Here are the Ferodo part numbers for the Akebono Sport Package front/rear. They can be purchased through many of the forum sponsors...Forged Perf, Stillen, Vivid Racing, etc.

DS2500
FCP4172H
FCP4173H

DS3000
FCP4172R
FCP4173R

Funny how you admit to being able to see more copper in the DS2500 than you can see in the FM1000, yet in the same statement you say that it's "obvious that the overall texture and composition is the same".

Jeff, I guess I just really don't understand why this one topic is such a big deal for you. I personally would not go on record every time this rumor is brought up if I knew that someone might spend a few dollars less on a set of DS2500's and then come back and say "HEY...these were EXACTLY the same as the FM1000's". I go on record confidently knowing that while subtle...the differences are 100% noticeable to the driver almost immediately.

The most common response I hear is that the DS2500 just doesn't feel as "controllable" as the FM1000. People LOVE the pedal feel of the FM1000 pads. The second response I get is that the DS2500's are definitely more noisy. We have very little issues with squeal on the FM1000, and I would say that 80% of the people who have switched to DS2500 complain almost immediately about the noise. Most customers aren't meticulous enough to keep track of every single street mile and the exact amount of track time they expose the vehicle to (although we do know that there are those types out there), but in testing The FM1000 is more rotor friendly.

All that being said, I do agree with J Ritt on the fact that the FM1000 is NOT recommended as a FULL TRACK pad. It's good for the occasional autocross, works well in an HPDE environment, but if your the type of customer who is running a different wheel setup at the track as you are on the street, or aggressively trying to "beat the clock" and get every bit of performance during your tract stints, I do recommend switching to a more dedicated track compound for your track days. The FM1000 is without a doubt one of the best high performance, aggressive street compounds you will find. For someone who is more interested in street performance, the occasional canyon/mountain drive, and high speed runs on the highway...or simply do not want to have to change pads for track days, you're going to be hard pressed finding a better pad.

***Keep in mind that the FM1000 is only available for pad shapes popular to aftermarket Brembo brake kits. So outside of the conversation about upgrading what would come in an aftermarket Brembo GT or GT-R system, this really a mute topic. A pad compound with a similar performance level, control, comfort, or longevity would be the Pagid RS42 - Blue.***
(Unfortunately you're just not going to find that level quality and performance in a low cost pad) ***

Last note I want to make, I think it's funny how you (Jeff) used a sintered pad to show such a dramatic difference in pad composition.

If you were to have used a DS3000, a pad I know you will admit performs much differently than a DS2500 or FM1000,... you would still only see a subtle (but just as noticeable as the difference between DS2500 and FM1000) difference in texture and composition. If it's at all noticeable to the eyes, it's pretty safe to assume it's even more noticeable to the performance. And that's the exact reason that people who have driven both compounds in the same car have a very different experience than your opinion.

Having had a Brembo kits on my Supra and G35C and doing HPDE in both I agree 100% on the above 2 statements. I never had to change the pads for my use with the FM1000 due to performance or noise.

Any update on these pads?

Thread back from the dead, but ............

DS2500 are a "good" street/occasional track pad.

DS3000 is far too aggressive for street use - will chew a rotor to bits in 2-500 miles - you need to go to the track, change pads, do your thing and change pads back if you use them

There are other options that will suit a daily/occasional track day pad that are as good as the DS2500. I tend to purchase based on price from DS2500, Project Mu and Endless based on price when I need the pads.

Bear in mind my comments are based on experience in Australia .... the US is better serves with pad options than we are down-under.

Lol I hear ya! And I brought this back because my buddy recently opend a local shop, and told me he uses them. He's also willing to cut me a good deal on a set. I'm looking for pads for my first track day.. Just feeling the waters to see what I need to get. (And I know everyone's going to say, it's your first track day.. Ya ya but they don't know how I drive lol.. I'm pretty damn hard on brakes..

I run the DS2500's on mine which sees primarily autox use with a little street driving. Great pad with a very progressive bite from my experience. Prior to running these, I had Carbotech XP10&8 (F,R)which were just too bitey for autox.

The DS2500's do dust horribly if that's an issue for you.