Green Stuff Brake Pads for Standard Discs

Hello.

"I've been using Green Stuff brake pads on the front of my Golf 4 for about six months. Initially, I used them with Zimmermann slotted brake discs, but they wore out after about 3,000 km. Now I'm using Tarox SJ discs, which consistently turn black, green, and blue. I'm also noticing a slight pulsation when braking with the Tarox discs. I was told that the Tarox discs are perfectly compatible with Red Stuff pads, but that makes me a bit uneasy. Sometimes, during harder braking, the brakes become quite loud (whining). I think this is probably due to the high heat generated by the Green Stuff pads. I'm considering switching to Black Stuff pads because the dust reduction offered by EBC pads is really impressive."

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"MFG" is an abbreviation for "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," which means "Sincerely" or "Best regards" in English.

Hello, I don't have any experience with Greenstuff brake pads. I specifically avoided buying them because I figured that better braking performance, which other pads would provide, would inevitably lead to increased wear on the original rotors.

I've been using Blackstuff for about 5000 km and I'm very happy with it.
The braking performance is at least as good as, if not slightly better than, the original pads.
There's less brake dust, and what's there is easy to rinse off!
The price is also significantly lower than that of the original pads; one might think that gold dust is baked into the VW pads .
I paid around 100 euros for the front and rear [items/services].

My clear recommendation is for the EBC Blackstuff .

I don't quite understand. I've been using the Zimmermann tires with the green markings for a while now, and they've been under quite a bit of stress, but they're still in excellent condition.

In my family, we have four other cars with the same configuration that also work perfectly fine!

Reading this in the forum, one might think that this is the last piece of junk.

Were there perhaps certain series at Zimmermann that were simply bad?

Hello everyone,

Taking into account all the experiences shared in these and other forums regarding EBC and Zimmermann/Tarox brake pads, the following combination should ideally be the result:

Green Stuff with Zimmermann:

It works perfectly fine on the road, as long as you don't brake extremely hard (i.e., in a situation where the Black Stuff would also have worked).
'Ringfahrer' are experiencing significant issues here, as the disc cannot continuously withstand the high heat buildup.

Green Stuff with Tarox:

An expensive, but effective solution.
It can also be used in 'club racing' events, as long as you don't plan to participate in VLN races or the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
However, the problem then arises with the coating, which, unfortunately, starts to peel off.

Red Stuff with Tarox:
A 'well-tested' combination that works. However, in racing conditions, the pads tend to wear out before the discs do.


@pa-mm6
If the Tarox pads are squealing when braking, you might have a problem with the brake disc mounting, causing the disc to not sit perfectly straight, or you might simply not be using the brakes correctly...

@scredel

Based on what I've seen so far, I can definitely agree with your experiences regarding your combination.

@cksIT

Apparently, you're 'really' braking.
But don't be too aggressive, and make sure you have some experience with fast laps on a racetrack.
This combination will only last if you use the brakes gently.

Perhaps 'Hutfahrer' can provide more information on this, as I believe he has experience with Red-Stuff / Tarox brake pads.
Otherwise, Harr Antje has quite a bit of experience with brakes and should share some of that knowledge .

Overall, EBC is quite okay.
If you go to the extreme, you'll understand why brands like Pagit, Brembo, or Ferodo are significantly more expensive for their racing brake pads.

Best regards, Jochen.

I agree with Jochen.

Could it be that your rear axle pads are glazed, which is causing the rear axle to be overloaded?

cksIT wrote:

I don't quite understand that. I've been using the Zimmermann tires with the green markings for a while now, and they've been under quite a bit of stress, but they are in super condition... In my family, we have four other cars with the same configuration that also work perfectly fine! Reading this in the forum, one might think that this is the last piece of junk. Were there perhaps certain series at Zimmermann that were simply bad?

That's just how it is when you know how to properly handle your materials.


If you don't do that and don't have a feel for the material, or don't know when you need to quickly adjust something, you can install whatever you want.
No brake will last under those conditions.

Then I'll also contribute to the pool of experience.

I've been using 312mm slotted brake rotors with ATE standard brake pads on the front axle for approximately 13,000 km. The braking performance is okay, but not outstanding. However, the rotors are developing a noticeable squealing noise.
Since I read that Zimmermann discs are prone to heavy rusting, I painted the outer rim with Hammerite. I left the pot untreated, and it looks accordingly toxic brown.
The driving profile is mainly city driving, with some rural roads and very little highway driving, all done defensively and with a focus on preserving the tires.

