Review: Project Mu Club Racers

[MrsJames]

Hello All,

Review covers:
-links
-thanks + shoutouts
-review


I am modeling this review after the superlative writeup of the Project Mu HC+800 found here http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...ighlight=HC800

I also used this super handy (read: kick ass) guide for swapping out the pads
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24614

So, to both forum member spitz and PMok - thank you!


On to the review!

Why bother with ClubRacers....
I had been mulling over new pads for my new FR-S for a few weeks. A good friend of mine highly recomended the Project Mu ClubRacer brake pads. Additionally, I gave the awesome guys at CounterSpaceGarage a phone call and talked to either Mike or David (will append when I remember) for at least half an hour. Their service and knowledge is top-notch.

I had been on the track a few times in california in my now back to life E46 M3 (if any of you know of a black E46 that spun its rod bearings at Laguna and then got SHAFTED by AAA towing...hi thats me, yes I am pressing the issue with the California Insurance Commissioner). So HPDE days with my car are not new to me, but I am not a hard-nosed MUST BE BEST I DRIVE FLAT OUT kind of guy. Hell, the usually picturesque scenery distracts me.

So, to hell with it (I said), after the numerous recommendations, ClubRacers the new pads shall be. They are NOT cheap. Installation was a total breeze as per the awesome writeup above.


HPDE use...
I should have bed in the pads better, but in chicago, it is difficult to find enough space to bed in pads with such high operating temperatures - so I bed them in at an HPDE with SCCA Chicago Chapter - Autobahn Country Club North Course.

Ladies and Gents, these pads offer substantial bite at all temperature ranges. Obviously they are optimized for running well above the operating temperature of the OEM pads, however, cold, they still offer more than enough bite to remove fillings/dentures/offer adjustments/ect.

I was unable to cook the pads at Autobahn Country Club despite my best efforts. The pads may clearly take more than I am able to administer. I had trouble keeping them warm enough. They offer enormous bite in the most linear fashion I have experienced this far.

Street use...
These pads turned my wheels black after a few days of city and regular highway commuting. This is normal for a race pad.

These pads are also very loud and squeaky, you have to really step on the pedal to get the pads to NOT squeal. Not that I mind the attention - I am single anyways.


In Summary...
If I was only doing canyon runs and auto cross I would probably switch to the HC+800, but I am totally addicted to HPDE's. So the ClubRacers stay. They are awesome pads with huge bite, superb pedal feel, linear action, and an upper limit that is likely above what many of us can actually handle (and if you can handle more, you already know it).