If i understand ECE90 right, it means that to meet these regs the aftermarket brakes cant be more than x% better or worse in terms of stopping performance than the OEM fit. And the reasoning behind it is so that you don't end up with poor pads on the front and blinding ones on the back giving a rear wheel lockup first scenario under heavy braking.

So that means if i want a proper brake upgrade without changing calipers or rotor size, i need to go non ECE90 e.g. DS2500s.

But that means i'd now be illegal and have to scratch off the name on the back of the pad or apply some innocent looking titanium heat shields or something to prevent inspection by insurance in event of an incident (thinking out loud, i am *not* considering doing this).

Booo

http://www.juratek.com/about-r90.php

the coefficient of friction will be fairly similar between a wide variety of pads (I don't remember DS2500 for example being particularly high) so the nominal braking performance will be similar. The big bonus with proper pads is they will behave much better at higher temperatures, and continue to provide decent friction coefficient at those temperatures without getting upset, whereas a standard pad would be long gone in those conditions.

Unless you put some really cr@p pads on the front and decent ones on the back, you are unlikely to encounter rear locking problems on those grounds.

I notice the latest Yellowstuff pads from EBC now have R90 cert

Ahhh that makes sense too rich.

To be honest i find the OEM pads on this car to be fairly reasonable anyway, and i've noticed they bite harder with a little heat in them which is kinda cool but makes the 5th or 6th stop around town slightly sharper when i forget... (i always forget ) my only gripe with the Vrs setup from the factory is that when i was trying out stopping distances (braking extremely rapidly without locking a wheel), it can feel slightly unsettled at the front.