New NASA Class for 2012: Spec Z
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 8,623
Likes: 1,392
From: Aurora, Colorado
BTW- Congrats on your TTB finish.
Weekend at Nats in finally done! Awesome weekend! Many of the Spec Z guys had issues as you already know. The common thing seemed to be brake fade. Another guy blew his engine I think. That guy (can't remember his name) I guess works for Nissan Motorsports. He came over and gave me some stickers, Nismo hat and t-shirt.
I finished 2nd in TTB with a new best time of 1:36.3. I was 1.6 seconds faster than last year. That is faster than the TTB regional record. I was in first place all weekend long until the last session. One of the regional guys that normally beats me put down a sick time in his S2K....a 1:35.7. I am really excited to know I ran faster than the fastest Spec Z guy though. We are in different trim, but nonetheless the same car around the same car. I am also on stock shocks and 100lbs heavier than I would be in Spec Z. I will put up some pics and videos soon.
oh yea....one of you guys posted earlier about Jeremy's time being DQ'd. He came in high on the dyno...
I finished 2nd in TTB with a new best time of 1:36.3. I was 1.6 seconds faster than last year. That is faster than the TTB regional record. I was in first place all weekend long until the last session. One of the regional guys that normally beats me put down a sick time in his S2K....a 1:35.7. I am really excited to know I ran faster than the fastest Spec Z guy though. We are in different trim, but nonetheless the same car around the same car. I am also on stock shocks and 100lbs heavier than I would be in Spec Z. I will put up some pics and videos soon.
oh yea....one of you guys posted earlier about Jeremy's time being DQ'd. He came in high on the dyno...
I saw a DQ from a few days ago for Jeremy. I was curious / thought his car might be over 275whp after he added the test pipes, and was hoping the top 3 cars would hit the dyno. Are you referring to his DQ from those few days ago (they dyno then?) or after the race? I still see him as first in the results, and a 1:36.8: http://www.team-nasa.com/team-nasa/f...Race_Final.pdf
The second Z that flipped during the race over heard them some brake failure.
That is 2 Z's is one weekend with brake failure, one totaled and one repairable I think. Hard to see from the picure
That is 2 Z's is one weekend with brake failure, one totaled and one repairable I think. Hard to see from the picure
Let me introduce you to Rick Kulach. He's the new Senior Analyst for Nissan Motorsports and a longtime racer (formula cars, Sentra Se-R, 240SX, 300ZX and T2/T3 350Z). His Spec Z Rev-up engine either had a fractured cam or possibly a timing chain. Since this happened on Friday, it wasn't possible to repair or change it before Sunday's main race. Rick's a RACER who's a great addition for Nissan Motorsports. The fact that he sought YOU out to give you some Nissan swag at M-O is a good sign for the future.
BTW- Congrats on your TTB finish.
BTW- Congrats on your TTB finish.
He was going around to all people driving Nissans and giving out stuff. It was cool to see some backing like that for Nissan. I normally don't see that.
Last edited by Fixxxercask; Sep 10, 2012 at 11:52 AM.
Nice job! That is FAST! Remind me of your HP. . .
I saw a DQ from a few days ago for Jeremy. I was curious / thought his car might be over 275whp after he added the test pipes, and was hoping the top 3 cars would hit the dyno. Are you referring to his DQ from those few days ago (they dyno then?) or after the race? I still see him as first in the results, and a 1:36.8: http://www.team-nasa.com/team-nasa/f...Race_Final.pdf
I saw a DQ from a few days ago for Jeremy. I was curious / thought his car might be over 275whp after he added the test pipes, and was hoping the top 3 cars would hit the dyno. Are you referring to his DQ from those few days ago (they dyno then?) or after the race? I still see him as first in the results, and a 1:36.8: http://www.team-nasa.com/team-nasa/f...Race_Final.pdf
I put down 249hp on a Dyno Dynamics dyno in April. Not sure what it is now though. Engine is down on compression from last year. She is going to need a freshen up soon.
https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-r...cage-prep.html
I see. Well congrats on the win. What tires/sizes were you running? I'm not ecstatic about the R1 tire myself. . . but I have been spoiled with take-off Hohos from T2 SCCA guys.
That black drop top SE30 in the backround is my friend, local bayarea kid, he took 2nd place in SE30 this year.
My friend won PTA at Nats. He has had a couple new sets of BFGs this year. His first set were 2012 date codes and he liked them. His second set had 2010 date codes and he said it was a completely different tire. He hated them. Then his 3rd set he requested to have 2012 date code ones. BFG was at Nats and he explained to them his concern about the 2010 ones. I sure hope none of us ever get any of those.
The Nismo diff is still solid and I am still loving it!
I have lost confidence on my Z braking system for a long time. The ABS system will fail unpredictably and causing tires lock up, luckily no major accidents for the last few time. I have now tracking with my miata more than my Z since then. I would love to hear if anyone can tell me a solution of this problem
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TvGtyDzZjVw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Last edited by pchio; Sep 10, 2012 at 12:02 PM.
