First track day done now I need some pads :)
 

So I did my first track day in a car and I LOVED it. I had so much fun out there and my instructor (Ben) was fantastic. Having the car completely stock with just GT Radial SX2’s did me just fine. The morning sessions were in the rain and while I loved the learning opportunity of driving on the track in the rain for sure, I enjoyed the last session in the afternoon where the rain was finally cooked off.

The only thing that I feel like I need before my next track day is a new set of pads. I was thinking the CSG CX2, W5, XP10’s or Hawk HP+. This car will see really minimal street time and almost exclusively track time and I’m still at the early stages of learning. My main goal is that I want a pad that won’t fade in 20 minute track sessions and won’t eat a rotor. I’d also love a somewhat quiet and low dusting pad but those don’t matter so much.

Also I’m pretty sure the stock rotors are still on the car. Even with some pretty hard braking sessions they don’t feel warped so I don’t know if I HAVE to change the rotors. If I do, I was thinking about just going cheap and getting the Centric’s but I’m also thinking about the StopTech Slotted... But again open to opinions.

Thanks all!

Rotors don't get warped (I mean they can but in this context they won't) - if you begin to feel vibrations it's because pad deposits are getting transferred onto the rotor surface.

Quiet and Low Dusting for a track pad is kind of a misnomer, IMO - You won't necessarily be happy with any track pad because these are simply the resultant of friction.

Hawk HP+ is not a track pad, I'd immediately cross that out.

From my experience, DS1.11 is a great track pad that you could swap out for DS2500 if you do decide to daily the car or drive it more on the street. Otherwise Raybestos ST43 is another good alternative.

Were you at Shenandoah yesterday by chance?

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Understood. I'm just going to have to deal with the dust\noise because realistically the only miles it'll get are too and from the track.

So are you saying I can stay with the existing rotors or should I just drop the coin and get the pads and rotors at the same time.

Thanks for the feedback.

I have some brand new Cobalt Friction XR2 and some barely used Carbotech XP10s that are about to be up for sale. Planned to post later. Let me know if you are interested.

Yep... White FRS in Novice. Parked two rows back from the classroom. I was the guy that had his canopy that tried to make a trip to the skidpad :)

@bmacfrs Where were you?

I've tracked an S2000 on HP+, IMO they're fine for lowish power applications but there's a LOT of nasty black dust and a LOT of noise on the street.

WinMax W5 I loved at the track, except they are loud as hell! I mean, even at the track with trackhounds the noise turned heads in the paddock and friends could hear me braking for turns near the paddock and identify it as me without looking.

I ran XP10s for street/track for years. I like them fine, don't dust too bad and not too terribly noisy. Prefer a smidge more initial bite though.

I'm running CSG Spec C2 up front last year and they're my favorite pads so far. Not too noisy, not too dusty, holding up well, and very good/high friction cold or hot. Just a bit pricey... I'm about to order rears from them to match the fronts. I'm sure the CX2 is probably fine as well, but you should ask them for a recommendation for your usage and your preferences if you go with them.

I am on CSG C1's and love them. They are hard on rotors though.

FWIW I've run both of these on street and track and like them both.
XP10 last a lot longer
XR2 have more initial bite and I liked the feel better. But shortish life...

I was parked on the other side of the restroom shower building and skid pad. Which BTW, you should take advantage of skid pad when open. Great training aid!
my 2 cents...
Lots of choices on the pads. I have tried a few and settled on the Carbotech/G-loc brands. You really dont need to use anything other than stock rotors for now. If you're going down the path of track time, plan on having a set of street pads and a set for the track. They are easy enough to swap and doing otherwise is just a compromise. Dont go cheap on the track pads, there is a difference. If you end up not using them much then they do have resell value.
Stop by if you see me at Summit next time you're there!
... and you got a heck of a day for the first outing. Rain, storms, more rain, wind, then some drying. Congrats on dealing with it and having a good day regardless!

xp10's are safe bet, will be trying ds1.11 after I finish the carbotechs, I like my ds2500's but they're not fit for track duty.

