Track Brake Pad Discussion Thread

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nomis

Guys i'm after some advice on my brakes. Before I did sandown I got a shop to do track prep service type deal and got among other things Penrite racing super DOT4 brake fluid. Rest of brake setup is stock.

Now it's like a week later and my brakes are still really soft feeling. My research online seems to suggest that is due to boiled brake fluid? Is it possible I boiled the Penrite fluid with stock setup ? Or are the stock pads and rotors ruined from heat.

On way home from work yesterday morning I could barely get ABS to trigger.

Heres pics of my front rotors 1 week later.
http://iforce.co.nz/i/hxmnfeta.awz.jpg
http://iforce.co.nz/i/kdkg2j1z.gmm.jpg
http://iforce.co.nz/i/h0pjunz2.yoc.jpg
http://iforce.co.nz/i/jipoe0oh.ayl.jpg

Both sides have groove that catch a fingernail but I'm not sure if that would affect the feel or not ?

Thanks

Your shop has no idea what they're doing if they let you set foot on track in this state, without some words of warning.
Your pads looks like they are smeared (cannot tell 100% without better pictures), and your fluid is boiled.

If you're going to the track, use race pads at the track, and upgrade to a better grade DOT4 fluid. We have several options.

[stevesnj]

Need advice... I have stock rotors only 4500 miles on them and a few track sessions. I purchased WinMax W2's F/R for DD/mild track. Should I prep the rotors? Like get them finish cut or something else?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Need advice... I have stock rotors only 4500 miles on them and a few track sessions. I purchased WinMax W2's F/R for DD/mild track. Should I prep the rotors? Like get them finish cut or something else?

Use them as-is. Bed your pads before your track day.

If you plan on doing more than one or two track days, you'll want to get a race pad for those weekends, and use the W2 for street duty.

[nomis]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Your shop has no idea what they're doing if they let you set foot on track in this state, without some words of warning.
Your pads looks like they are smeared (cannot tell 100% without better pictures), and your fluid is boiled.

If you're going to the track, use race pads at the track, and upgrade to a better grade DOT4 fluid. We have several options.

Hey dude thanks for reply. I am in Aus

Those pics etc are from after Not before haha. I forgot to get pics of the pads. They still had plenty of meat left I'm not sure what smeared is though!

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by nomis

Hey dude thanks for reply. I am in Aus

Those pics etc are from after Not before haha. I forgot to get pics of the pads. They still had plenty of meat left I'm not sure what smeared is though!

You still have pad material left, but the larger issue is that you're totally overheating the pads!

Get a race pad of your choice!

While we'd love to earn your business, it probably wouldn't make sense to ship something to you internationally unless you're looking for a rather rare compound.

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Use them as-is. Bed your pads before your track day.

If you plan on doing more than one or two track days, you'll want to get a race pad for those weekends, and use the W2 for street duty.

Yeh the W2's are fine. I bought F/R from you guys. Depending how serious I get these should be fine for now.

[Enthalpy]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): Winmax/Winmax
Caliper (F/R): Stock/Stock
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): OEM/OEM
Compound (F/R): W5/W5
Tires: Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Feedback:
Got these pads for my first track day at MSR-Houston, and just tried them this past weekend at Texas World Speedway. LOVED them. On the street, it takes a few stops at neighborhood speeds for them to warm up enough to stop like stock. After a few more normal stops, they heat up enough to stop better than the stock pads at the same pedal pressures. I can use what feels like 30-40% less pressure to achieve the same stopping distance - again, on the street. They're hilariously loud, though.

On track, I never once experienced fade, but I'm at stock power. All of the instructors I've ridden with have asked me what pads I'm using, they all like the W5. I can trigger ABS with significantly less (guessing 40%) pedal pressure than stock. In addition to having good bite, I can let off the brake very smoothly, this pad setup has great modulation (imo, but I've done 4 total track days, so my opinion may not be worth much). I've never had issues trying to get the pads back up to temp before a corner.

