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I was one of the Scoobynetters that Andy Freeman of EBC sent free Bluestuff pads out to with a view to reviewing them on here. I agreed to do so, pointing out that they would not be used on the track (Andy said although they are designed primarily for the track were great on road too) and that my review would be "warts 'n' all", regardless of the fact the pads were sent free.
My car is a 2001 WRX, modded to 301/290 with an Andy F Hybrid TD04 turbo and has braided hoses and Dot 5.1 brake fluid.
The previous pads were Pagid 4.2.1s (ie Blacks), so in all honesty I was expecting the EBCs to be a step down, noting that they are quite a bit cheaper. I'm pleased to say that this has proved not to be the case.
These pads have only been out since July 2010 and EBC reckon the fact they are "heat scorched" means that bed in time is minimal, ie they pretty much come "bedded in". Well, I thought that I'd put that to the test and within 5 miles of driving after fitting I went straight onto my favourite local twisty road, the "Lang Whang". EBC were right enough - the pads worked great from the off. What great stopping power! No issues from cold and good initial bite!
I took the car out for a second test along the Lang Whang today. Did enough testing to make my girlfriend say she quite literally felt sick (sorry lass!). Did two "emergency" stops from 70mph to 0mph. Suberb stopping. Didn't get any fade although note I can't vouch for track use.
So, as a summary, my views on EBC Bluestuff pads from July 2010 are:
overall stopping power - superb
fade - none on the road on my test
use when cold - good, don't appear to need warmed up
initial bite - good
brake dust - definately less than average for brakes of this calibre
I'd have to say that I prefer the new Bluestuff to the Pagids (which are also very good) - will be interested to hear the comments of others that have come from this standard of pads.
I had planned to try DS2500s when I finally get an 06 Sti, but now I think it may be getting Bluestuff intead!
My mate is actually testing the redstuff pads, and im pretty sure he is just as shocked at the differance in braking performance from previous versions of the EBC pads!
I have the Bluestuff pads on my Spec C, AP Racing 6 pots on the front and gold Brembo 2 pots on the rear.
I also participated in the test group, the pads were fitted this week. I asked another SWS member to take my car out and "drive it like you stole it" as he would give them a real test.
He took the car out onto one of the best roads in the UK - the A4069 Black Mountains and gave them what for, his thread is below.
Yes I have fitted a set to my work car on friday along with grooved discs , and last week to my sons EVO 7 , and first impressions they seem very good , I have never had any confidence in the EBC pads ever since day one , they seemed to win award after award in the Max power type magazines , and I always wondered why , because I found them shockingly bad.
From what I can gather Andy has recently taken over EBC , and it seems as though they have got there act together and now make a pad worthy of there claims.
The cold bite seems very good , compared to the PF Z rated pads and Ferodo Ds2500's , both these pads seem to be the market leaders when it comes to performance pads , and both seem to need some heat in them before they are at there best , the Bluestuff pads work much better from the off.
Its early days in my car yet as I have only done about 50 miles on the discs , but so far they are very good , my son fitted them onto my 2 piece discs and bells on his EVO which are well bedded in , and I told him to go and give them death and see what they are like , and so far has failed to fade them ! he said they just keep going .
I am waiting for a price list on these for the Subaru ranges , and if the prices are competitive against the others mentioned above I can see I'm going to be selling quite a few sets of these.
So far a big thumbs up from me , and that's the first time I have ever done that with an EBC pad
The previous pads were Pagid 4.2.1s (ie Blacks), so in all honesty I was expecting the EBCs to be a step down, noting that they are quite a bit cheaper. I'm pleased to say that this has proved not to be the case.
Andy
To be fair I did not rate the Pagid Blacks VERY expensive and didn't last very long with a small amount of track use I wouldn't even suggest Pagid for Road use Brembo & DS2500 pads are far better
Quote:
Originally Posted by andythejock01wrx
I had planned to try DS2500s when I finally get an 06 Sti, but now I think it may be getting Bluestuff intead!
On my STi My last set of pads were Yellow DM 1793 and I thought they had a very good cold bite on the road and great on track Most people I took out on Track were amazed how sure footed my cars braking was, even more so when i told them they were EBC pads
Not sure if EBC Blues are a Step up or down from the EBC Yellow DM 1793
Tony
__________________
A Subaru is not just for Christmas, it's for life
We have the new EBC BlueStuff compound fitted to the our modified Porsche 911 Turbo and will have a full review up shortly of these compared to the previous pads which were Pagid RS19s.
Happy to send you a set out to try, if you like them and want to keep them just pay for them if you don't, just send them back. Can't say fairer than that.
Ultimately, at the level you are at with your car you could really benefit from fitting Brembo calipers or better still some AP 6 Pots.
Happy to send you a set out to try, if you like them and want to keep them just pay for them if you don't, just send them back. Can't say fairer than that.
Ultimately, at the level you are at with your car you could really benefit from fitting Brembo calipers or better still some AP 6 Pots.
Happy to send you a set out to try, if you like them and want to keep them just pay for them if you don't, just send them back. Can't say fairer than that.
Ultimately, at the level you are at with your car you could really benefit from fitting Brembo calipers or better still some AP 6 Pots.
Im not sure what im using atm mate the ones i got with my set of Discs from you.
i could benefit from bigger brakes but atm i cant fault the 4pots with good pads they do the job nicely
A different type of pad. If you aren't getting the Kevlar ones to fade, I would stick to them.
There will never be one pad that suits all applications, our Kevlar ones work great for normal to fast road use. Bluestuff are more fast road to track.
There are always compromises when it comes to pads imho.
A different type of pad. If you aren't getting the Kevlar ones to fade, I would stick to them.
There will never be one pad that suits all applications, our Kevlar ones work great for normal to fast road use. Bluestuff are more fast road to track.
There are always compromises when it comes to pads imho.
A different type of pad. If you aren't getting the Kevlar ones to fade, I would stick to them.
There will never be one pad that suits all applications, our Kevlar ones work great for normal to fast road use. Bluestuff are more fast road to track.
There are always compromises when it comes to pads imho.
That's one thing I was going to mention was every now and then if I go for a fast drive they do fade, I would Like to try the bluestuff pads , drop me a pm if you want on a price you can do for me I'f I like them
The previous pads were Pagid 4.2.1s (ie Blacks), so in all honesty I was expecting the EBCs to be a step down, noting that they are quite a bit cheaper. I'm pleased to say that this has proved not to be the case.
Andy, could I ask how much material thickness was left on the Pagid pads when you took them out to compare with the EBC? Were they in as new condition, or old/worn?
EBC Bluestuff v Pagid 4.2.1
I wouldn't even suggest Pagid for Road use 
Brembo & DS2500 pads are far better
Most people I took out on Track were amazed how sure footed my cars braking was, even more so when i told them they were EBC pads 
