Andy... might not hurt to have an extra set of pads on hand, just in case, but I'd bet your current pads will be OK with the fluid change. The temps will be low, and there's lots of time on full course for them to cool off if you do use them hard.

-Stacy

 

I think you'll find less of a chance of 'trains' in the yellow group - slightly more experienced and a little faster than green group. Not sure where the 47 came from... at most we'll have 43... but the track is over 3 miles long, so even that shouldn't be too crowded.

I say lets go ahead with yellow for now, we can always move you if needed during the event.

-Stacy

 

Just a Note on the two brakes (and I speak from experience). The amount of fade and ware between the Brembo's and Nismos are night and day. We have had a Track and a touring model come out on the same weekend. Both with Super Blue and new pads. By the end of the weekend (on VIR South, which is really hard on brakes) the Brembo's looked hardly worn, while the nismo's were shot, and could not be saved. The Nismo brakes are good for street use, but are way too small and heated for real track use. We have had more than one brake engineer wonder why Nissan used the Altima brakes on the non-brembo 350Z's. They are rated for a car under 3100 lbs. Now Eric upgraded his on the touring, and they were awsome. But I don't remember what brand they were.

The good news is you can change all four wheel pads in under 10 minutes for either sets. We did it between sessions for the touring.

You can always bring a extra set with you. We will have plenty of tools, people, and experience there to help.

As far as the green/yellow group. You will find that yellow flows a lot better. The makes of cars also won't make as big of a difference as well. There are a lot less trains and more generious passing signals as well because people have their eye's up and are actually checking their mirrors.

 

Thanks for the advice, guys. I may try to pickup some new pads before then to bring with me just in case I happen to burn through them at the event.

 

Looking forward to it was well, mc350z. I'll be taking a hard look at your C6....

I'm not sure which pads I'll pick up yet. It looks like the Nismo are definitely the most expensive ($270) compared to the Hawk HPS ($170) and the OEM ($150) (from here). I tend to feel like the Nismo pads are overpriced based mainly on the fact that their other performance parts tend to be more costly than 'comparable' after-market counterparts. I think the Hawks are the 'dustless' ones that I've read about which would be nice on the street, but I'm guessing they will perform a little more poorly. You can't have everything.

Unless I hear a compelling reason after reading the forums or otherwise a little more I'll probably end up with the OEM ones as backups. I'm not a huge fan of sticking with OE parts, but for this it would be nice to have something that I know will work. Hopefully I won't need 'em anyway, but you never know!

 

You need to get a high temp track pad. Try carbotech's xp8. Unfortunately with non-brembos you are hosed. There are not many pads availabe and they can't withstand heat. Your oem setup probably won't even last on VIR full. Don't even think of trying it on south course without lines, fluid and pads. I eventually got a 14" front kit and still had not resolved pad issues before I sold my car.

 

Guys... I realize I don't have much experience with 350Zs, or 300hp cars for that matter... but I do have track experience with a heavy car and stock brakes. I started all this in a 1990 non-turbo Z32 automatic.... if there's another car harder on brakes, let me know.

For a first time track event, in february when temperatures are bound to be downright cold, and VIR full course with long straights to help cool the brakes, Andy really shouldn't be too scared about his brakes.... IF he follows some key advice.'

A #1: Buy some very high quality brake fluid like Motul 600 (clicky clicky ) I'm sure there are many places to buy it, this was the 1st place I found.

A #2: Buy a decent pad, but you don't have to break the bank doing it. Stay away from race compunds for your first few events - you shouldn't need them. They take too long to get up to temperature... I've said it before, better (IMO) to have two sets of pads at $100 each than one set at $270 (or whatever the going rate for Z33 pads is).

A #3: Listen to your instructor. Someone earlier mentioned the tendency to over-use the brakes you first time on track. This is very true. When we all started, we tended to ride the brakes a little coming up to a turn... its natural. The trick is to get over it quickly. You'll be taught to do your braking in the shortest amount of track possible, that means brake hard and quick, without jabbing the brakes to cause lock-up or ABS. If you ride the brakes at all, they will over heat the fluid, then you'll experience brake fade. If you don't ride the brakes, you won't. Plain and simple.

I'll reiterate the fluid advice... a high quality fluid with a high boiling point (Motul 600 = 600 degree boiling point) means the fluid can 'absorb' a lot of the heat generated by braking. Its ok if they heat up, just not OK if the STAY heated up. The longer you brake, the longer they heat will linger.

Oh yeah, my experience... For my first two track events at Carolina Motorsports Park and VIR South Course respectively, I used stock calipers, stock rotors, stock brake lines, with Axxis Metal Master street pads and Motul 600 fluid. Not only did I not have any brake fade or loss, I actually got compliments on the braking ability of the car from my instructors.... this in a car that was 300+ pounds heavier than a 350z, and an automatic (i.e. no engine braking help). Ask anyone, and they'll tell you those two tracks are the hardest on brakes on the east coast. If that car can handle it, I don't see any reason why a 350Z can't.

 

I can second the Carbotechs, and can highly recomend the Hawk HP+, they are not pure race pads, but seem to hold up better than standard Nismo and HPS pads. They are have backing material to help keep the heat out if the Caliper.

 

I upgraded to the Brembo's before my final track event last year. I also used Ate Super Blue fluid, stainless lines, and HP+ pads. What a world of difference over the base brakes. I would cook 1 set of front pads and 2 sets of rears each weekend with the old brakes. with the new ones, i can brake as hard as i want all day, and never have to worry about it. i think i used about 1/12th of the pads in that last weekend. don't waste your money on the nismo pads. definately look to the Hawk or Carbotech. otherwise, make sure you have good fluid and a good bleed, and get ready for a fun weekend.

sean

 

the track is so hard on the base brakes rear pads mainly because of the pad size. i don't know if you have compared the rear pads to the fronts, but they are less than half the size. also, the rotors are much smaller in the rear. less surface area, more heat, more wear. a situation that would never be realized by a normally driven street car (such as the altima, which is where the brakes came from). it makes me mad that nissan put such crappy brakes on the car, but honestly, those few cars that ever hit a track will be the only one's that ever experience a problem.

anyway, i can't wait to see the C6 out there. you should come back to to green with me (j/k). it's my 3rd event too. there is a 911 GT3 and a Maserati Cambiocorsa (sp?) in green right now. i'm sure you will be just fine in yellow.

sean

 

Including one that use to be a 350Z owner...

Don't forget about the Lotus Elise as well.

 

well cool. i have been moved up to yellow now. i'll be in the orange car with a permanent point-by left hand out the window.

i am even more excited now. can't wait.

sean

 

Beleive it or not..even smaller..