Kapico, Federal-Mogul Motorparts conduct trial on taxi brake pads
Kapico South Africa, in partnership with Federal-Mogul Motorparts, has launched a test promotion for Ferodo taxi brake pads and discs.
The companies will provide free fitment of Ferodo brake pads and discs, in addition to any top-up or changeouts of brake fluid required.
Feedback gathered from the ten selected taxi operators regarding drivability, comfort, and safety levels - in addition to testing the used brake pads and discs in terms of wear characteristics - is expected to deliver tangible results on the applicability of these products for the South African taxi industry.
The Ferodo brake pads and discs have been designed specifically for Toyota Quantum minibus taxis, which transport millions of commuters across South Africa on a daily basis.
Poor brake system conditions of SA taxis
Extensive field testing conducted as part of the initial development of the new pad and disc range revealed the dangerously poor conditions of a number of brake systems in taxis on the road every day, which poses a serious safety risk to daily commuters should these systems fail.
The particular innovation behind the Ferodo taxi brake pads and discs is a specially formulated solvent to replace the industry-standard heavy metals used in traditional taxi brake pads. This results in improved pad and disc wear, which translates into less downtime for taxi drivers while improving the overall performance of the brake system.
Additional environmental benefit
An additional environmental benefit is that, by replacing these heavy metals with the new solvent, the taxi brake pads and discs eliminate emissions of major pollutants such as copper and other particles.
Salman Ahmed, DGM commercial at Kapico South Africa, explains that the Kuwait-based multinational has had a long-standing relationship with Federal-Mogul Motorparts for the past seven years, based on the entire Federal-Mogul product range. The company focuses on wholesale automotive products in South Africa, targeting the taxi business from the Auto1 fitment centre, which is part of its local retail operation.
Select Kapico taxi customers will have Ferodo brake pads and discs fitted free of charge at the Johannesburg fitment centre, which includes brake fluid checks. The parts will be replaced after a month’s use and sent for testing, which is anticipated to provide invaluable data on the products’ performance in real-world South African operating conditions.
