From the legendary XB Falcon to the fire-breathing Mustang GTD, Ford has manufactured some of the most powerful cars ever sold in Australia. And their braking systems, whether a combination of drums and discs, or discs all around, have had to be just as powerful.
Tyre and road conditions notwithstanding, a car’s stopping power is linked directly to the quality of its braking system, particularly its brake pads. Everything from the amount of braking pressure that can be safely applied, to the actual distance needed to bring a 2600kg car or truck to a full stop all depend on how well the brake pads perform. Fortunately for Ford owners, when it’s time to change their vehicle’s OE pads, the replacements available to them are designed to deliver even more stopping power than the originals.
Getting the Best Performance With Ford Brake Pads
Let’s be honest: while Ford-powered cars and trucks boast some of the most fabled performance ever seen in Australia, the ability to go fast is a distant second to the ability to stop. That’s why the high-performance front and rear replacement brake pads Ford recommends on a per-vehicle basis are the only ones blue oval owners should trust.
High-performance Ford owners are fortunate to be able to buy replacement brake pads, along with rotors, drums, and callipers for almost any high performance models manufactured over the last half-century. What’s important, however, is for them to be sure that they’re using the correct pads for their vehicle, as well as their intended use.
Differences in engine and transmission combos, factory brake options, and even body trim packages within the same model line can mean curb weight variations of as much as 500kg, thereby requiring heavier-duty pads. And for vehicles with drivetrain, powertrain, or suspension upgrades, the need for even greater stopping force can quickly become apparent. That’s why when it comes to any kind of restoration and replacement brake pad, Ford owners need to be mindful of pad characteristics such as:
- Responsive, high-quality materials. Materials are the single most crucial component in premium quality brake pads, and tough, high temperature/high friction pads made from ceramic/Kevlar carbon fibre provide an effective responsive braking range from cold to 500°C.
- Superior cooling qualities. Heat dissipation is an essential attribute for high performance brake pads, and top Ford brake pads feature grooved surfaces that not only offer greater heat dispersion, but also better water and brake dust removal for increased adhesion.
- Extreme duty backing plates. Fibre-shimmed backing plates provide the high strength, temperature resistant surface that pad mediums are mounted to, and their forged side reliefs help assure Ford owners of low noise, vibration free braking that won’t deform or fail under severe usage.
Chamfered edges for better wear and a smoother transition between the pad and the rotor round out the features that high-performance Ford owners should look for when replacing or upgrading their brake pads. Drivers want as much bite and as little fade as possible from the brakes on heavy, high-performance vehicles, and it begins with the quality of the materials, and ongoing maintenance that goes into taking care of them.
Recognising the Symptoms of Brake Pad Problems
Between their massive six-piston brake callipers, and the unparalleled selection of proprietary hydro-boost, vacuum-assisted, and electronic vacuum-assisted braking systems they’ve used over the years, Ford owners are never at a loss for braking capacity. The fact, however, is that brake system reliability resides with brake pad wear, and the burden of detecting braking problems resides chiefly with the driver. That’s why it’s important for drivers to know how to pinpoint early signs of brake wear.
Whether it’s being transmitted through the drivetrain or the steering system, the signs of excessive brake pad wear are easy to recognise, and they include:
- Noticeably slower or unresponsive braking. A brake pedal that fades when depressed, or is increasingly slow to respond is an unmistakable indication of a brake system that’s struggling with heavily worn brake pads.
- Uncommonly long stopping distances. Although the previously mentioned tyre and road conditions are just as responsible for a car’s stopping distance as its brakes are, the loss of friction due to worn brake pads can result in even longer stopping distances that are dangerously unpredictable.
- Excessive frontend feedback. Undue feedback and vibration, either from the brake pedal or through the steering wheel, are two of the most obvious and persistent indicators of uneven and extreme brake pad wear.
- Unusually noisy braking. Brake pads that emit squeaking, squealing, or grinding noises, especially when pressure is applied, may be worn, unseated, or even corroded, increasing the risk of a loss of pad integrity, or the pad separating from the backing.
- Off-centre tracking, or persistent vehicle pulling. While bad tracking and persistent pulling are symptoms of uneven brake wear that can take place at any speed, they can lead to especially dangerously handling when driving at high speeds.
Together with regular visual inspections, a driver’s ability to quickly identify and interpret changes in their car’s braking are the keys to staying on top of brake pad wear. And as neglecting to replace worn pads with sufficiently rated brake pads Ford recommends can lead to costly drum, rotor, or calliper damages, drivers should insist that all their brakes parts are designed exclusively for their vehicle.
Equally important, however, is for drivers to practise driving habits that help prevent unwanted braking system wear and damages. Today’s high-performance Fords are built with an array of enhanced braking features like ABS, pre- and post-collision braking, and even regenerative braking systems that require the best parts available. That’s why the best way to protect them is by avoiding braking habits that can affect their serviceability.
Three Simple Steps For Extending Brake Pad Life
No matter how high the quality of a car’s brake pads are, they’re still consumable parts that invariably need to be replaced periodically. The best way to avoid excessive, as well as premature brake pad wear and replacement, however, is by exercising a few simple protective practices that can help critically extend their lifespan and their reliability.
- Avoid unnecessarily hard braking. Although high-performance Fords are designed to be driven on the limit, refraining from repeated sudden brake applications goes a long way to extending the life of the vehicle’s brake pads.
- Avoid riding the brake. Not only does riding the brake pedal cause premature pad and rotor wear, the added heat and friction buildup can also lead to a host of braking system failures such as fluid and calliper failure, or electronic malfunction.
- Avoid allowing braking debris buildups. Heavy accumulations of road and brake dust are the equivalent of heat-retaining thermal coatings, and are one of the main causes of longer braking distances and uneven brake pad wear when left unchecked.
Make no mistake: while Ford offers some of the most effective braking systems ever made available on regular production vehicles, they’re still just as prone to excess heat and friction as any other manufacturer’s system. And in a country like Australia where heat and friction-inducing dust are commonplace, abstaining from overly aggressive braking is the best way to protect pads, along with the rest of the braking system.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, Ford’s reputation for building powerful cars and trucks is legendary. And as committed as they are to manufacturing some of the fastest series-production vehicles on the market, it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure that their brake systems, especially their brakes pads are up to the task of safely bringing them to a stop.
When it’s time to upgrade or replace pads, the high-performance front and rear replacement pads Ford recommends are the consumables that owners know they can trust. They’re the best pads for blue oval braking systems.
