Ferodo DS2500 issue - advice appeciated

[GTAStradale]

Hi everyone,

I am running OEM calipers and few days ago I have installed new rotors on all four wheels together with new DS2500 pads and Castrol SRF brakefluid. Previously I was running various Pagid RS pads, but since I will not be able to attend any trackdays due to health reasons this year, I opted for DS2500. I used to run this pad on all my previous cars and therefore I thought it is a decent pad for fastroad.

Since the new set-up was installed, my brake pedal is very spongy and the travel is quite long. It got installed in a big BMW garage who has experience with fast road pads and Castrol SRF and initally they did not want to release the car, since they also found it extremely akward. They have bleeded the system properly (with opening of all valves) three times and the spongy pedal is still there. Eventually they have released the car, since there is no air in the system and the pedal eventually gets better after a few miles when everything is warmed up.

I was told I should bed them in properly and see if the symptom still persist. Currently I have done only 120km and is still the same. The car starts braking after the pedal is way bellow the throttle pedal. The only advantage is that modulation seem to be better than with RS29 and it allows for more precise left-foot braking for left-foot beginners like me :-) LOL

Still, it just does not feel right and I am worried that something is wrong. I researched a bit on the internet and found one or two people who had similar issue with other cars (and DS2500 pads) and apparently it got better later.

Did anyone here experienced similar issue? Any advice will be highly appreciated. Please note that there seem to be no air in the system, so re-bleeding again will not help.

Many thanks in advance.

[Jon8710]

Hi there
I I run DS 2500 on my CSL as I don't track it and last year changed all discs and pads, that does sound strange to me as the type of pad should not effect the amount of travel in the pedal, I have had no problem with my discs and pads.
What garage are you taking it to ?

[GTAStradale]

Hi there, thanks.
It was done in the official BMW garage, one of the largest here in Zurich.
Do you maybe now which part number were your pads, as in the official Ferodo catalogue it seems that the same pad is listed for 330i, M3 and M3 CSL?
Mine are as follows:
Front - FCP1073H
Back - FCP1483H
Many thanks in advance.

[DuncanR]

This problem will go away quite quickly....






throw the DS2500 pads away and shove RS29's back in !

DS2500 generate too much heat if driven hard, and crack the discs imho and experience.

[GTAStradale]

Duncan - thanks but I will try to stick to them. Not planning any track days for at least this year and couldnt live with RS29 anymore - the squeaking got unbearable and, as you can imagine, Swiss are not amuzed by that! Even for me it got too much. But yes, its by far the best pad for track days and Alpine assaults :-)

So any help on my DS2500 problem will be highly appreciated !

[alexk]

Sounds like a typical case of brakes badly bled or caliper bleed screw loose.