Swapping brake pads for track days?
09-26-2002, 07:58 PM
#1
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Swapping brake pads for track days?
Does anyone out there swap race pads for track days and then back to the OEM pads for daily driving?
I'm not concerned about the labor since I'm already changing wheels for track days and pads are easy once the wheels are off. I'm more concerned about bedding issues.
Would the dedicated track pads bed properly after a few laps? Would the street pads bed properly after a track day and a couple hundred miles? What problems might I encounter if I change them out several times on the same set of rotors?
Thanks in advance!
MC
I'm not concerned about the labor since I'm already changing wheels for track days and pads are easy once the wheels are off. I'm more concerned about bedding issues.
Would the dedicated track pads bed properly after a few laps? Would the street pads bed properly after a track day and a couple hundred miles? What problems might I encounter if I change them out several times on the same set of rotors?
Thanks in advance!
MC
09-26-2002, 08:13 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Yes, I do it and I highly recommend it! I plop in Pagid Oranges and the extra work is definitely worth it. Brakes get better as the day on the track progresses 
Fade? What fade? Standard anchors for this Bloke and I brake with pure pleasure! OEM pads start to get mushy as rotors heat up and bite definitely not even close to pagids..
Choices for track pads are endless, but I would highly recommend pagid orange for both fronts and rears.. Pagids are pricey though....but I justified it.. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />
Fade? What fade? Standard anchors for this Bloke and I brake with pure pleasure! OEM pads start to get mushy as rotors heat up and bite definitely not even close to pagids..Choices for track pads are endless, but I would highly recommend pagid orange for both fronts and rears.. Pagids are pricey though....but I justified it.. <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />
09-26-2002, 08:33 PM
#3
Drifting
I also change pads between track/daily driving.
Also Pagid's but I think I have blacks for the rear and orange up front. Bedding them is a great idea.
Also Pagid's but I think I have blacks for the rear and orange up front. Bedding them is a great idea.
09-26-2002, 11:59 PM
#4
Addicted Specialist
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Yep,
I swap em as well. As I'm prepping the car for a weekend, I'm already swapping wheels and bleeding brakes so the pad swap is a natural. I use PFC track pads (compound 97) and like them a lot! They seem to bed easily. I do some "bedding" on my quickie test drive right after I've prepped the car, and then again on my drive to the track. Haven't had any problems yet, and braking is solid, fade-free, and consistent throughout the weekend. Then come to think of it, my brakes were solid, fade-free, and consistent when I used OEM Textars....
And yes, the street pads bed fine when I replace them for the street. Just don't go stomping on the brakes right after you've put in your street pads. You'll find that they're not "all there" until you bed back.
Maybe others are more qualified to answer the rotor question. I had to replace my fronts, but this is after 65K so I doubt that this was the trackpads' doing. From what I've heard though, they ARE a bit harder on rotors than OEMs. Anyone's experience on this last point?
Edward
I swap em as well. As I'm prepping the car for a weekend, I'm already swapping wheels and bleeding brakes so the pad swap is a natural. I use PFC track pads (compound 97) and like them a lot! They seem to bed easily. I do some "bedding" on my quickie test drive right after I've prepped the car, and then again on my drive to the track. Haven't had any problems yet, and braking is solid, fade-free, and consistent throughout the weekend. Then come to think of it, my brakes were solid, fade-free, and consistent when I used OEM Textars....
And yes, the street pads bed fine when I replace them for the street. Just don't go stomping on the brakes right after you've put in your street pads. You'll find that they're not "all there" until you bed back.
Maybe others are more qualified to answer the rotor question. I had to replace my fronts, but this is after 65K so I doubt that this was the trackpads' doing. From what I've heard though, they ARE a bit harder on rotors than OEMs. Anyone's experience on this last point?
Edward
09-27-2002, 01:16 AM
#5
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MC,
I did six track days last year with the factory pads (albeit the ones for big reds), and they worked great with no fade - even with a friend who has raced ALMS at the wheel. I'm sure that Pagid Orange or PFC's are great, but factory pads may suffice.
BTW, I just changed these original front pads last month, with 18,000 miles / five years of city driving / six track days on the clock. Pretty impressive longevity, and the back pads still have more than 50% left.
I did six track days last year with the factory pads (albeit the ones for big reds), and they worked great with no fade - even with a friend who has raced ALMS at the wheel. I'm sure that Pagid Orange or PFC's are great, but factory pads may suffice.
BTW, I just changed these original front pads last month, with 18,000 miles / five years of city driving / six track days on the clock. Pretty impressive longevity, and the back pads still have more than 50% left.
09-27-2002, 01:34 AM
#6
Passed On
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All the time; PFC 90 compound for track, OE Textar for street.
With about 4 track events per year, front rotor life is about 20K miles. I really doubt if life would be different with a common pad for street/track but the same driving; track heat cycling takes it's heavy toll is my opinion.
With about 4 track events per year, front rotor life is about 20K miles. I really doubt if life would be different with a common pad for street/track but the same driving; track heat cycling takes it's heavy toll is my opinion.
