First trackday: which brake pads?

[BlackbirdM3]

My hp+s squeal LOUD on the street. They are great for canyon roads and all that but be prepared for some loud brakes and looks on the street.



Of those pads which ones aren't too loud on the street? I know it's impossible to get pads that are silent on the street and great at the track but I don't care about dust. I just want a pad with great stopping power but not too loud on the street.

I run the golds on the Datsun and they don't make any noise, and they don't dust that much. The Blue compound has more bite cold, but dusts like crazy and sometimes squeals. I ran the Blues on my Alfa GTV with no trouble. When I get around to changing the pads on the M3, the KFP golds will go on.

From experience, you will use way too much brake, you will brake hard for turn 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,11, and 13/14. Perhaps by the end of the day you will brake less for 1, 6, 8 (8 can be a great passing zone if you figure it out.) That said, do not underestimate turns one or 8. They are the fastest corners on the track, I've seen the results of getting both corners wrong, it wasn't pretty.

If you want some more seat time, you should come out to the trackmasters autoX test and tune Nov 17. Lots of driving, and it all carries over to playing on the big track. Its the same fundamentals, just a little slower and closer together. PM me for more info if you are interested.

Will

[Irish1]

Hooked on Driving??

If the event is a Hooked on Driving event I'll be there to coach, and I have half a million miles in modified and stock E30s. Look for my Zinnoberoot 89 325is. Your 318is should be great there if the suspension's fit. Lots of arcing corners to maintain speed at THill and the Turn 8 & 9 complex separates the men from the boys. Look me up if you're coming to the HOD event. Even HPS pads would be fine for the first day, with upgrades later. Slow is fast and smooth is fast, so don't get out there all aggressive the first couple sessions: learn the nuances of where to stabilize the car and put power down and you'll be passing the SpecMiata horde very soon.

Hi All! Doing my first trackday in a couple of weeks @ Thunderhill. My '91 318is is completely stock, with 253k miles. I will have a fresh set of Mintex red box pads (and Brembo blanks, new Meyle lines, rebuilt calipers, and new fluid) on the car, but from what I read they may not be up to the task (first trackday but I am, uh, not slow). I've been looking at the following pads and I'm not sure which would suit my use:
Hawk HPS
Hawk HP Plus
Hawk HT10
EBC Greenstuff?

I've looked at the Performance Friction pads but they are out of my budget (honestly, $200 for a set of pads is a bit steep as it is).

What do you recommend? Thanks!

[robgoesvroom]

hey some of you other California people should register for that blacktrax test n tune so I'm not the only other E30 out there on November 18. It's gonna be an S2000 party it looks like

[Feffman]

Give Danny Puskar at Carbotech (www.CTBrakes.com) a call about their brake pads. I've used them for years. They are very effectve and easy on rotors.

Feff

[JRKOUPE]

I took 2 buddy's over the yrs to a DE event.....both were HOT SHOE street drivers that thought they were crazy fast...lol. Even while driving to tracks they would scream by me on the local roads at 90 mph........showing me how good they were.

once on a real track they were like moving chicanes...it was very funny.....e90M3/e36 m3 car's.....can u say slooooooow........

HP+ will be fine......and if not you will learn how to make them fine.

[Spitfi-r]

I ran HT-10's all around for my 1st,2,3,4th track weekends with my stock m20 on street tires with ATE fluid. For a reasonable cost I never had to worry about my brakes.

If you plan on going to the track more than once why waste money on HPS or HP+ that you'll have to upgrade. Get real track pads and focus on your driving.

[deutschman]

Porterfield RS4 pads are good autox/limited track day/street pads.

[nrubenstein]

The HPS is shit (I hate these things on the street, much less on track), the HP+ is dangerous on track (as was stated earlier, they have an on/off nature - this is especially dangerous if you are fast but inexperienced and have a big ego), and the HT10 is shit (they work fine on track, but they burn up fast).

A set of PF08s will cost more up front, but will last so much longer than anything else that you will end up way ahead in the end. Really, anything else is a false economy.

If you are determined to be cheap, I agree with the statement that you should run stock type pads. Stock pads have great and progressive fade characteristics. If they fade out on you, it is your fault for ignoring them. The HP+ on the other hand, will go from 100% on to nothing with no warning.

[E30Gus]

I ran HT-10's all around for my 1st,2,3,4th track days with my stock m20 on street tires with ATE fluid. For a reasonable cost I never had to worry about my brakes.

If you plan on going to the track more than once why waste money on HPS or HP+ that you'll have to upgrade. Get real track pads and focus on your driving.

