i was lookinag at some PF pads the other day, and i noticed that near both the edges it slants away.. the pad material so that less pad material touches the rotors. I noticed a few other brake pad manufacturers do that too. doesnt that reduce the brake pad efficiency since you're reducing the surface area of the brake pad's contact to the rotor?

 

OEM pads on my Integra do the same, as well as Raybestos dust-free ones I've seen.

I assume it's for ease of bedding in and/or noise reduction.

It's a small percentage of the surface (5%?)... and you still have the whole pad to absorb and dissipate heat, so I'm pretty sure it's not a big deal.

Race pads don't have those cut off sections that I've seen. (Porterfield R4/R4s, Carbotech, Cobalt Spec VR) that I've seen.

-Chris

 

its a lot more than 5%.... about 15-18% if you take into account both sides. it's a pretty big chunk, and they dont' have the slots in the middle like some pads do.
Also, what do the slots in the middle do?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mingbling96 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its a lot more than 5%.... about 15-18% if you take into account both sides. it's a pretty big chunk, and they dont' have the slots in the middle like some pads do.
Also, what do the slots in the middle do? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure neither of us are being scientific with that % measurement

A slot in the pad could be useful to vent boiling water or boiling brake pad material. Otherwise the gasses could build a layer between the pad and rotor and decrease braking.

*shrug*

-Chris