The only ABS or Brake related problems I have had in racing my Z for the last 3 years were caused by melted/hardened calipers O-rings. Once I rebuild them the lockup went away. 
Same cause for warped rotors, caused by cooked caliper O-rings
When the O-rings/melt the caliper can't released quickly when the driver or ABS tells it to. Or it doesn't fully release at all in some cases, and creates too much heat and warps or glazes the rotor(s). This is also the primary cause of uneven brake pad wear (one side worn out more than the other, or one pad on one side worn excessively)
I rebuild my caliper over the winter and at the mid-year point. This changes somewhat depending on what tracks I go to. But if you do that you will have a good "soft" brake feel and normal ABS activations.
The brake pedal should be soft in a modern car
Of course...ABS components can and do fail
Same cause for warped rotors, caused by cooked caliper O-rings
When the O-rings/melt the caliper can't released quickly when the driver or ABS tells it to. Or it doesn't fully release at all in some cases, and creates too much heat and warps or glazes the rotor(s). This is also the primary cause of uneven brake pad wear (one side worn out more than the other, or one pad on one side worn excessively)
I rebuild my caliper over the winter and at the mid-year point. This changes somewhat depending on what tracks I go to. But if you do that you will have a good "soft" brake feel and normal ABS activations.
The brake pedal should be soft in a modern car
Of course...ABS components can and do fail
Last edited by laze1; Sep 10, 2012 at 04:26 PM.
I was running 255/35/18 Hoho A6's. I can get about 2-3 flying laps and they're done. I am looking forward to running tires that can last more than a couple laps. They will have a little less grip though.
My friend won PTA at Nats. He has had a couple new sets of BFGs this year. His first set were 2012 date codes and he liked them. His second set had 2010 date codes and he said it was a completely different tire. He hated them. Then his 3rd set he requested to have 2012 date code ones. BFG was at Nats and he explained to them his concern about the 2010 ones. I sure hope none of us ever get any of those.
The Nismo diff is still solid and I am still loving it!
My friend won PTA at Nats. He has had a couple new sets of BFGs this year. His first set were 2012 date codes and he liked them. His second set had 2010 date codes and he said it was a completely different tire. He hated them. Then his 3rd set he requested to have 2012 date code ones. BFG was at Nats and he explained to them his concern about the 2010 ones. I sure hope none of us ever get any of those.
The Nismo diff is still solid and I am still loving it!
You may have too MUCH brakes and/or too LITTLE tire...
Racing brakes and street tires will lock very easily
Racing brakes and cold race will lock very easily
Calipers needing a rebuilt with any tire will lock very easily
Question: did only 1 wheel lock up and flat-spot the tire?
Racing brakes and street tires will lock very easily
Racing brakes and cold race will lock very easily
Calipers needing a rebuilt with any tire will lock very easily
Question: did only 1 wheel lock up and flat-spot the tire?
I have lost confidence on my Z braking system for a long time. The ABS system will fail unpredictably and causing tires lock up, luckily no major accidents for the last few time. I have now tracking with my miata more than my Z since then. I would love to hear if anyone can tell me a solution of this problem
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TvGtyDzZjVw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Last edited by laze1; Sep 10, 2012 at 04:38 PM.
The Temporary solution for me is to use much less aggressive brake pads with grippy tires. As long as the ABS dooesnt activate, I will be fine.
You may have too MUCH brakes and/or too LITTLE tire...
Racing brakes and street tires will lock very easily
Racing brakes and cold race will lock very easily
Calipers needing a rebuilt with any tire will lock very easily
Question: did only 1 wheel lock up and flat-spot the tire?
Racing brakes and street tires will lock very easily
Racing brakes and cold race will lock very easily
Calipers needing a rebuilt with any tire will lock very easily
Question: did only 1 wheel lock up and flat-spot the tire?
If you are NOT getting a ABS CEL, or crazy suspension issues with corner balancing/alignment, rebuilding the calipers will likely fix that problem...I had the same problem when I 1st purchased my car...rear brakes were cooked.
Road Atlanta @ T10A around 130 MPH to 55 MPH with a passenger while giving rides to raise funds for charity....the passenger got her moneys worth...
https://vimeo.com/36211934
It looks like a minor deal, but the pucker factor was a 11+
Road Atlanta @ T10A around 130 MPH to 55 MPH with a passenger while giving rides to raise funds for charity....the passenger got her moneys worth...
https://vimeo.com/36211934
It looks like a minor deal, but the pucker factor was a 11+
Thanks for the advices! I rebuilt my front Brembo calipers, it still locked up and ruined my tires at buttonwillow. However, the ABS code shows that there was a problem in the rear left. I might try to rebuild the rear calipers and see if the problem goes away. But then, it's like a gamble. If that doesnt fix the problem, then I might got into something serious next time.
The Temporary solution for me is to use much less aggressive brake pads with grippy tires. As long as the ABS dooesnt activate, I will be fine.
The Temporary solution for me is to use much less aggressive brake pads with grippy tires. As long as the ABS dooesnt activate, I will be fine.
Last edited by laze1; Sep 10, 2012 at 05:26 PM.
