Bluestuff NDX Formula Racing Brake pads

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EBC Bluestuff NDX Formula Racing Brake Pads

A world first Race pad that can be used on the STREET.

(See also EBC Orangestuff)

Bluestuff NDX is a high friction sport and race material that can be used for aggressive street driving and certain types of track use. The material has had much success on the track with quality aftermarket calipers (Multi piston systems with better release and cooling and larger rotors) and limited success with street based calipers where pad size and caliper drag can challenge any brake material. The biggest advantage of EBC Bluestuff NDX is their bite from cold and progressive brake feel and the ability to bring a car to a complete stop. This has led to the ECE R90 brake safety regulation approval of R90 which is now completed and certificates are being obtained (during July 2011). There are certain older street based caliper systems where even the new Bluestuff will have trouble handling the caliper and slider drag inherent in the systems but this scenario is exactly the same for our competitors. There is NO material that will be PERFECT on the track in all older street based caliper systems.

Deep V grooves help venting and catch dirt, dust and debris. Notice the open granular surface texture after the heat scorch (pre-bedding) process.

Pad shown is a European 4x4 which features balance weights for noise reduction.

Photograph of an NDX Formula Bluestuff Brake Pad close up

The NDX pad material is bonded to the steel backing plates using multiple high strength interlock holes and a unique chemical interlayer which raises shear and bond strength by a factor of five and prevents pad to plate separation. The pads are then baked and ground and feature high volume Vee grooves to catch the inevitable large amount of debris from track use.

Target use is all types of fast and heavier cars in performance and race driving with much enhanced lifetime over our previous Yellowstuff grade pads.

Interlayer diagram of a Blustuff NDX forula brake pad

The EBC chemical interlayer system is used on Bluestuff NDX range pads which being a harder material and for heavy duty race applications require that extra security of bond strength. The effect of the interlayer is to triple shear strength of a common organic brake pad over non interlayer versions.

R and D Manager Steve Payne checks out the first batch of the new Bluestuff NDX material made with a revolutionary new process to produce the highly acclaimed new EBC Bluestuff NDX Race Pads. The new process involves 5 steps never before used in friction materials and sets EBC Brakes firmly in the lead as a provider of brake friction.

Bedding Performance

The curve shows that friction builds quickly during bedding in even after 2-3 stops but in a real world TRACK USE where rotors may not be perfect and calipers not serviced weekly (like our lab dyno ones) the bedding in process with Blue may exhibit 20-25mm contact bands in the centre of the discs after 4-5 laps and on some standard street calipers some vibration. This is simply the pad telling you “ I cannot hold onto the disc at these torques until I am fully bedded in”. If vibration happens you should continue driving whilst BRAKING EARLIER TO BE SAFE until the contact band widens to almost entire disc/rotor sweep at which point the vibration will stop. In street use the torques will not normally be enough to generate vibration during bed in but drive safely for 200 miles gentle brake use to bed in your new brakes and test them to performance in a safe and quiet road environment until you have total confidence that they are bedded. Hitting the brakes too hard too soon can not only shorten pad life it may cause loss of brakes and an accident. Bed brakes in progressively.

cosworth curve 1 - Friction level and Temperature curve during Bed - in
....this is not a final performance indicator.

This curve shows how the brake will feel at differing
brake pressures at the speeds shown on the header line.

This curve shows how the brake will feel at differing
brake pressures at the speeds shown on the header line.

This curve shows how the brake will feel at differing
brake pressures at the speeds shown on the header line.

EBC Bluestuff are heat scorched which helps bedding times but you still need to take care especially on the highway and when using on part worn rotors. Use the brakes gently for 200 miles gradually increasing demand on the brakes in a SAFE ROAD ENVIRONMENT until you feel totally confident and can evaluate their stopping distances in all traffic conditions. Remember its down to you and your bedding in process. If you do feel brake fade a couple of times and even smell the brakes, this is totally normal and once achieved and the brakes allowed to cool, they will have improved a lot.

There are several ways of surface scorching pads and EBC has chosen an infra red lamp tunnel for surface preparation of its pad ranges. The new furnace will be introduced in July 2010 and will quickly start scorching all pads for resale starting with the Bluestuff NDX range.

Brake effect of EBC Bluestuff NDX with and without scorching process

Pre Bedding burns off a lot of the volatile organics in the brake pad surface by passing the pads under an apparatus similar to a “Toaster” after manufacture for a few seconds, this chars the surface and the paint around the pad surface but the result is a major reduction in bed in time which all drivers will appreciate.

Rotor condition

Is important, an off-flat or ribbed and grooved rotor will treble bed in times for street or track use, this is a harder and more durable pad and rotors should be in almost dead flat condition. If you need to have your rotors skimmed we recommend ONLY the very praiseworthy ON CAR brake lathes from pro Cut, which can be found using these links.

Pro Cut Independent Centre's

In the UK Machining per AXLE (two discs) costs between £20 and £50 depending on complexity and is well worth the money

For a list of USA fitting stations with a Pro Cut on car brake lathes click here:

Machining per AXLE costs between $40 and $80 depending on complexity and is well worth the money.

USA Pep Boys Locations equipped with Pro Cut Machines

Pep Boys - America’s No.1 Automotive Service and Repair Chain have upgraded their brake operations to include the Pro-Cut On-Car Brake Lathes at the locations below. The particular machines at Pep Boys are the latest type and are fully capable of machining both plain and slotted or cross drilled brake rotors. Click the link below to find the nearest Pep Boys center for your brake rotor correction on vehicles exhibiting brake judder due to hub misalignment. Pep Boys can also provide full brake service and EBC parts as needed for your brake upgrade by special order at all locations, soon to be in stock at major Pep Boys locations across the United States.

Lifetime

Once bedded NDX is capable of 4-5 race events of 30 lap duration in most cases but ALWAYS inspect pads every 30 laps and discard when friction material down to one eighth of an inch or 3mm to avoid fade. In street use the lifetime is very considerable, 20,000 miles an upwards can be expected even driving hard.

Ducting and caliper drag

Please read this link on caliper drag, brake fluid and the effects in race use: Caliper Drag

When using a street car brake system for racing the mere insertion of a race formula pad does not transform your car into a track beast. Some cooling ducts often need to be added to give the brake system and pads a chance to survive race use.

Using Bluestuff NDX as a Street only pad

It is totally acceptable to do this but please note.

In Europe– The ECE R90 brake safety regulations will require the pads to have R 90 certification and this is NOT available for all cars. For a list of cars that HAVE R 90 approval please check with our tech team on technical@ebcbrakesuk.com. Many cars are now approved These pads however are an excellent brake material for all kinds of street driving, very sharp on the pedal, last well and absolutely no hint of fade.

In the USA and Canada – No such regulations exist that bar the use of a pad that is higher in friction than everything else available for the street, so not a problem to use these on the street. They are powerful and progressive and as we said earlier, bite well from cold and even damp conditions and will probably be rated as the best brakes you have ever used.

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