RP-1™ boasts a flat friction response averaging 0.45mu and is capable of operating at temperatures of up to 7500C without brake fade. However, unlike many other track/race pad materials on the market, RP-1™ possesses a progressive/benign response characteristic that provides exception ‘feel’ during each and every braking event.
The slightly lower friction level of RP-1™ allows the brake pedal to be worked harder, which is particularly beneficial to cars that are over-servo’d from the factory (for example: Mk7 VW Golf GTI, BMW M cars, Audi RS models, etc).
On inherently over-servo’d vehicles, RP-1™ somewhat negates the effect of the over-servo’d brake system setup, resulting in a more progressive and smooth response when driven on track.
In some modern vehicles, it can sometimes feel as if all the braking happens in the first inch of pedal travel. Whilst this sharp sensation gives the impression that the car has very ‘good’ brakes to the average driver pootling down to the shops, experienced track/race drivers know that a hair-trigger brake response is undesirable, verging on totally unacceptable for smooth driving at the limit. A modest amount of brake pedal travel is actually beneficial for performance driving and this is exactly what RP-1™ enables, encouraging the driver to find the limit under braking whilst also enabling trail-braking. RP-1™ is particularly suitable for non-ABS assisted vehicles, where a smooth response is essential to avoid locking a wheel under braking.
Similarly, many competitor (non-EBC) Big Brake Kits utilise calipers only available in one displacement/variety of piston sizes, which when paired with a larger brake disc with an increased torque arm radius may result in a similarly over-servo’d sensation. This approach to designing BBKs is fine for dedicated track cars, where a different master cylinder and brake bias adjustor is usually employed, but can be problematic on road cars where the OE actuation system is retained. In such instances RP-1™ serves to remedy the over-servo’d sens
