First trackday: which brake pads?

[yellowltd]

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!

[Bimmerman325i]

If it's your first track day, then yes, you are slow. Go with the cheapo-crapo pad so that you drive within your limits.

Then, after a little while, HT10 or better. HPS and HP+ are NOT well suited to the track.

PFC pads are worth every penny.

[JMPAuto]

Stay away from Hawk HPS, no good for track. HP+ are ok for beginners but they are squeal like crazy on street. I say try any semi metallic street pads for the first time and see how much more braking power you need after the first day. HT-10 is decent but PFC is the best but if you will drive it on the street 99% of the time then it will be money wasted.

[BlackbirdM3]

First time on the track, you will use entirely too much brake, and you will over heat them I would NOT go with a cheap set of pads because once they get hot, you have no brakes. This is what happened to me my first time out. I got 3 laps at Thunderhill before my brake pads started off gassing so much that even though I had a firm pedal, the car would not stop at all. Where is the fun in sitting in the pits during your session waiting for the brakes to cool off enough to go back out.

No, get some high quality brakes. I'm a big fan of KFP pads. The blue compound might be ok (fine for street use) but might not be quite enough for a day at the track. The Gold compound is awesome on the track but you have to bed them in properly and even once bedded in, you will want to give the guy in front of you a bit of room for the first session. By the second session your brakes should be good to go and will be awesome. 3304539757 is their phone number. The gold compound is ok on the street once you get used to them. Even ice cold they will stop on par with a cheap set of pads. Once they have a little heat in them, they are awesome.

Will

[robgoesvroom]

who are you running with? I'm going to the blacktrax test n tune in November in my grey coupe.

I'm running PFC 06 pads, its expensive but worth it!

[cosm3os]

HP+ will be fine.

[yellowltd]

If it's your first track day, then yes, you are slow. Go with the cheapo-crapo pad so that you drive within your limits.

Congratulations! You win the award for advice most likely to endanger me and my instructor! Way to go!

who are you running with? I'm going to the blacktrax test n tune in November in my grey coupe.

I'm running PFC 06 pads, its expensive but worth it!

Running with NCRC.

HP+ will be fine.

That's the direction I've been leaning in based on research and, yes, price. My main concern is not destroying the pads in the case that I am braking nice and hard (probably not on these tires, but hey), and I think the HP+ will be a good entry level pad to provide that security, with the added bonus of not having to change them at the track.

Thanks all for your suggestions, even you, Bimmerman325i! ;)

[var1ant]

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.

First time on the track, you will use entirely too much brake, and you will over heat them I would NOT go with a cheap set of pads because once they get hot, you have no brakes. This is what happened to me my first time out. I got 3 laps at Thunderhill before my brake pads started off gassing so much that even though I had a firm pedal, the car would not stop at all. Where is the fun in sitting in the pits during your session waiting for the brakes to cool off enough to go back out.

No, get some high quality brakes. I'm a big fan of KFP pads. The blue compound might be ok (fine for street use) but might not be quite enough for a day at the track. The Gold compound is awesome on the track but you have to bed them in properly and even once bedded in, you will want to give the guy in front of you a bit of room for the first session. By the second session your brakes should be good to go and will be awesome. 3304539757 is their phone number. The gold compound is ok on the street once you get used to them. Even ice cold they will stop on par with a cheap set of pads. Once they have a little heat in them, they are awesome.

Will

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.

[Bimmerman325i]

I disagree. I have tracked on HP+, and they are only good for a few laps before they go off, and they give no warning at all before they do.

Conversely, on stock-like pads, I found the fade very progressive and easy to anticipate. Street pads keep your ego from cashing checks your talent can't write yet. You get a very obvious "i should back off here" warning well before you endanger yoursf or instructor. Furthermore, they are much better for teaching proper braking technique, i.e. not dragging the brake or overbraking, as those cause fade.

But what do I know, I've only been tracking for the last five years with numerous pads and cars.

[Eric]

Thunderhill is a super fun track! You'd be an idiot to live in the Bay area (david) for a few years and never visit thunderhill or Laguna Seca!!!


Remember, the 318is is a momentum car, lay off the brakes.

Have fun!

[Cronopoulos]

Carbotech XP12's

[James Crivellone]

On the Racecar I run

Hawk DTC-60's in the front
Hawk HT-10's in the rear
Centric Cryo Rotors

On the Chumpcar (M30 E30) we run PFC-08's front and rear.

I'd say PFC-08's would be a great track pad. Good bite, not as aggressive as the DTC-60's but they will last a lot longer.

[Brian D]

My first question would be what tires are you going to be running?

Congratulations! You win the award for advice most likely to endanger me and my instructor! Way to go!

The only thing that will endanger you on your first track day will be your ego. How do you know you're "not slow"? Canyon runs?

Not trying to bust your balls, but your attitude gives me pause.

[Brian D]

Remember, the 318is is a momentum car, lay off the brakes.

Have fun!

Great advice, by the way.

[Dave]

HP+ will be fine.

You're slow. These should work for your first few events.

Check your ego at the gates of the track. Trust me you'll have more fun and be faster in the long run.