to Luke's mother and getting my order that way.  He does not ignore you then!  

 

20 hours ago, NecronomiconJules said:

What are you using on your roadwise 7?  

 

My CSR runs the original pads it came with from Caterham 15 years ago.  No idea what they are but they work for me on track and road.  I drive so many different cars on track I can adapt myself to the car and make it work.  The softness in the initial bite is master cylinder related and not pad related.  Changing pads is band aid on the original problem.  

 

You can get a brake proportioning valve to work on a CSR as I have seen it done but it will need the race master cylinder like I recommended.