Brakes for track day - need advice

[CVP33]

I'm doing a two day track event at VIR on December 8th and 9th. I want to make sure I've got the best brake pads on to last through the 2 daya. I couldn't care less about brake dust to be honest. I've narrowed my search to the following:

Hawk HPS - Fronts HB509F.678 / HB507F.711 (2 choices?) Rears HB508F.675 Cost $165 delivered

EBC Redstuff - Fronts E35DP31764C Rears E35DP31788C Cost $175 delivered

Satisfied GS6 - Fronts GS6D1149 Rears GS6D1053 Cost $254 delivered

Thoughts, experiences, better pricing - I'm ready to take some input from anyone with experience here. I've only run the factory pads to date. And yes I have the slotted rotors if that matters.

[1FST4DR]

I do not have alot of experience here in road racing,I have read that some folks like the stock brembos.I have also seen a few sets for sale latleyon various forums.Let us know what set you use .Thanks

[CVP33]

I'd use the stock pads for sure, but unfortunately the inside left rears seem to always start squealing early on me. I don't want to go through a set of brakes at the track so I figured I'd swap them out in advance.

[CVP33]

I just got the best advice over on the OC. Replace with stock brake pads. DUH. Now why didn't I think of that. And only $100 bucks a set!

[Ozzie]

You would be very satisfied with the Satisfieds. Awesome on the track. Great on the street. WAY less dust than the stockers. A case of "you get what you pay for" I guess.

[1FST4DR]

I just got the best advice over on the OC. Replace with stock brake pads. DUH. Now why didn't I think of that. And only $100 bucks a set!


If you mean the stock brembos that was what I was getting at in my previous post :)

[MattRobertson]

If you are considering EBC pads, why not look at their Yellow Stuff pad? If its a track pad you are after thats a better one.

And have you checked into bleeding fluid (as in how to do it on the fly with the Brembo's)? Good fluid is dirt cheap (if you buy the right stuff) and replacing the brake fluid in between track runs -- on Wilwood calipers at least -- results in a near-miraculous improvement. I can do a quick-and-dirty bleed on all four wheels by myself in about 15 minutes and thru a whole track day I will go thru maybe 2 bottles of fluid.

[SRT8U]

A great track pad from EBC are the Yellow Stuff pads..that is their race compound.
I am currently running the Red's and like them but havent used them on the Road Course yet.
Here are the Yellow's
http://bmc.name/store/products/EBC_Yellowstuff_Kevlar_Race_Front_Brake_Pads_05_30 0_Charger_Magnum_6_1L-3951-0.html
http://bmc.name/store/products/EBC_Yellowstuff_Kevlar_Race_Rear_Brake_Pads_05_300 _Charger_Magnum_6_1L-3952-0.html

[SRT8U]

Also the Hawk pads you have listed are for the non SRT8 LX's. Hawk is supposed to be coming out w a pad for the SRT but it isnt out yet as far as I know.

[Todd TCE]

I don't want to go through a set of brakes at the track so I figured I'd swap them out in advance.


Too some extent you need to come to grips with the fact that you're stopping a 4500lb car on a race course and running through a set of pads would be considered a consumable. And maybe to a degree rotors too. Given that rotors cost more than pads....personally I'd take two sets of front pads as spares with me. One for the second day or later in the first and the other to get home on if needed. You could probably return one of them on Monday.

Best track advise: learn the value of a cool down lap.

[CVP33]

OK, I got some more info. The stock pads on the car will be taken off as I've already got an inside rear with too little meat to make it through a track event. Replacing with stock is also out. I was looking at $100 for base 300 pads, apparently the Brembos are BIG bucks, more like $500+. The Hawks are also off the list at they do not have what I want yet. I'm finally down to EBC reds or yellows. I found a online store that has them in-stock and can deliver for $203 total for the yellows. Not too bad.

As for the rotors, $760 a set! Don't believe I'll be getting a spare set of these. I will definitely be doing cool down laps. VIR is a long, fast track with two big straights.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8591692764313191735&q=Virginia+International+raceway&total=277&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

[Padre Dave]

Check out the rotors from Zeckhausen Racing, on this forum or a Google search. I just put them on the front of my Magnum RT and am very impressed. They sound like they have done a lot of racing and have recommendations on what rotor to get for specific types of racing. Service was great and fast too.

[MattRobertson]

Todd is dead on. I have found all this stuff out the hard way tracking the car. I know money doesn't grow on trees, but not knowing that pad's wear rate under severe load, you risk having to sit out Day 2 of your event if you don't have a second set of pads available. Running thru a set of pads in one day is not unheard of. Cam has done it twice on both Willow Springs and Cal Speedway and I have done it at Cal Speedway. When I switched to uber-pads I went to 50% wear from a fresh set, and now that I have powered brake ducts, I hope to cut that at least a little more.

Once you have done your cooldown lap, chug around the paddock for while. Meister was getting 800 degree rotor temps after a cooldown lap. Thats kind of a lot.