OEM Brake Pads
 

How good are the OEM brake pads on a GR86? Are they suitable for events such as time trials and TNiA? I've used them for AutoX, but that's only a minute or so on the track and they seemed to work fine for that. For time trials and TNiA should I switch to a pad such as DS2500 or Endless MX72Plus?

Need better pads and fluid for the track

The NASA event I went to, they held up surprisingly well. But, the organizers said they had a few extra pads for people just in case. Our track only had two heavy brake points though

Yeah, track-appropriate pads and fresh DOT4...

I don't have experience with the Ferodo or Endless pads. If you will be doing a fair amount of track usage you should consider CSG pads. I'm running Spec C2 and they are by far the best pads overall for my usage (track, time trials, plus a fair amount of street useage between events). They are a bit pricey but they are lasting me a frankly unbelievably long time, like 18 track days! I do have the big Brembo brakes but still I have to think even dinky-braked FT86s should get quite long life out of them.

For fluid I've never had any issues with off-the-shelf parts store DOT4 so IMO you don't need to do anything fancy there.

OEM Brake Pads
 

My Endless MX72Plus pads arrived from Japan and I've installed them. Will see how they work at TNiA on Sep 22 at Thompson.

OEM pads are not designed for track use. Please see our article about all the reasons why on the Essex Blog: Can I Run my OEM Brake Pads on the Track?

No. I boiled my fluid and glazed my pads at my second ever track day, it probably would have happened on my first if it wasn’t wet most of the day at a track I had never seen before. If you take it super easy you might be fine for a TNIA but if you want to be quick for a TT they won’t last a lap.

Ds2500 are good autox/street pads but I’d only track them if I had no other choice. Might be fine for a newb and they’ll survive, you won’t die but be aware they’re not bulletproof.

You will outgrow non-track compounds very fast. I ran Project Mu HC+800 daily and for my first TNIA they were ok. My second event I melted them.

Just invest in proper track pads from the get go to be safe.

I could get 3 laps out of the stock pads before they completely faded. Would not recommend tracking them at all.

I feel like the gr86 pads get brake fade on the street tbh. one hard stop and they smell horrible.



I recommend swapping to a better pad like raybestos st-43 for track days, then swap back to street pads otherwise. AP racing has some good videos on bedding/cleaning rotors.

For the track, you should be using track pads, not "hybrid" pads.

Check out the reviews of CSG pads on this forum, and check out: https://www.counterspacegarage.com/csg-spec-brake-pads