Minimal safe setup for a track day/hpde?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by milhouse

I am in the same boat with a two-day HPDE event coming up. First time, etc. Does anyone think upgrading to SS brake lines (Spiegler) are a worthwhile investment at this point? The car only has 4k miles on it, so I am leaning against it until there is an issue or I do more event, but I'd like some feedback.

Thanks.

I'd do pads and fluid at the minimum. Lines you can do later.

[GotMunchies?]

Originally Posted by milhouse

I am in the same boat with a two-day HPDE event coming up. First time, etc. Does anyone think upgrading to SS brake lines (Spiegler) are a worthwhile investment at this point? The car only has 4k miles on it, so I am leaning against it until there is an issue or I do more event, but I'd like some feedback.

Thanks.

If you're planning on flushing with DOT4 fluid anyways (you should be) and are planning on regularly tracking, its a good bang for buck upgrade that increases the durability of the braking system. They're pretty easy to install, just be careful not to allow so much brake fluid to drain that you allow air into the master cylinder.

This will also make bleeding the brakes after install a bit more of a chore than usual because there will be a LOT more air in the system. Get a bit more brake fluid than you would need just to flush the system and have a friend help by keeping an eye on the reservoir level. Add fluid as necessary.

[milhouse]

I'm going to have a local shop do the brake flush. I have Project Mu HC+800s on the way, so I expect between the flush and the pads lines aren't necessary right now. And they seem like something I can tackle myself later.

Thanks for all the advice.

[CarlIvan]

I felt no fade at the end of my first 1/2 hour session at Homestead Speedway. Then the instuctor took my car out for 4 laps. On the next session, which was almost 2 hours later, my brakes felt like sponges by the second lap. By the end of that session I was standing on the brakes and missing apexs. This was on Hawks pads and DOT 3-4 brake fluid(unfortunately I don't remember the specs on thoose pads. I'll check it out when I get home later this morning). Since then I've upgraded to SS lines, rims and tires. Eibach sportline springs (1.4" drop) are arriving this Monday. I'm giving the pads another chance as the instructor runs the same pads on his Miata. Next session is on February 22. I'll see if this helps.

[CarlIvan]

Originally Posted by kavanagh

From my experience last weekend, I wouldn't bother with it until you go test it stock and see how it is. I was blown away by the stock performance.

FWIW, I did put steel lines on my CBR1000RR and love the bite. I just prefer swapping bits after I've identified them as the weak link, and not my own ability.


Sent from a secret volcano base using trained sharks

Sharks?? You should get some ill tempered, mutated Sea Bass. More eco friendly.

[GeorgeJFrick]

I did 7 20 minute sessions at Blackhawk completely stock. I didn't experience any chunking from the tires. By 3/4 through the day though, the brakes were done and upon returning home and taking a pair of pads off; they were cooked pretty good. I think the term is as FRSfan111 mentioned; they were 'glazed'. I replaced them with some performance pads, and race fluid. Completely different car just from fluid/pads.

I did lots of Autocross stock, no problems at all (besides all the suckage while learning)

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by CarlIvan

I felt no fade at the end of my first 1/2 hour session at Homestead Speedway. Then the instuctor took my car out for 4 laps. On the next session, which was almost 2 hours later, my brakes felt like sponges by the second lap. By the end of that session I was standing on the brakes and missing apexs. This was on Hawks pads and DOT 3-4 brake fluid(unfortunately I don't remember the specs on thoose pads. I'll check it out when I get home later this morning). Since then I've upgraded to SS lines, rims and tires. Eibach sportline springs (1.4" drop) are arriving this Monday. I'm giving the pads another chance as the instructor runs the same pads on his Miata. Next session is on February 22. I'll see if this helps.

Your car has more power, and weight, than a miata.

I can run 20 events on 1 set of Carbotech XP10/8 on a Miata, and still have pads left over. They will last me maybe 1 day in a FRS, if I were to run full sessions (after I feel them fading); they'd be fading after a few laps.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Your car has more power, and weight, than a miata.

I can run 20 events on 1 set of Carbotech XP10/8 on a Miata, and still have pads left over. They will last me maybe 1 day in a FRS, if I were to run full sessions (after I feel them fading); they'd be fading after a few laps.

to be fair your skill and your shop BRZ has much more power then a stock car

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by jflogerzi

to be fair your skill and your shop BRZ has much more power then a stock car

I'm talking about a stock FRS

[ddeflyer]

Yeah, you can get away with alot more in a Miata, my team's Lemons car is a NA Miata and we just use street pads in the race and it is fine. In my BRZ with DS1.11 (endurance pads so they don't have a crazy high temp range) pads and the essex sprint kit I can feel a slight hint of fading in two spots on that same track.

Now granted, a Lemons race is not as fast or hard on the brakes as a track day, but the feeling I got was that the street pads we were using would not fail a stock'ish weight/stock power miata until you were pulling some seriously fast/hard laps.