Hey people,

This weekend my dad and I went to summit point and ran my Z back to back (thats 4 x 2 of 20 minute sessions). Needless to say we cooked the stock breaks (I have performance model btw).

Thanks for your advice EnthuZ. You were dead on.

I posted about his in the breaks section, but figured I should repost it here since I might get better visibility for the racing crowed.

I need new pads on all 4 wheels and new back rotors. I don't want to spend a fortune but I want something that can take some abuse at the race track.

My local shop recommended Hawk HP+ break pads and EBC slotted/Drilled rotors for the back for $660. I need your advice about the setup in general.

Has anyone heard about EBC rotors?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Gene.

 

How did you toast your rotors?

Hawk pads are not rotor-friendly in cold weather, and they dust heavily. What brake fluid were you using? Allow me to suggest ATE Super-Blue or Gold... some of the best DOT4 fluid out there for the money.

Never heard of the EBC rotors...

 

The real question is, DID YOU HAVE FUN?!!!

I've made this recommendation many times before......CarboTech Panther +. A true race pad, but streetable. Not dust free, very rotor friendly, and a bit squeaky around town.......but they will stop the same after 8 sessions as after the 2nd lap. They DO handle the heat! You'll still probably only get 8 to 12 sessions out of them though.......Altima brakes on the Z don't cut it. My rear OEM rotors are still fine. I'm running the StopTech 13.1 front kit, and I finally wore out my 1st set of front P+'s after 8 track days, while I used up 3 sets of P+ rears.

If you didn't run a high temp brake fluid, naughty you! I had good luck with Motul 600.

PM Westpac.....he's selling his spares.

 

I assume you don't have a Track model. I would do ss lines, upgrade fluid, and use track pads. I have found Carbotech XP9s to do the trick. If you need to replace rotors, get some OEM replacement at Carbotech they are ~$60 for the rears. That is all you can do to use the stock brakes. If you want to keep your stock brakes and maximize them, I would also get ducting kit for the front. N-Tech engineering should have there's out soon. Other than that, you will need to upgrade to big brake kit if you want to continue tracking your car. Personally I have used up 4 sets of pads in 6 trackevents and have destroyed my front rotors. The non-Brembo brakes cannot withstand the abuse. I will be getting the 14" stoptech front kit and will eventually buy some rear Brembo calipers and rotors. You have to pay if you want to play...

 

I was very naughty. I ran stock everything, including break fluid.

I had tons of fun and I want to do it again.

After the brake pads went, the rear rotors went.

Thanks for your advice guys. I will go research all the cool stuff your recommended.

 

What da ya all think about Stillen rotors for the back to go with Carbotech Pads? Or should I get stock rotors?

Thanks.

Gene.

 

Don’t feel bad, I have toasted my brakes too. I just finished my last set of OEM pads in the front Saturday. I replaced them with Hawk + pads. Then, the backs went as well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any rear pads on such short notice. And, the Albany crap lasted me only ONE event!!!



Hey, as long as you had fun!!!


ADMAN

 

I wouldn't recommend buying their rear rotors as they're not theirs! Give Coz a call.....he's listed in the vender section. I have considered them, and may go for 'em in the future, as they sure SOUND like they will help.....albeit not much, but we need all the help we can get! Maybe someone else has tried that combo? Also, IF you decide to go with a major upgrade....i.e. StopTech, he's also the man. The guys at CarboTech are great.....give them a call.

 

You are not really going to gain anything from using slotted rotors on our cars without changing everything else. In fact non-solid rotors will wear faster. Either use the entire braking zone and keep buying OEM or do something really expensive and solve the problem. There ain't no in between. If you do the other upgrades I talked about you wouldn't notice the difference in slotted rotors or solid other than looks and price. Unfortunately if you are going to push our ~3100lbs car around the track, the brakes are the week link. I have spent over $800 since April just on pads. That doesn't include lines, rotors and fluid. Total probably over $1000. Thats half way to a decent brake kit.

