Copper is known in the braking world as one of the supporting elements that contributes the most in brake pad usage. Copper acts as an agent that limits brake pad and brake rotor wear, brake noise and contributes to friction stability over a range of high temperatures. But unfortunately due to recently passed legislature, copper is slowly being evaporated from newer brake pads.

This new legislature requires copper levels to be at a maximum of 5% of overall weight and a measly 0.5% of the entire pad. This new mandate is making it harder for some companies to adapt while making a more advantageous opportunity for other companies ahead of the game in alternative elements for brake pads. Federal Mogul is one of the market leaders in Eco-Friction brake pads and boasts being able to supply customers with Eco-Friction pads 10 years before the legislative deadline.

Federal-Mogul’s Eco-Friction range of low- and zero-copper formulas were developed using a fingerprinting process to identify other materials that can support the same stopping performance; noise, vibration and harshness characteristics; durability and low wheel dust generation as conventional copper pads. The Eco-Friction zero-copper pads also offer better corrosion protection of the brake rotor and increased static friction performance, which is especially beneficial in sloped parking situations.