Dusting looks to be average for a more track-oriented pad.

TL;DR: Love these pads. Great for a stock car on track, not so great on the street due to noise. There are probably louder ones out there, can't be by much though.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 3
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 5
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 9
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 9
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 3
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): (estimate/actual) 4/unknown
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) unknown, I'm on stock wheels which are hideous even when clean, so I don't wash them much
Brake ducts: (Y/N) N

PS: Thanks to @CSG David for getting me a great deal on these pads! I originally submitted an order for the W4, but David informed me that Winmax was not going to send them to the US anymore due to low sales. He suggested I try the W5, and offered them to me at no extra cost. Glad he did, I think I wouldn't like the W4 as much for track duty.

[CSG David]

@Enthalpy Glad you enjoyed the pads. Please take some time to bed in the pads. The noise will subside significantly.

[stevesnj]

Finally got my brake fluid after 3 1/2 weeks, have both sets of pads, when I get my TRD springs i'm going to have a busy few days!!

[Enthalpy]

I actually did follow Winmax's instructions, and I agree, it drops significantly. But they still make a good bit of noise compared to OEM. I also bedded these pads to new rotors (that I cleaned before bedding), and those rotors are only used with these pads. I keep my stock pads and rotors for daily duty.

On track, they only really squeal on initial bite. On the street, they squeal on initial bite, and when vehicle speeds start getting low and brake force is low.

[stevesnj]

Apparently I need to do a few 75mph bedding runs...yikes.

[Enthalpy]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Apparently I need to do a few 75mph bedding runs...yikes.

I'm using the W5, I doubt you'll have a noise issue with the W2. But yes, do properly bed the pads.

[akyp]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): Endless/Endless
Caliper (F/R): OEM/OEM
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): OEM/OEM
Compound (F/R): MX72/MX72
Tires: Dunlop Direzza ZII * in OEM size (215/45 R17)

Feedback:
While performance is decent, the dusting is just unacceptable! Will definitely try something else next trackday.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 1
The dust is RIDICULOUS. After just 3 hot laps the wheels (OEM) were completely dull. After two full days at the track (only did 40 laps) the wheels looked like they've never been washed since new. I've never seen a more dusty pad since I've sold my 2001 RenaultSport Clio.

Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 6
You won't have problems when pulling out of driveway on a winter morning, but if you don't warm them up, the first corner in a mountain drive can surprise you.

Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 8
Even without brake duct they are reasonably fade-free.

Modulation (1=low-10=high): 7

Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 7
Low noise if you have them properly bedded in.

Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): (estimate/actual)
I have yet to pull them out to inspect. Will update later.

Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N)
Fortunately no. The dust washed off with Sonax wheel cleaner.

Brake ducts: (Y/N)
None.

[DarkSunrise]

Brake Pad Manufacturer (F/R): Carbotech / Project Mu
Caliper (F/R): Stock
Rotor Size (F/R - IE OEM or specify): Stock
Compound (F/R): XP10 / HC+ 800
Tires: 235 Nitto NT05, then 225 BFG Rival

Feedback: My first set of XP10's lasted 6 track days, now on my second set. Pretty happy with them. Initial hot bite feels immediate and fairly strong, but easily modulated. I only get minor fade after 2-3 hard laps in intermediate and advanced HPDE groups. They don't wear the rotors much, but seem to get pretty hot based on the heat checking I'm seeing. There is some smear on the outer edges of the rotors, so I will step up to XP12's next.

Note - dust levels are moderately high and there is a light but constant squeal when braking on the street.

Scores:
Dusting (1=high-10=low): 8
Cold bite (1=low-10=high): 6
Hot bite (1=low-10=high): 8
Modulation (1=low-10=high): 7
Noise (1=extremely loud-10=quiet): 5
Pad Lifespan (1=short-10=long): 4
Does the brake dust with this combination damage the wheels/paint if not cleaned immediately? (Y/N) No
Brake ducts: (Y/N) No