 

Thanks for your input guys. I have learned a great deal about brakes today. Hell, I can even spell 'brake'

The thing is that very few places have OEM rotors for a Performance model and the ones that do, want more for them then for 'performance' rotors.

So far Stillen rotors for the rear and Stillen pads all over are my choice for the street. While Hawk HP+ or CarboTech P+ pads for the front for the track.

It looks like if you don't have the track setup, you might have to keep two sets of pads if you're going to track your Z.

 

My spelling sucks too......

The link is for WestpaK.....

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=49356

And for coz:

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=42899

Here's CarboTech:

http://www.carbotecheng.com/main.htm

And I can't leave out StopTech:

http://www.stoptech.com/



Yes, I've done a little research.......


If you're really bored, search my posts under "breaks"


Remember, $'s spent on brakes will get you around a track faster than $'s spent on HP mods!

Invest wisely!



As an X Boy Scout.........Be Prepared!

 

Carbotech sell oem rotors for $60 a piece.

 

Carbotech makes a good pad, but on the smaller Z rotor, the heat will break them down quickly (I saw a set of Panther Plus' go in 1.5 track days at Summit last weekend on an Integra). Good thing is that Matt of Carbotech was there to loan a set of slightly used pads so the guy could finish the day.

Cobalt makes some great pads, but I wouldn't suggest them for the street. The GT-S pad is really squeaky, and the GT-R spec.VR pad is more of a full race pad.

Larry of Carbotech was trying to taunt me into trying their pads, maybe I will, but first I'm going to go for the GTR pad...

 

Thanks guys, you've been great.

I called CarboTech and spoke to Matt - hellova guy.

I will probably just get stock rotors plus some cheap pads for the street, and swap for panther + for the track events. That would be my low cost solution for now.

 

Are you running the Brembo brake package?
Changing the fluid is a def + along with new ss brake lines.
When we first took our Z to Daytona we were running the OEM rubber lines and going into turn one was not comfortable.
Def do lines and fluid.
We also are working on a brake duct kit that will be a direct bolt on application.
AP600 is a good choice for fluid also...or you can get eh champagne of fluid and get Castrol SRF.

Let me know what you need as we can get you new rotors for cheaper than what the OEM retail for.
Cheers
BJ@350EVO.com

 

Don't forget:
-that was a 2-driver car
-doing back-to-back sessions all weekend (no cool down time)
-had no cooling ducts
-did not remove the splash shields like I recommended prior to install

Summit is a tough track on brakes. Up until Carolina Motorsports Park opened, it was considered one of the toughest around.

And 1.5 days is still better than the guy running EBC reds who burned them completely up in 3 sessions. He couldn't even drive to the parts store to get replacements, had to bum a ride

 

dwnshift:
I am not running a brembo package. I have a performance model Z with stock brakes. And I mean stock (not even brake fluid upgrade)

Thanks for your advice. Next time i go to the track I will gave SS lines, perfromance fluid and Panther Plus pads as my low cost brake solution.

Also, thanks for your offer, however Matt is helping me gett the stock rotors.

John:
If I can run 1.5 days at Summit with two drivers (if my math is correct thats 12 back-to-back sessions with one day break after session 8) I will be content with my breaks.

Plus, i am hoping that they will complete Shenandoah track that doesn't looks like such a break buster.

Cheers,

Gene.

 

Shenandoah Circuit you say? hehe, I checked it out over the weekend, but somebody else had their camera handy.

Holy G-forces batman!

Thread on Corner Carvers

 

Wholly Crap! Thanks for your post John.

How come there is a flat area behind the banked concrete patch? Shouldn't the whole turn be banked?

Can't wait to get out there.

 

They're still putting down asphalt, but I'm no engineer. If the turn is truly modelled after the one it's supposed to minic at the Nurburgring, then yes, they still need some banking.