Track pad roll call - Looking for a dedicated track pad

973 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by cwilkins, Aug 5, 2013

cwilkins

Discussion Starter · Aug 5, 2013

I'm looking for a dedicated track pad for my Stage 2 GR hatch and would like to know what's current in the market. I know there are other threads on this subject but most are more than 6 years old.

Currently I'm running Stoptech Performance pads which are just ok on the track. I picked these up because they are low dust for DD and they had a huge heat range. They work on the track and have yet to fade but they have a high tendency to leave uneven deposits after events and then I'm stuck with a shudder until I machine the rotors or buy new ones. One alternative to machining is to run a harsh pad to scrub the rotors. Stoptech has an article on their website describing this phenomenon and the solution is to run an aggressive pad, they suggest Hawk Blues. I suspect the reason Stoptech has posted this article is because their pads are prone to uneven deposits, but that's just my hunch.

I'm currently looking at Hawk's DTC range, Ferodo, and Pagid pads. I'd like to stay under $250 per set but going higher isn't too much of a problem. I only run around 4, 1 day sessions a year so investing more than that is just money sitting around.

As far as my driving style. I like to brake deep and hard and I'm trying to resist my tendency to trail brake.

I'm also running Centric Rotors, Motul 600, and Stoptech Stainless Steel lines. (I highly recommend Motul 600 and the Stainless Steel lines for anyone that hasn't done this. It's a cheap upgrade and is easy to install. The outcome is well worth the low cost.)

I'd like to hear experience on the track and what individuals suggest. I'm basically fishing for what's out there and to see if anything new is out there and how it stands up.

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V10Climber

· #2 · Aug 5, 2013

There are a ton of threads on this. Also, the GD uses the same braking system so anything applicable to the GD is applicable to the GR.

There are a ton of dedicated track pad options out there. Popular ones are Hawk Blue, and the XP10/12 Carbotech pads. You could go more aggressive if you want. I'm guessing you wouldn't need it if you only do 4 track days a year. That's not particularly track junkie material.

I'm surprised those Stoptech pads worked at all on the track. They're not really designed for track usage which could be why you were getting pad deposits. The idea of using an aggressive pad to "clean" the rotor is a fairly simple concept. When high-temp pads are used at low tempatures (street use) they are using plain ole friction to stop the car. This means they're scraping the rotor as you stop effectively scraping off any uneven pad deposits.

You're not really specific enough to make a pad recommendation so I'll pull one out of my ass. Ferodo 2500s.

We need more info like tire compound, suspension mods, experience level, lap times on known tracks, etc.

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got2boostit2

· #3 · Aug 5, 2013

Tracks that you run will make a difference as well. My favorite right now for track days at Mid Ohio or Grattan on my '04 with Nitto Nt-01's 255/60/17 and either ATE Blue or Motul 600, SS lines, Titanium shims, master cylinder brace, RCE ducts, no tubing is Performance Friction PFC-01's frt and Ferodo 2500's on the rear with stock blanks. Not my daily but run that combo on the street with minimal dusting. Not very noisy either. Between 4-5 events a year with that setup.

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cwilkins

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 5, 2013 (Edited)

V10Climber said:
There are a ton of threads on this. Also, the GD uses the same braking system so anything applicable to the GD is applicable to the GR.

There are a ton of dedicated track pad options out there. Popular ones are Hawk Blue, and the XP10/12 Carbotech pads. You could go more aggressive if you want. I'm guessing you wouldn't need it if you only do 4 track days a year. That's not particularly track junkie material.

I'm surprised those Stoptech pads worked at all on the track. They're not really designed for track usage which could be why you were getting pad deposits. The idea of using an aggressive pad to "clean" the rotor is a fairly simple concept. When high-temp pads are used at low tempatures (street use) they are using plain ole friction to stop the car. This means they're scraping the rotor as you stop effectively scraping off any uneven pad deposits.

You're not really specific enough to make a pad recommendation so I'll pull one out of my ass. Ferodo 2500s.

We need more info like tire compound, suspension mods, experience level, lap times on known tracks, etc.

Yes, there are a ton of threads on this but most are dated. I felt it was worth revisiting. I understand that the braking system on both cars are pretty similar. The reason I was asking on behalf of the GR was that with the completely different body style, especially the hatch, I would think there would be some intricacies that might show up where one set up would work different from the GD sedan.

It's true, 4 track days aren't a lot. I like to make the best of them though especially now that I have more of them under my belt than when I started out 2 years ago. I'm getting more serious about it and that's one reason I'd like better pads. I can't throw money at it all the time but when I do I try to do the best I can with what I can afford.

Thanks for poking me for not supplying enough info about my setup.
Here's my full list
Stage 2+SF
- Cobb catted DP
- Cobb SF with box
- Cobb AP
Suspension
-Eibach Prokit
- front and rear Eibach sway bars set for oversteer to neutral
- Eibach Sport Springs (1" drop)
- Perrin endlinks Front and back
Brakes
- StopTech Performance Street
- StopTech Stainless Steel line
- Motul RBF600
Tires (ongoing rotation as I have 4 sets of used tires) All stock sizes on Stock BBS
- 2 sets of OEM Dunlop SP Sport 600 (2 sets at 30-40% wear left) probably moving to DD and damp track days
- 1 set of Hosier R6 (90% left and will move to my dedicated set as soon as I wear the others out)
Wheels
- Stock BBS

I'm running two tracks in the Austin, TX area.
-Harris Hill (H2R) - Elevation changes HARRIS HILL - LRA MAY 2013 EVENT - LAP 14 - 2010 STI STAGE 2 - YouTube
-Driveway Austin L1 (very tight with lots of braking much like a Auto-X track, modeled after the Fiorano Circuit) Driveway Austin Upper Track - L1 Training Day - YouTube
-Driveway Austin L2 (Elevations with a Laguna Seca corkscrew and straights combined with L1) Driveway Austin - L2 - 10/24/2012 - YouTube
Both have elevation changes and 100mph-20mph braking zones
-Circuit of the Americas is on my wish list but until they lower the fees or I can find a group that can shell out $52,000 for 25 cars and drivers it's out.

-Auto X: possibly....

Thanks for the input.

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