I'm finally replacing my original brake rotors after 100k miles. Measure the thickness, decide from there, I've had 4 different brake pads on them, bed them in and build confidence in how they act and you'll be fine.

I run CSG pads, if properly bedded in they make little to no noise. They are the best pad I have driven, very easy to threshold brake!

Every race pad is hard on rotors cold! :D

I have had issues with XP10s and uneven pad transfer leading to fairly severe brake shudder. I replaced rotors and tried to be very careful bedding them in, and had the problem occur again. Talking with people at track events and vendors they say it's pretty common with Carbotech/G-loc compounds. Several people I know (BRZ/Miata owners) have moved away from carbotech due to the issue.

Carbotech pads do work for a lot of people.

I'd like to try the ds1.11, but at $531 for the front set (brembo calipers) I'll try some other options first. PFC08s will be the next pad I try ($189/set).

My question to you would be, do you want something "enough for now", but may (will) outgrow, or do you want something that will basically be good for you forever, regardless of how fast you get?

Definitely do good brake fluid, an oil cooler, and some camber bolts as well.
That's really all you need to enjoy the car!

Note that all of these mods are sustainability mods; none of them are "go fast" parts, but rather "go longer" parts.

Yeah, I was just surprised by how much more wear. Still worth it.

I had the same experience with XP10's. I would smear them pretty badly even driving at damp slightly raining track days, could never get them to work for me. I also didn't like their spongy feeling threshold breaking.

I have the braided brake lines along with Motul 660... Just need pads that can take the abuse of the heat that the brake delivery gives them :)

I'm prolly gonna check out an oil cooler soon as well. Next time I'll plug my obd2 scanner in there and see what the temps look like. This one wasn't bad because of rain and more rain... plus additional rain.

The CSG C2's look super tempting but damn that's pricey.

Sounds to me like you're overheating the XP10. It's a great beginner's pad, and you've likely exceeded their capacity, based on your feedback.

You'll likely prefer the other pads you've mentioned, but I'd also recommend giving the C2 a shot, if you're considering DS1.11 money. You'll easily make up the cost in life alone.

Due to the extremely high limits of the C2, you may have difficulty burnishing the pad on a NA car without sticky tires, unless you do long sessions to build enough heat.

Thanks for the feedback. I thought about moving to XP12s or higher but I had enough trouble bedding the XP10s on the street.

I'll see how I get along with the PFCs (already purchased) and then probably try something different.

What are the expected differences between the CSG Sprint (C2) and the Track-day pads (CX1) besides price? Wondering how they compare to each other.

The CX1 is offered in a BRZ PP compatible shape, but is not recommended due to lack of a matching rear. It's listed purely because it's used on other platforms.

I'd recommend C2 front and rear.

So you'd recommend the Cx2 if I'm only doing track days not the C2 right?

C2, not CX2 or CX1, for track days.

-Mike

Get 2 different set of pads. I use Carbotech 1521's on street and XPS 10/8 for Track on the same rotors. Works great for my uses.

Second track day gonna need coils
Third track day gonna need header and tune
Fourth track day gonna need sticky tires

Welcome to the rabbit hole

Coaching will be your best use of funds

Fifth Track Day: Aero
sixth Track Day: Insert anything else you can think of

Yeah DS1.11s must have shot up on cost (I remember when I could get a whole set for both axles for $400 shipped).

Boy those days are gone. Might also be just the PP Pad shape which is driving the cost, which well also makes no sense.

Probably financial coaching based on this!

Ferrodo DS2500s all the way.

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Man, I'm really behind the curve on this. :D

Take that stimmy check and catch up [emoji1787]

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Hey small world I was in the same row. Blue 2017 BRZ (#668). I run CSG C1. Great pads, a little hard on the wallet. But brakes and tires are the best place to put your money. I just purchased a new set of CSG C2.

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I think I remember seeing your car. Thanks for the advice!