Track Day brake pads?

[gogogomoveit]

Have been thinking about taking the car to the track(Laguna Seca) on weekends. I have never done that before so I have a this noob question. Do I need a separate set of track brake pads just for track, and swap them out to street pads on the way home?

 

[///M Compact]

You will probably be OK on stock pads, but I" recommend buying a set of Hawk HP Plus pads. They are completely streetable but they can be a bit noisy. The nice thing is that you can install them before you go to the track and afterwords you can swap the OEM pads back at your convenience. Just be sure to bed the new pads in BEFORE you hit the track.

 

[Biggs]

pardon the dumb question, but what does "bed" mean on this case?

 

[Nliiitend1]

pardon the dumb question, but what does "bed" mean on this case?

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=85

 

[Perro del Sol]

Not only should you upgrade the pads, but the fluid as well. ATE Super Blue or any other DOT 4 fluid. The HP+'s will be perfect for what you are doing.

 

[///M Compact]

Not only should you upgrade the pads, but the fluid as well. ATE Super Blue or any other DOT 4 fluid. The HP+'s will be perfect for what you are doing.

Good catch; I forgot to mention that crucial bit of maintenance.

 

[gogogomoveit]

When will you have a chance to bed in the pads on track? On the parade lap or take chances to bed-in on the first lap?

 

[///M Compact]

When will you have a chance to bed in the pads on track? On the parade lap or something?

You need to bed them in before you ever hit the track. I usually bed mine on a vacant two lane late at night.

 

[gogogomoveit]

You need to bed them in before you ever hit the track. I usually bed mine on a vacant two lane late at night.

I see. I heard the bedded-in material will wear off under normal daily driving, is that true as well?

 

[///M Compact]

Once they are bedded in you are good to go. You want to make sure that you use your brakes as little as possible-preferably not at all-on the cool down lap(s).

 

[pointysticks]

i like porterfield pads.

ATE blue is great stuff, but it sucks because it will dye everything that is supposed to be clear plastic..BLUE. the gold mix is the same formula, and is colored so the regular track junkies can swap back and forth, and know when they are pumping new fluid.

i use the Motul racing brake fluid.

 

[Parkeway]

+1 on the ATE (or other DOT4) fluid. This is critical to maintaining a solid pedal.

As for pads - once you start pushing the car deeper, I would recommend a trackday/HPDE pad like the Carbotech XP8s. They are low noise, high temp pads that will allow you to outbrake much more capable cars - and I've got proof

Barber Turn 1

Whatever you decide, it's a cinch to change pads so experiment and by all means, GET THAT MS3 ON A TRACK WHERE IT BELONGS!!!!

PC

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=85

Interesting. In all my years around cars, I have never heard that expression. It was always just, "break 'em in slowly for a few days of daily driving, getting progressively more aggressive as the week goes on".
Which is essentially what they described anyway.

 

[Nliiitend1]

Interesting. In all my years around cars, I have never heard that expression. It was always just, "break 'em in slowly for a few days of daily driving, getting progressively more aggressive as the week goes on".
Which is essentially what they described anyway.

Well, that's wat ATE and Akebono recommend, but the process that the more "high performance" pads call for is substantially different (i.e., they call for repeated hard near-stops from reasonably brisk speeds).

 

[Perro del Sol]

+1 on the ATE (or other DOT4) fluid. This is critical to maintaining a solid pedal.

As for pads - once you start pushing the car deeper, I would recommend a trackday/HPDE pad like the Carbotech XP8s. They are low noise, high temp pads that will allow you to outbrake much more capable cars - and I've got proof

Barber Turn 1

Whatever you decide, it's a cinch to change pads so experiment and by all means, GET THAT MS3 ON A TRACK WHERE IT BELONGS!!!!

PC

+1 on the Carbotechs, I run XP-10's on the front and XP-8's on the rear of our MSP. I would advise that you gain as much experience as possible, before you make the switch to the Carbotechs, it is indeed a different animal over the HP+'s

 

[gogogomoveit]

Interesting. In all my years around cars, I have never heard that expression. It was always just, "break 'em in slowly for a few days of daily driving, getting progressively more aggressive as the week goes on".
Which is essentially what they described anyway.

Actually the similarity ends there. Bedding in requires a series of increasing brake effort to build up heat and cool down until the point which the brake material is transferred onto the disc. Daily driving will not build up enough heat quickly enough. Well the last time i bedded in a new pad is a few years ago...

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Pads

I'm still on the original pads but I have SS brake lines with Motul high temp fluid. My replacement pads will be Hawk HP+.

After the track sessions pull into your spot but DO NOT SET THE HANDBRAKE! I also open my hood for a further cool down.(cheers2)

 

[gogogomoveit]

I'm still on the original pads but I have SS brake lines with Motul high temp fluid. My replacement pads will be Hawk HP+.

After the track sessions pull into your spot but DO NOT SET THE HANDBRAKE! I also open my hood for a further cool down.(cheers2)

How do u like the SS lines? the stock lines for '10 has little play and quite linear brake pedal feel, and i wonder if SS can improve things even better.

 

[leadf00t]

I'm still on the original pads but I have SS brake lines with Motul high temp fluid. My replacement pads will be Hawk HP+.

After the track sessions pull into your spot but DO NOT SET THE HANDBRAKE! I also open my hood for a further cool down.(cheers2)

+1, I was wondering if anyone was going to mention this !!

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

SS Lines

How do u like the SS lines? the stock lines for '10 has little play and quite linear brake pedal feel, and i wonder if SS can improve things even better.

The SS lines were noticeable on track. No pedal fade at all and good feel all day long. If you are happy with your pedal feel and don't track your car, leave well enough alone, JMO.

The Hawk HP+ squeal more than the HP pads, (especially around town). They have to get hot to perform well and quiet down. The HPs should work fine for non track use.