Suggestion for brake pads and fluid

[wilfredwong]

I'm thinking of upgrading my brake pad and brake fluid since I felt a little brake fade almost the end of my track day.
Does anyone have any suggestion?
My car is currently bone stock.

[kster1]

I'm using Motul RBF600 brake fluid. For pads, there are lots of options, check the thread in the racing forum for a variety of opinions.

(FWIW, I'm also utilizing Carbotech XP8s with ducting; with this setup, there was no brake fade of any kind today at Thunderhill.)

[wilfredwong]

Originally Posted by kster1

Run something like Motul RBF600 brake fluid. For pads, there are lots of options, check the thread in the racing forum for a variety of opinions.

(FWIW, I'm using Carbotech XP8s with ducting; with this setup, there was no brake fade of any kind today at Thunderhill.)

Did you change the front only or both front and rear?

[kster1]

Originally Posted by wilfredwong

Did you change the front only or both front and rear?

I'm running XP8s in both front and rear. I don't daily drive my BRZ, but if you do, keep in mind that the XP8s dust quite a bit. The noise level isn't terribly bad but you will hear them.

[wilfredwong]

Originally Posted by kster1

I'm running XP8s in both front and rear. I don't daily drive my BRZ, but if you do, keep in mind that the XP8s dust quite a bit. The noise level isn't terribly bad but you will hear them.

Ok. Thank you very much

[PMok]

I did my first few track days with just XP8s in front, stock pads in rear. No issues at all felt very good all day. That was on stock tires first 2 track days and then on grippier 140TW tires on 3rd day, very good performance no fade. However I do plan to swap out all 4 brakes to same material next time.

[MyRx]

If you don't get a chance to swap your pads or fluid, you can certainly just bleed the brakes at the track. Just bleed the fluid that are in the lines.

I know having to swap pads on the stock calipers can be time consuming if you don't have practice or are not too familiar. Bleeding you could learn and do quickly.

[wilfredwong]

Originally Posted by PMok

I did my first few track days with just XP8s in front, stock pads in rear. No issues at all felt very good all day. That was on stock tires first 2 track days and then on grippier 140TW tires on 3rd day, very good performance no fade. However I do plan to swap out all 4 brakes to same material next time.

Most of the reviews on XP8s are positive, I might be getting them.
I'll just change all four of them once for all, as well as changing the brake fluid.

[wilfredwong]

Originally Posted by MyRx

If you don't get a chance to swap your pads or fluid, you can certainly just bleed the brakes at the track. Just bleed the fluid that are in the lines.

I know having to swap pads on the stock calipers can be time consuming if you don't have practice or are not too familiar. Bleeding you could learn and do quickly.

I'm thinking to just swap the pads and leave them there, rather than swap before going onto the track.
I don't know if that's a good idea, and might change my mind later on.
Anyway thank you for telling me that, now I can at least do something if for whatever reason I will be using my stock pad on track.
Btw David Ray (The owner of HOD) had coached me for one section yesterday

[PMok]

Originally Posted by wilfredwong

I'm thinking to just swap the pads and leave them there, rather than swap before going onto the track.
I don't know if that's a good idea, and might change my mind later on.

the main concerns of running race pads all the time, will be the noise, dust and potentially accelerated wear of your rotors. just FYI. I've simply learned to live with it.

[wilfredwong]

Originally Posted by PMok

the main concerns of running race pads all the time, will be the noise, dust and potentially accelerated wear of your rotors. just FYI. I've simply learned to live with it.

hm...I can live with the noise
For dust, will it be solved by cleaning it more often?
And for wearing of rotors, will changing rotors help?

[kster1]

If you do almost all street driving, you'll likely get some extra rotor wear. But the bigger factor will be the heat cycles on the track as you get faster. This is when you start seeing discoloration and hairline cracks (I recently replaced my rotors).

I wouldn't worry too much about extra wear with XP8s when driving on the street, it shouldn't be too bad.

[LV2CRNR]

I was thinking about the stainless brake upgrade kit with 600 fluid. Comes with slotted rotors, performance pada and stainless lines. $530 at speedfactory86

[SeanBlader]

Just FYI, brake fluid is not an upgrade mod. It either works or it doesn't, there's no variation in capabilities between any hydraulic fluid, unless you happen to be overheating your brakes and boiling the fluid, which is very difficult to do. So, unless you have a very good reason to be removing and spending the trouble to reflush the entire system, I'd recommend leaving it alone.