[moe182]

Hey im going to be going to my first lapping day at Mosport Raceway
http://www.mosport.com/ and I have a stock Limited STI. I've searched around and found everything from stock should be fine, to get track pads, lines, and fluid. So im looking for some advice and wisdom.... not really sure what I should have done for this lapping day.

I dont want to have any damage to the car, and I also dont want to spend most of the day waiting for the brakes to cool down...trying to find a balance.

[upncummr]

If you're new to lapping days and track time, then I suspect that your stock set up will be fine.

However, if you're running in Intermediate or Advanced run groups then I'd suggest an upgrade to more of a track pad.

You might try looking for used track pads as a cheap alternative even if you're in a Novice run group.

I've run PF97s, Hawk H10, Porterfield R4, Ferrodo DS2500 and DS3000 on various cars and have never had a problem with any of them.

It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and purchase an additional set of pads (either street or track) so that you have spares in your track kit.

Enjoy your event!

Gary

[RaceComp Engineering]

Brakes are the one thing you may want to consider upgrading for track use, as the stock pads can fade pretty quickly. Stainless lines and high temp fluid (like ATE Superblue) will help with pedal feel and resistance to boiling the fluid, whereas an aggressive street pad or a low grade track pad will help resist fade and increase bite. For a novice HPDE student, the Pagid RS4-2-1 or Ferodo DS2500 would be a nice compromise. They are easy on rotors and can be run as street pads as well as on the track. If you have any questions, give us a call. We have some brake packages as well...

-Dan

[SWortham]

If you want to just do the bare minimum for this first track day, you may be able to avoid boiling your brake fluid like I did if you just put in some ATE Super Blue or Motul RBF600 fluid, and also remove the dust shields behind the rotors.

Those are good things to do anyway. The higher temp fluid will be nice to have. And removing the dust shields will improve airflow to the rotors.

I don't exactly agree that if you're new that your stock setup will be fine. I mean, I suppose it might depending on your driving and depending on the track. But when I boiled my brake fluid it was only my 2nd track day, and it was the first with the STI.

[evilSTi7]

i personally use, and i know a bunch of other people that use the ferodo 2500's and love them. They are great for beginners and you will be able to use them even as you get better. i would also recommend ss lines and fluid (motul rbf600 or ate superblue).

[BoostJunkie]

Originally Posted by SWortham

If you want to just do the bare minimum for this first track day, you may be able to avoid boiling your brake fluid like I did if you just put in some ATE Super Blue or Motul RBF600 fluid, and also remove the dust shields behind the rotors.

Those are good things to do anyway. The higher temp fluid will be nice to have. And removing the dust shields will improve airflow to the rotors.

I don't exactly agree that if you're new that your stock setup will be fine. I mean, I suppose it might depending on your driving and depending on the track. But when I boiled my brake fluid it was only my 2nd track day, and it was the first with the STI.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that removing the dust shields helps get some much needed air to the rotors. Once you move up and become faster, brake ducts like the RCE Kool Brake Kit (shameless plug ) are very beneficial.

[moe182]

Thanks for all the advice guys, ok so I think I'm going to go with some SS lines (which brand?), ferodo 2500's, and i guess either motul rbf600 or ate superblue.

[WRXBrakes]

The pads and fluis are the 2 most important things that would likely not survive a DE. The fluid will almost certainly boil and unless you are really slow you will put a hurting on the stock pads - which is a waste of a good but dusty street pad.

2500's are a good choice for a beginner - and ATE or Motul 600 is ok

I just happen to keep that stuff in stock all the time.

[spazegun2213]

Originally Posted by WRXBrakes

The pads and fluis are the 2 most important things that would likely not survive a DE. The fluid will almost certainly boil and unless you are really slow you will put a hurting on the stock pads - which is a waste of a good but dusty street pad.

2500's are a good choice for a beginner - and ATE or Motul 600 is ok

I just happen to keep that stuff in stock all the time.

Ken, i love you man but I'll have to disagree with you there a little. I the most important things are the fluid and the lines. For the first track day i think his OE pads will hold up.

