Sport Pads

How a sport pad is built

A metal finisher plate — brushed aluminium, sand blasted or polished stainless steel — carries a moulded rubber insert. The insert is either overmoulded onto the plate in one operation, or moulded separately and pressed in. We produce both, and which one a part uses is a retention and volume decision made before the tool is cut.

Why there are so many Ford parts

Because a vehicle programme needs a set, not a part. Accelerator, brake and clutch each get their own plate, and the automatic and manual versions of the same car need different brake widths. Twelve Ford parts is really four or five programmes.

Changing the look without changing the tool

The plate and the insert are separate tools. A finish change — brushed to sand blasted to polished — never touches the rubber tool, so two finishes can run through one programme without a second insert tool. A change to the tread pattern does need a new insert tool.