whataboutbob's firestorm build

[smbstyle]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

I'm running the RCE springs, Whiteline camber bolts, and COMCs. Right now I am at -2.75 in the front. I don't think I can get any more neg camber with the parts I have. With this setup and my race wheels I still have a pinky finger's worth of clearance between the lower spring perch and the tire/rim.

I've got 2 12" subs in the trunk with a box. I've also got the Whiteline rear LCAs, and have the lower eyelet of the stock struts on the outermost mounting hole. This causes the rear end to ride a bit lower, not sure exactly how much. My rear is currently set to -2.5 camber.

My DD tires are 225/45R17 Michelin Pilot Super Sports on the factory wheels. My AutoX setup is 17x9ET35 RPF1s on 245/40R17 Z2s. Neither rubs at all on my car.

Wow, great to hear you can get that much camber!! Love the setup and the drop with the RCE yellows; I am sold.

[ajcacio]

@whataboutbob have you had a chance to test the Winamx pads yet? What are your opinions?

[whataboutbob]

Originally Posted by ajcacio

@whataboutbob have you had a chance to test the Winamx pads yet? What are your opinions?

The Winmax W3 pads have been great for me so far. I DD the car quite a bit and they are very easy to modulate and don't generate a bunch of dust/noise.

[suaveflooder]

DROOOOOOOOL on those freakin' tires!!! Those look so good! WOW!!!

[whataboutbob]

The r comps were aged out. Thinking this might work:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

[ajcacio]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

The Winmax W3 pads have been great for me so far. I DD the car quite a bit and they are very easy to modulate and don't generate a bunch of dust/noise.

Do you do mostly solo? Have you done any HPDE's?

[whataboutbob]

Originally Posted by ajcacio

Do you do mostly solo? Have you done any HPDE's?

Only SOLO and DD. @Moto-P can comment on HPDE performance.

[ajcacio]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

Only SOLO and DD. @Moto-P can comment on HPDE performance.

Thanks for your input.

[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by ajcacio

Do you do mostly solo? Have you done any HPDE's?

Given the schedule for what I do, I couldn't attend any recent HPDE by NASA, but I do take to the raceways similarly for Extreme Speed, Speed Ventures, Speedtrial USA and other functions we assist or have relations with for operations, as well as corporate testing days and third party track events for companies like Scion, Toyota Motor Sales USA Marketing/PR and Lexus, Falken, and few other entities.

To what sort of inquiries would I be able to answer? I'm all ears for Bob here

[ajcacio]

Originally Posted by Moto-P

Given the schedule for what I do, I couldn't attend any recent HPDE by NASA, but I do take to the raceways similarly for Extreme Speed, Speed Ventures, Speedtrial USA and other functions we assist or have relations with for operations, as well as corporate testing days and third party track events for companies like Scion, Toyota Motor Sales USA Marketing/PR and Lexus, Falken, and few other entities.

To what sort of inquiries would I be able to answer? I'm all ears for Bob here

Hey! I noticed a while ago that the Cusco shop car had Winmax logos, Google led me to their site. In the near future, I'll be in the market for some track pads (mostly solo, but HPDE/PDX at Road Atlanta and some other local tracks) that I can commute on as well. I'd love to hear your impressions if you have any.

[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by ajcacio

Hey! I noticed a while ago that the Cusco shop car had Winmax logos, Google led me to their site. In the near future, I'll be in the market for some track pads (mostly solo, but HPDE/PDX at Road Atlanta and some other local tracks) that I can commute on as well. I'd love to hear your impressions if you have any.

Well there's 2 street use pads and 5 different track pads, so I could recommend a set if you give me a little more about how you like pads to behave. Or if you give me a competing product you use and which one you prefer out of another make of pads... That way I can be more in tune with what your driving style and preference to be, and recommend and explain how they feel. This is for a FRS/BRZ right?

[ajcacio]

Originally Posted by Moto-P

Well there's 2 street use pads and 5 different track pads, so I could recommend a set if you give me a little more about how you like pads to behave. Or if you give me a competing product you use and which one you prefer out of another make of pads... That way I can be more in tune with what your driving style and preference to be, and recommend and explain how they feel. This is for a FRS/BRZ right?

Yep, BRZ. I'm very humbly returning to track days after a pretty nasty crash at Road Atlanta six years ago. I auto-x'ed my STi on Hawk HP+ for a while. I wasn't a huge fan of how noisy and dusty they were (which is obviously a tradeoff) but I felt they were adequate for autocross and some laps on a go kart track. Honestly, it's been so long since I've done serious tracking that I can't be any more detailed than that. For all intents and purposes consider me a total novice. I was looking at Project Mu HC+800, those seem to be a popular pad for mixed duty.

Edit: I'll be using 255/35-18 Pilot Super Sports for those track days.

[whataboutbob]

20,376 views! Thanks everyone for taking a look and commenting.

[Moto-P]

Originally Posted by ajcacio

Yep, BRZ. I'm very humbly returning to track days after a pretty nasty crash at Road Atlanta six years ago. I auto-x'ed my STi on Hawk HP+ for a while. I wasn't a huge fan of how noisy and dusty they were (which is obviously a tradeoff) but I felt they were adequate for autocross and some laps on a go kart track. Honestly, it's been so long since I've done serious tracking that I can't be any more detailed than that. For all intents and purposes consider me a total novice. I was looking at Project Mu HC+800, those seem to be a popular pad for mixed duty.

Edit: I'll be using 255/35-18 Pilot Super Sports for those track days.

For autocross, there is not reason for the brakes to actually fade since the duration is typically only about 30~90 seconds long. And for short track duties, this isn't going to be heavy on huge braking needs until you start chasing after trophies. I can recommend Winmax W2 as something you can use with absolutely no noise and very minimal dust. It's still a non-metallic compound brake, but it's held up to my time attacks at Streets of Willow and Laguna Seca fairly well at some decent speeds and duration, and well beyond the limits and pace of OEM stock brakes crumbled to oblivion... So that's our very strong seller for the FRS/BRZ.
If you are a seasoned track driver, you might enjoy the slightly more positive braking touch (pedal feel) of a semi-metallic pad like W3 and W4 for a bit more cash, but again, this will start to venture you into a more dusty and noisy territory...not as bad as Hawk HP+ in noise but yeah comparable in terms of chores in cleaning.

Winmaxusa.com website should be open by sometime next week and W2 will be available for $115 per axle, so $230 a set. Which is a bit cheaper than Project Mu or Endless in comparable pads, and a little more advanced than Cobalts or Hawk in terms of materials used. W2's should serve you very well for the time being, till you run some serious track compound tires, or start lapping 100 mph+ tracks with deep braking zones for over 20 minutes at a time.

W3 will also serve you well, but as it is made with rare-earth metal composites, it does cost a tad more at $150 per axle. I won't say it's better since brakes are very much dependent on who drives and with what equipment. W2 is better for a dual-role city commute/part time shot track/autocross type application. W3 just extends that a bit more, while introducing to you a bit more of what a racing brake pad feels like.

Both W2 and W3 does stay relatively consistent over huge temperature ranges but with a bit of flavor for the stock/silent feel W2 or firm, positive, feel for the extended track and autocross...W3.

If you are on a budget and still want things to hold up much better than stock Subaru supplied OEM stuff, you can also try the W1 for very similar feel to the stock, but with a much bigger headroom for high temperature consistency. That's only $95 per axle...