I did my first event with ATE and SS lines and only had a tiny bit of fade from the pads, but that was on the second day and i was really on it.

Still, Fluid, Lines and pads are about it. Talk to Ken (wrxbrakes) or racecomp and they will set you up with everything you need.

[RaceComp Engineering]

Originally Posted by spazegun2213

Ken, i love you man but I'll have to disagree with you there a little. I the most important things are the fluid and the lines. For the first track day i think his OE pads will hold up.

I did my first event with ATE and SS lines and only had a tiny bit of fade from the pads, but that was on the second day and i was really on it.

Still, Fluid, Lines and pads are about it. Talk to Ken (wrxbrakes) or racecomp and they will set you up with everything you need.

I don't know Ross, I've tracked my STi on both stock pads and Hawk street pads and both faded horribly. It was a miracle I didn't end up off in the big field past Turn 1 at VIR.

When most people begin tracking their car, the first things they do are pads and fluid. The SS lines are a nice upgrade and easy to do when you are already doing the fluid, so a lot of people do them at the same time. I always say you might as well do all 3 at once since you will end up wanting them all anyways.

-Dan

[WRXBrakes]

its all good - that's why we're here

Maybe the brembo pads hold up better but if you try to do a track day w/ stock WRX pads they would undoubtedly fade and probably be ruined. So not only did they not work good on track - they are no longer usable for waht they are ok for which is DD.

I sell a lot of lines - and after time I'm sure the OEM rubber ones start to deteriorate - especially as you get hotter and hotter - but i think they could be held off on if I had to choose what to switch first.

[Mykl]

I've never put my car on a track with the stock pads. My experience with stock pads on other cars at the track has been disappointing. That said, I would strongly recommend a "mild" track pad and some ATE SuperBlue. I chose Carbotech XP8's for pads, and for street tires they're great. At all levels of learning the main thing you'll want to focus on is being consistent, and it's hard to be consistent when you have to back off to let your brakes cool down.

If you want to go a step further and spend more money, stainless steel lines and the RCE brake duct kit would be very nice to have as well, although I don't believe stainless steel lines are as important as long as your stock lines are in good shape. But the brake duct kit has benefits aside from simply keeping your brakes cool... it reduces wear and tear on your wheel bearings.

Another "nice to have" item is a master cylinder brace. I have the Perrin brace and during hard braking you can really feel a difference. For $80 it's a good part to have.

Also, if you change your fluid, take the opportunity to throw some speed bleeders on the car. They make fluid flushes a breeze.

Don't think you have to buy a bunch of stuff to make your car track worthy, you don't. It's just that there are a few small items that can really make your track experience a whole lot better.

[kwlsti]

for mosport you don't need alot of brakes, it's mostly BALLS you need . the DS2500 will do just fine there. ATE superblue would also be a good idea to put in.
who are you going to mosport with? TSC?

[spazegun2213]

Dan, what track where you at with the OE pads? I was at putman which is not to rough on your brakes at all. My pads lasted me the entire weekend, and faded a little. I'm not saying they are great pads, but they will teach you the limit better than have boiling fluid. I've never been to mosport, so the comment earlier about not getting pads is up in the air.

However, i would do all 3 at once, pads, lines and fluid (maybe speed bleeders to, or just get a power bleeder). its worth the extra $100 for lines, I would not trust that rubber crap on track... well certainly not now with my track setup

[BoostJunkie]

Originally Posted by spazegun2213

Dan, what track where you at with the OE pads? I was at putman which is not to rough on your brakes at all. My pads lasted me the entire weekend, and faded a little. I'm not saying they are great pads, but they will teach you the limit better than have boiling fluid. I've never been to mosport, so the comment earlier about not getting pads is up in the air.

However, i would do all 3 at once, pads, lines and fluid (maybe speed bleeders to, or just get a power bleeder). its worth the extra $100 for lines, I would not trust that rubber crap on track... well certainly not now with my track setup

I was at VIR, and had terrible fade in turn 1, lap after lap. I probably could have backed off a little and been ok but at that point I was a beginner so I wasn't going that fast anyways. Like I said before, pads lines and fluid are a must (IMO) for any track day.