I find myself doing more and more track events in my C2 coupe. With increased speed and later, harder braking, I was curious as to the recommended freqency of bleeding/flushing the brakes and adding new fluid. I want to be safe, but do not want to flush if not needed. Also, with synthetic engine oil, should the oil be changed after each event or just after the 3000-5000 miles?

Thanks for the help.

MWN

 

If car is used for the street the recommendation (in Adrian S. book) is two years. How many track events do you do in a year?

 

The general rule is flushing every 6 month, but that assumes doing about one track day a month and using a brand like ATE. With synthetic brake fluid (do not remember if DOT approved for street use), many racers go the whole season (5-6 race weekend) without flushing.

Oil change depends on how hard the car runs (read elevated oil temperatures).

 

Thanks for the help. I do about one track event per month. Based on the info, I may have been flushing too frequently. I have been doing it about every 2 events.

Thanks again for the help/advice and Merry Christmas to all at Rennlist.....great group of people.

MWN

 

MWN:

It also depends a lot on what tracks you run, the type of pad you are using as well as your braking style.

At a track like Mid Ohio where there is heavy braking from high speed, your change interval might be appropriate. Add in a high teperature pad like a Pagid Black and this will also elevate the working temperature of your brakes. Lastly, I have seen people who just are way early and "light" on their braking and they also generate a lot of heat.

So...you may be OK going with the routine that you have established. I would much prefer to be on the safe side with anything brake related.

Regards,

Ken

 

If I were tracking my car I'd bleed 'em before every event.
You don't want the system to heat soak after the first run, drive out of the pits to start the second run and total your car because the water in the brake fluid boiled and your pedal went straight to the floor.

 

Thanks again for the responses. I do most of my track time at Sebring which is hard on brakes. I use Padget Orange pads. I did do Daytona which is much less stressful on brakes.

With respect to braking technique, I am learning to break later and harder (while still trying to be smooth), so sounds like I should keep up with my current schedule to error on the side of caution. Sure beats having no brakes going into turn 17 at Sebring.....that would be a pucker factor!!

Thanks,

MW

 

X2 on bleeding calipers before each event. Good insurance to avoid brake fade. And I think after about 3 or 4 events, you've flushed the entire system anyway. I sometimes joke that I'm often throwing away better brake fluid than is in 90% of the cars on the street.

Any other uses for used brake fluid??

 

not that I've done any of this, but...
spot weed killer
it's a fair-to-middlin' shadetree paint remover, I hear.
oh, and ants... they don't like it much poured on their hole. Least, that's what I hear.

(I pour it in with my crankcase oil to be recycled.)

 

I also bleed before each event (about one track weekend every other month) better to be safe I say. I do use ATE and Hawk racing pads, as well as braking hard and late (smoothly of course) and have had no problems with pedal feel. If you have a pressure bleeder it makes it loads easier too.

 

Frequency of flushing also depends on the fluid you use. I do it every six months with Motul RBF 660. More frequently with lesser fluids. Never more than six months between changes even with Casrol SRF.

 

All forbidden things. Hope your not getting your drinking water from a well.....

 

I stand corrected.

 

I do about 10 race weekends per year. I have the brakes bleed roughly twice per year - usually dictated by when I'm changing pads or rotors and the engine oil and transmission oil get changed once in the year too (so - new fluids at the start of the year and then changed mid-year). That's all my car needs. One of the race weekends for the last 2 years has included a 3 or 4 hour enduro.

My car is maintained by the folks at Jerry Woods and I go based on what they recommend. In 3 years, I think I've lost 1 day of running due to a mechanical issue so I think there is adequate evidence for me that this frequency is not a problem.

 

You don't need to change bf more than once a year unless you cook it. Get a bf test kit to monitor water if you are obsessive but for most users annually is fine.

Now the above is only for those that don't cook the fluid and you all know who you are from your track day experiences. If your pedal doesn't go soft you are pretty sure to not need more frequent fluid changes.

The Motul recommended above is a very good first step for the guys that are running out if pedal.