Are performance brakes worth the money? Check out this EBC Test.

EBC’s ULTIMATE BRAKE TEST | Ep.1 – VEHICLE & PRODUCT OVERVIEW

EBC Brakes and EBC Brakes Racing have joined forces to bring you the ultimate stock vs aftermarket brake test.

It’s common belief that upgrading to aftermarket pads and rotors on a vehicle improves the braking performance… but how much of a difference does it actually make?

In this series, with the help of some state-of-the-art data logging equipment and a professional racing driver, we set out to answer that very question.

CARS AND PARTS TESTED:
– Ford Fiesta ST (Mk7) – Stock brakes vs EBC Yellowstuff pads and EBC USR rotors
– BMW 1M Coupé – Stock brakes vs EBC Bluestuff pads and stock BMW rotors
– Nissan GT-R (R35) – Stock brakes vs EBC Brakes Racing RP-X pads and two-piece fully-floating rotors

(Please note: In order to ensure a level playing field, all brakes were bedded-in as matched sets and using the same bedding-in process before the test day. To reduce pedal flex and prevent the fluid boiling, all cars were also fitted with EBC’s stainless braided brake lines and bled with EBC’s BF307+ Super DOT 4 racing brake fluid. Finally, all cars were fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, except the Fiesta ST where only Pilot Sport 4 tyres were available).

TEST PROCEDURE:
– The test was split into two parts, a quantitative element and a subjective element.

– For the quantitative assessment we tested each car via the ‘AMS Test’ method – an internationally-recognised severe brake test consisting of 10 emergency stops from 60-0mph with maximum acceleration between the stops. During the test, each vehicle is also carrying two passengers, a full tank of fuel and then loaded with ballast to bring the vehicle up to its Gross Vehicle Weight limit (GVW). The weight of each vehicle during the test was as follows:

– Ford Fiesta ST (Mk7) – 1,575kg (3,472 lbs)
– BMW 1M Coupé – 1,930kg (4,255 lbs)
– Nissan GT-R (R35) – 2,200kg (4,850 lbs)

– A ‘standard’ 10-stop AMS Test is enough to make most brake systems show signs of fade, however EBC opted to additionally put every vehicle through a ‘double’ 20-stop AMS Test, consisting of 20 emergency stops from 60-0mph that would see disc temperatures peaking at over 700°C on some vehicles.

– First up the stock pads & discs were fitted. A ‘standard’ AMS Test was performed, followed by multiple cooling laps until brake rotor temperatures fell back below 100°C, then a ‘double’ AMS Test was performed (for the GT-R only the ‘double’ AMS Test was performed due to the sizing of the brake rotors).

– The EBC pads & discs were then fitted and the above test routine repeated again.

– Sophisticated Racelogic data logging equipment was used to record stopping distance (accurate to 10cm), braking time (s), average in-stop deceleration (g), plus front and rear brake rotor temperatures.

– It’s all very well and good gathering numbers, but another crucial element to performance brakes is the way they ‘feel’ and how that feeling inspires confidence in the driver. Hence the second element of the test was a subjective one, where we put professional BTCC racing driver, Jake Hill, behind the wheel of each car on both brake setups, and let him loose on a closed race circuit – Castle Combe. Jake then gave his honest feedback on how each brake setup performed when pushed to the absolute limit on track, highlighting the differences between the EBC and stock components.

THE SERIES:
– Be sure to follow our social channels as EBC brings you detailed footage from each test in the coming weeks as part of what we believe is the most comprehensive and transparent brake test ever shown to the public…

Check out our video HERE… More to come.