I agree with this. I ran my first track event on regular street pads/tires. By the 2nd event I had bought the HP+ and they gave up on me over and over again. I'd go as far as saying it ruined the fun due to their unpredictability and heavy fading. I couldn't wait to wear them out so I could get a good set of track pads. I love the HT-10 and the Blues for their price and function.
I have not tried the PF pads yet but probably will in the future.

[Fooshe]

If you have not already run your track day, I am going to throw out something nobody usually thinks of....Raybestos ST-43's. I love these pads and they are relatively quiet. I raced a full year and half of Spec E30 (Including Cal Speedway 4 times and Willowsprings 2 times)and they did not fail me once. They are very linear in feel, kind to rotors and they flat out work!

If you did have your track day, which did you pick and how did it go?

[seatown88]

If you have not already run your track day, I am going to throw out something nobody usually thinks of....Raybestos ST-43's. I love these pads and they are relatively quiet. I raced a full year and half of Spec E30 (Including Cal Speedway 4 times and Willowsprings 2 times)and they did not fail me once. They are very linear in feel, kind to rotors and they flat out work!

If you did have your track day, which did you pick and how did it go?

That's a lot of money right there...don't get me wrong the ST-43 sounds like an amazing pad, and I want to try it out at one point. The initial cost is incredibly high for a guy just starting out, I cant even justify the cost with my race car yet.

[dude8383]

What kind of brake fluid have you got in there?

Won't repeat what the other guys are saying but a stock pad would probably be a better idea since you're just learning. I've dragged out several people to track events and have told each and every single one of them... keep the car stock and learn from there. No need to add shit to the car before you know how to handle it in stock form.

[FLG]

What kind of brake fluid have you got in there?

Won't repeat what the other guys are saying but a stock pad would probably be a better idea since you're just learning. I've dragged out several people to track events and have told each and every single one of them... keep the car stock and learn from there. No need to add shit to the car before you know how to handle it in stock form.

Wait you mean I did this all wrong? Lol


Like others have said your going to be slow and could get away with a good set of stock pads. Heck even the hp+ pads will be ok but you'll be changing them when you go faster. Once you get addicted and up your tires to r-comps you'll need a more aggressive pad to take advantage of the added grip. The dtc's are great up front with ht-10s in the rear but be prepared for brake dust EVERYWHERE. I've given up trying to keep my rims clean... Its hopeless.


My first track day I kept it slow, but learned smoothness and getting the line down. My last run I wanted to give her some but of course it started to rain right before I went out. Don't practice trying to drive fast, practice driving smooth.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[dude8383]

Wait you mean I did this all wrong? Lol

LOL... in reality... YES!! So did I frankly.

But in my defense I did start out with simple suspension upgrades, which I still have, O.E. Sport springs with adjustable shocks and stock bushings all around (save for the treehouse eyeballs and TA's). I also had a smaller motor in there before I blew it up so I did get some experience in before hand. With an S52 its a bit of a different ball game... speeds are definitely higher and I've actually installed my rear sway bar now.

If I could do this all over again I would have tracked my first 318iS with STOCK EVERYTHING and I probably would have been further ahead in terms of what I've learned thus far.

[nando]

The HPS is shit (I hate these things on the street, much less on track), the HP+ is dangerous on track (as was stated earlier, they have an on/off nature - this is especially dangerous if you are fast but inexperienced and have a big ego), and the HT10 is shit (they work fine on track, but they burn up fast).

A set of PF08s will cost more up front, but will last so much longer than anything else that you will end up way ahead in the end. Really, anything else is a false economy.

If you are determined to be cheap, I agree with the statement that you should run stock type pads. Stock pads have great and progressive fade characteristics. If they fade out on you, it is your fault for ignoring them. The HP+ on the other hand, will go from 100% on to nothing with no warning.

glad I'm not the only one who thinks that HPS suck.

I also agree with going for a more aggressive, "race" style pad. look, E30 brakes are cheap, even with upgraded pads you might spend another $50. the biggest benefit will be not having to replace them after 1 track day. stick them in a box and save them for your next outting. a good set should last 4-5 weekends, perhaps more if you aren't abusing your brakes, in the end they'll be less expensive. HPDEs are about having the most fun while breaking the least amount of stuff.

it's not the same at all as showing up on R-comps or with a 500whp turbo car your first day. Those items are go-fast parts, while brakes are a safety item. HPS are not safe and HP+ aren't going to be much better, plus they'll be pretty much toast after 1 or 2 days.

basically, better pads aren't going to hide driving issues as much as sticky tires and power that are way above your skill set.