Trading my car in next week, wish everyone good luck and more enjoyment from their Zs. Don't get into too much trouble!

Before I go, just want to say the Z is a very capable car stock. I got 46K very good miles on the road and on the track. It's not a perfect car, but it was very good to me in the times I used it. I especially like the car once I went to the Toyo RA-1 full time. The extra grip overcame the car's tendency to understeer. In my track testing, the tires were worth 3 sec a lap on a 1.5 miles course. So before you start modding your car, let me just say the car is very good the way it is. Just get some tires and work on your driving, you will not be disappointed.

Final setup on the car was.

#1 Stock alignment except very close to 0 in front toe and -1.6 in rear camber
#2 235/40/17 Toyo RA-1s
#3 Stock pads on the street/autox and carbotech XP10 for the track (60-0 in 107 ft on stock brake system with just the pads and RA-1s)
#4 3340lbs at the scale (I am not sure if it was with me or not, I am 198lbs)

As far as results go, I got

#1 The average finishing position is 8th overall on this car in a 100 cars autox (5 FTDs). In pax, probably a little higher given the fact I run BS.
#2 Best 1/4 time of 14.6 (I can't drag race to save my life, baby clutch too much)
#3 60-0 107ft (range was 105-111ft) on the carbotech and ra1
#4 Track lap times
VIR: 2:17.5 (RA1) 2:22 (Rt-615)
LRP: 1:02.9 (RA1) 1:05.9 (Rt-615) 1:07.2 (RE040)
Pocono North: 1:00.8 (RA1) 1:02.9 (Rt-615)
Shenandoah with pit straight: 2 minutes flat in slight traffic (RA1)
Glen: 2:16 or 2:17 (RA1)

Stay away from the following products/items
#1 Nissan (worst custom service ever)
#2 ATE Super Blue
#3 Valvoline Syn Brake Fluid
#4 Falken Azenis (unless you like loud and choppy ride)
#5 Motul RBF

Use the following
#1 Amsoil 5w40
#2 Carbotech pads (3 days tops for me at the track)
#3 Check your brake lines!!!
#4 Royal Purple Gear Oil
#5 Nissan Brake Fluid.

Good luck! One more autox and one more day of driving in the Z before the new car!

 

Curious: Why do you not like the ATE Super Blue nor Motul RBF?

What car are you tracking next?

 

I got 3 HOT laps out of the Valvoline and Super BLue stuff. 3.5 laps on the Nissan OEM stuff. Motul I got 4 laps. Wilwood I got nearly 6 laps before the pedal started to get spongy.

Next year it will be GT3 and C6

 

i ran circles around ford cobras on VIR's South Course on ATE Blue for two days straight with Hawk HP Plus all around and Kuhmo V710's. Never once had a fade issue. South course is pretty harsh on some brakes, still no fade however.

 

I've never had probs with ATE fluid either (Summit & VIR). Although I am surprised that the HP+ held up with V710's. They started leaving pad deposits on my rotor, and I was on street tires. Of course, my braking style probably has room for improvement.

 

pad deposit is a complete understatement for what my rotors looked like after that weekend. but fluid wasn't an issue. those pads don't last long at all under hard conditions. i ran 4 track days on them and they are shot! looking to try the ferrodos next

 

I am using the DS2500 right now. As far as bite goes, they are equal to HP+. The Ferodo's definitely seem to stand up to heat better (no rotor deposits so far). The DS2500 does have slightly worse cold bite (I daily drive them) and are MUCH louder.

 

looking for a little better initial bit. I haven't tried other pads then the HP Plus, they just seem to need a lot of pedal input once they are hot to really do their job. Maybe its me, like I said I haven't tried any others yet.

 

You have to try some real race pads. HP+ is hardly an aggressive pads, except they are bad for rotors.

 

would Ferrodo suffice?

 

never used them, but i have used HP+, Cobalt Friction and Carbotech. The street/track pads are just not going to hold up. You are much better off swapping pads before each event with the super race pads. Carbotech might be a race pads, but they are easier on rotors than my HP+.

Also cant go wrong with a 107 ft 60-0 time.