Yes, ANOTHER question on pads. My requirements aren't so straight cut though. It's an everyday car, commuter, weekend blaster, etc. BUT I'd really like to take it on a track day or two this year and don't want to have to compromise so much or end up in a tyre wall. So, R26 - currently on HC discs, M1144 pads, braided lines and as far as I know, OEM fluid. I've been buying the parts in bits as it's been an expensive few months! So I have 2 litres of ATE Typ 200, some new Brembo HC plain discs and a caliper seal refurb kit (and spare calipers just in case of any issues) Pads then - been asking a lot of questions on the FB groups and still haven't decided on a particular set. Here's what I think so far: Mintex M1144 - cheap, decent cold bite, low dust, don't handle heat very well, won't be up to it on track DS2500 - common choice on a lot of other cars, but seem to fade quite easiliy on the megs DS3000 - same price as DS2500 but will kill my discs and no good for an everyday car - poor cold bite DS 1.11 - sounds like a winner but don't fancy spending £200 on a car that's 90% every day sat on the commute CL RC5+ - sounds a good choice for me at the moment, decent if managed on track - just not sure if they'll squeal too much everyday on the road Performance Friction Z rated - low dust, good cold bite, £100, last long, just may fade a bit on track Cartbotech XP8 - not really looked into them, sound expensive and overkill My main priorities are - good cold bite but able to be relatively reliable on track. Low(ish) dust and minimal squeal I know I'm asking too much to be best for both worlds - I'm swaying towards PF Z at the mo or CL5+ In terms of track day hero status, I'm a relative newbie. Only done 4 (in my civic) but I'm an annual visitor to the ring (cliche of all petrolhead cliches) Another option is to swap pads out - but then there's the suggestion that you'd need to swap pads AND discs (road pads bedded into one set of discs and track pads for another?). Which is not something I can be bothered with for just a couple of track days. Thanks
PF get my vote. Ive been using them for the last 4 or 5 years and have done the odd lap or so at The Ring. They are very good for the ring and fast road and light track use. The only time I have needed to change them is with very heavy breaking going down long twistys in the Alps in 2015. In 2016 doing a similar trip I was prepared, I changed the PF 'Z' rated up to PF 08 compound that where brilliant they really do work nearly made the car stand on its nose, but are pretty hard on the discs. What is just as important as the discs/pads is the correct brake fluid. What sums it up is, you only get what you pay for. Give Alyn a call at AS Performance ( 0191 410 3770 ) he will be able to advise you and supply you at the best prices, what ever you decide.
Unfortunately you can't have everything with brake pads lol! There has to be some compromise, but it all depends where. Personally,as you already have new discs,I'd get some more track focused pads and use them with your new discs on track and swap them back to your current setup. I know you said you can't be bothered with all that but it's a 30min job And it all depends how aggressive you'll be on track, and how hard on the brakes you are as to whether you'll get any problems with your current setup.
Agreed with the above, but you do have to be careful swapping pads, especially if you have different kinds of compound say from carbon based to organic.
True but I'm chopping these old discs and pads that came with the car as they were fitted about 3-4 years ago. Slight lip on the inside of disc causing a low speed squeak thats really doing my head in! Even with pads chamferred (?) it's still doing it.
That's the issue - not just the time to swap over, it's the cost of a 'spare' set of discs as well. Trying to get it all covered by my next setup. Looking very likely to be the ATE Typ 200, new Brembo HC discs and PF Z rated pads.
the PF Z are very popular over the water on BMW's too, which are surely heavier cars. They seem to cope when managed with extra cooling. Would it therefore be easier to just get the PF Z and then get some cooling ducts (get rid of the fogs) for when I go on track? also a more specific question - PF Z would be a better pad for my circumstances over the CL5+? CL5 seem to be a lot more dusty and squeal a lot more? But they are a better pad at higher temps?
I have ran carbotech xp8`s for day to day driving, and track work for many years. No warm up period,no fade on track..even at the ring. huge step up from standard in bite,feel and performance..so what more can you ask for. Saved my ass a couple times at the ring, misjudging corners,and high speed braking was required. £200 is a small price to pay for the security of strong brakes,which surely is the most essential asset on a performance car. My last set were a bit noisy at low speed stops on drilled disks. this set on ktr dimpled disks are silent. Dust is the only problem..but my wheels are sealed with G5,so no problems.
XP8 do squeal in normal round town driving etc depends if you can put up with it and everyone looking at you like it's broken They do work very well though!!
Noisy is no good for me. That's what's prompted me to renew my current setup. Looking very much like it's gonna be PF Z.
To be fair Andrew, the Ring is the track where I would least expect fade. It's very easy on brakes, what with all the massive cooling opportunities.
Looking at the boiling points of the fluids, think I'll sell on the ATE Typ 200 and get some of the Motul RBF 600 - got it in my Civic and it's bang on. No point doing half a job.
as I said..on drilled disks..low speed grinding..on plain not a sound...don't know why. easy on the disks to....
Yes but not on XP8 ;-). I did cook my MINI Cooper S road pads on my very first lap there a long time ago !
exactly..my mate last time out at the ring, with his ek9 turbo civic ,cooked his fearsomely expensive Japanese set up in 2 laps
yep...it was this A.P.Dixel Japanese brand..cost him a small fortune...Not nice hammering around with 300+ Hp with zero brakes at the ring.
If you have lost your brakes that badly at the Ring then your doing it wrong, It really is not a massively demanding circuit on track unless your doing several laps on the fly
Surely thats traffic dependant I always use the long kesselchen straight to cool tho and regain my nerves!
Every time I get around I breath a massive sign of relief. That first bitburg after my laps is the best
This is true of most people that only go to the ring once or twice a year..not exactly a circuit you learn in 5 mins is it..
very very true..people think they become lewis Hamilton the second they drive on the ring..normally with predictable results. My worst moment was hammering in to a wet corner after being on a bone dry track...Didn't know about the rings ability to have rain on 1 side of the circuit and perfectly dry on the other....big slide..just got away with it.
