Federal-Mogul Aims to Capture Grand Prix Glory with New Brake Pad
27 January 2000
Federal-Mogul Aims to Capture Grand Prix Glory with New Brake Pad
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 26 -- Federal-Mogul Corporation
is aiming to capture Grand Prix glory with a new Ferodo(R) brake
pad: the DS4000, an advanced pad operating on a cast iron disc.
Federal-Mogul's research data shows that the Ferodo DS4000 can attain a
higher peak mu value than carbon-carbon brakes in the contemporary Formula One
environment. This will offer a performance advantage for Formula One cars
outfitted with the new brake pad. "This development will put Ferodo back at
the top of the racing world and coupled with our new 'green' friction
formulations for on road applications, demonstrates our technological
leadership in the friction business," said David Krohn, senior vice president,
brake/chassis/ignition/fuel.
Historically, a carbon-carbon brake system, the Ferodo DS11, was supplied
to most Grand Prix winners. Research now shows that an advanced pad operating
on a cast iron disc can provide a performance advantage over carbon-carbon
pads and discs.
The evolution to the DS4000 began in 1998 when Federal-Mogul established a
"Special Products Braking" (SPB) team within its Mondovi, Italy, facility.
The SPB team led in the development of a high-mu competition pad devised by
Federal-Mogul's Research & Development Center in the United Kingdom.
Known as DS3000, the new generation competition pad was designed to
operate in conjunction with a conventional cast iron disc, yet could rival the
power of a carbon-carbon brake. The DS3000 boasted a relatively high metallic
(steel) content and employed a binding resin that had excellent high
temperature characteristics.
Initially, the SPB team developed the DS3000 for super touring in Europe,
working very closely with the Nissan and Williams Renault teams in the United
Kingdom. By the end of 1998, the DS3000 was well established in the major
super touring series across Europe, and subsequently two improved variations
were launched: DS3000 Plus and DS3000 Endurance. The performance of the
DS3000 Plus was such that Federal-Mogul considered it worthwhile to develop an
advanced version for the Williams Formula One team.
The DS4000 pad was first tested by the Williams Renault team at Monza in
May 1999 and was used in practice at the German, Austrian, Hungarian and
Belgian Grand Prix races. At Hockenheim, in Germany, Alex Zanardi used it in
qualifying. The test results showed that a car equipped with DS4000
and cast iron brakes could be an advantage over the carbon-carbon braked car.
Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Federal-Mogul Corporation is an
automotive parts manufacturer providing innovative solutions and systems to
global customers in the automotive, light truck, heavy-duty, railroad, farm
and industrial markets. The company was founded in 1899. Visit the company's
web site at http://www.federal-mogul.com for more information.