Based on what technical information can one determine whether a disc and pad are a good or bad match?

Bye.
peace

Okay, please provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.

Okay, I switched to Ferrodo DS brake pads based on a recommendation, and honestly, it's hard to believe, but the noise (the humming sound) is gone. There's also no more dark residue appearing on the brake disc. In my opinion, the braking performance is just a little bit better!

Therefore, the practical test of the Green Stuff confirms my opinion. It's not suitable for standard brake discs if even the Tarox discs can't handle it! Anyone who claims to be able to drive the Green Stuff without problems with Zimmermann discs is, in my opinion, a very relaxed driver .

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"MFG" is an abbreviation for "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," which means "Sincerely" or "Best regards" in English.

@ Jochen_145: Yes, gladly! However, I have since sold that particular vehicle. I now drive a Peugeot 206 HDi 70 éco. The braking system is acceptable, even though it's not particularly exciting.

The biggest problem with fitted steel rims and the standard hubcaps is once again the brake ventilation. The front discs quickly reach their thermal limit and tend to fade. I experienced this initially with my previous Suzuki as well. Now, large alloy wheels are ready for the 206, which could alleviate the heat problem somewhat. When the discs and pads are worn out, I'll go back to TAROX and EBC Red, as I've consistently had good experiences with them.

Contrary to initial concerns, the significantly reduced lifespan of the brake pads could not be confirmed. However, I haven't driven aggressively, nor have I been speeding around the city from one red light to the next. I knew that I would still be able to brake effectively even at the last moment, and what was more important to me: that I would still have some braking power on the highway even after the first hard braking maneuver due to some idiot pulling out in front of me. In any case, after 25,000 km, I still had approximately 50% of the brake pad material remaining, and that didn't change even after 30,000 km.

You can really put a lot of heat into TAROX discs, and they can withstand even the worst treatment.



My contribution from February 19, 2007 (which the search function would also have found):

Quote:

Written on: 02-19-2007, 16:29 Title: "Die Sonne scheint hell, und die Vögel zwitschern fröhlich. Ein leichter Wind weht durch die Bäume, und die Blätter rascheln leise. Es ist ein wunderschöner Tag, um draußen zu sein." If you can buy TAROX discs for your car and also get them approved for use, then that would be my first choice. The discs are heat-treated, and the manufacturer has an excellent quality management system. Before you waste money trying out new materials, stick with what's proven! By the way, I don't think much of Zimmermann discs either! In my opinion, they are hardly better than OEM discs, and their thermal sensitivity can cause new problems, such as cracks that will eventually appear. Therefore, I also recommend TAROX! Suitable brake pads for them would be the EBC Green Stuff, which work well with the rotors. Based on my own experience, I recommend the EBC Red Stuff. They are durable and highly effective. Note: They do not have approval for road use and cannot be registered. However, if you paint the characteristic red backing plate black, you can at least make them less visible. Although the Red Stuff pads transfer more heat to the rotors, the TAROX rotors can handle it! Here's the translation: "Durability of Red Stuff pads with very sporty and fast driving: 20-25,000 km. If you don't constantly use the brakes at their maximum performance, you can potentially get 40,000 km or slightly more out of the pads. The brake rotors visibly wear down with the Red Stuff pads, but they usually last for at least two sets of pads. Some OEM brake rotors don't even last that long. With the Green Stuff pads, you might be able to get a third set on a TAROX rotor. However, this really depends heavily on your braking habits." Here's something else about the TAROX discs! They may also warp, but usually not as severely as an overstressed OEM disc. You can often straighten them by simply heating them up properly ("bedding in the brakes") and then applying a short, firm pressure. They warp quickly, for example, if you drive through a puddle with hot brakes, causing the discs to cool down rapidly. The solution is as described above... My opinion: A good brake is worth its price!

...one more thing: The Zimmermann rotors have probably been changed a few times throughout their production run. I tried the first generation that was released years ago, and I found it to be just as mediocre as the aftermarket rotors I had on my car before I switched to Zimmermann. The only difference was that the aftermarket ones were significantly cheaper!

"Meanwhile, the manufacturer seems to have been dealing with some issues. I regularly saw warped and then cracked discs with the first generation. For me, that was a deal-breaker at the time, and I looked for alternatives from other manufacturers. That's how I came across the recommendation for TAROX / EBC Red Stuff through several enthusiastic reports in various online forums."