I am thinking on doing a duct system for my front brakes before the 17th (Saturday). I dont know if doing the system will help cool my stock brakes or not since I have heard they have a dust shield. Is it hard to take this shield off, do I have to cut it, and even if I do will it make a difference in cooling my brakes?

A how to would help too.

 

Do you have "full race" brake pads yet?

Get these before you start cutting stuff.

 

I had to cut the dust shield behind the rotors when I put on my AP Racing BBK. Some tin snips or an air body saw will get the job done.

 

I have Hawk Hp+

 

Get better pads if you really think on tracking.

HP+ are street pads and won't last any serious track event.

 

I would for next event, but I just don't think I have the time to get them by friday. I used them form my last track event (about 1 hour on track) and have left them on for slight street use and about 3 AutoX events.

Do you think they will last for my coming up event (~6hrs)?

Will making a duct and cutting the shilds at this tame make any good?

 

You might be able to get the pads on a short notice.

Ducting might help. But I can't see that project being quicker that swapping pads.

Work on your braking technique. Ask your instructor to help you with it. That's your best bet to make them last.

 

I was thinking of ducting mainly to decrease temperatures not to increase pad ware.

I'll try working on the braking as we discussed on my other thread.

I'll see if I can get the pads before Sunday. Which pads do you recomend?

 

How long does it take you before you experience pad fade at the track ?

Depending on where you are on your learning curve, you might simple get another set of HP+. They won't be the ideal choice but should still hold out long enough for you to work on your skill.

They idea behind this (I'm going against me previous recommandation I realize) is to limit the changes in the car's performance enveloppe. With race pads, you'll spend a few session bedding them in and then learning to use them. That'll prevent you from working on other aspect of the drive.

So in your opinion, appart from the annoying pad fade, do you think you can do your track event within the current setup's performance? Keep in mind that, as you get comfortable with the car and the track, you will have more available "brain resources" to manage your braking.

Brake temperature/wear is a weird thing where the faster you get, the hotter they run. But at the same time, the better/harder you brake, the cooler they will stay. (Cool is relative in brake temp world. Still very hot). A race pad will mask that behaviour and might not allow you to work on that aspect of track driving. (Stacey, another member here, is "pro-street pads" for begining to intermediate drivers. He has a point there)

 

On my last event I just experinced fade in one turn at the end of the first session, through out the rest of the day the brakes where responding great. Then again I wasnt using the appropriate technique which I'll be working on this time, and I'll be runnig more time throughout the day, so the diffenrent conditions could make me experince fade.

I think that at the point where I am, as you mention I could stay this session with the HP+ and see how they perform and if they limit me somehow.

I havent checked how much pad do I have left but do you think I need another set for this event?

 

Get a fresh set of pads, one or two bottles of fluid and bring them with you so you have the option of changing them at the track.

There's always people with tools willing to help.

 

Thanks, I will. Know for the original question will cutting the front dust shields with the stock rotors help keep the brakes colder if I install a duct system? As I mentioned before last time I burned the dust boots on my pistons, I know I was draging the brakes too much making them hotter, but I would like to try to help as much to keep them cooler.

 

Ducting and removing the dust shields will certainly help a bit. And every bits count!

But if you start to track seriously, you’ll need a brake system upgrade.

Keep a close eye on your rear brakes as they are the ones that seem to take the most punishment on non-Brembo Z.

 

I just ordered the pads, I will try to find some SS lines as well.

 

I never thought I'd use this video, but here is a video of my roommate cutting off my 350z's dust shield with a dremel-type tool:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...63940244&hl=en

Cutting the dust shield off is part of the standard StopTech BBK installation. It lets the rotors cool off better and doesn't cause any problems, unless maybe you're doing rally driving in the gravel

It's a pain but you can do it.

 

Or driving in the rain...

 

Thanks for posting that up, I just have to figure when and how to do it.

Why is that?

 

Ever noticed the amount of water that gets thrown out the side of the tires when you're driving on water?

That's half of the water that gets displaced. The other half is going under the car, into the engine bay and some eventually makes its way to the inside of the opposing brake.

Short term effect? Nothing much I guess. You have more chances of getting a bebble of something stuck in there. Plus the nice cooling/quenching effect you might get if your rotors are hot and are suddenly prayed with water?

The shields are there for a reason. I'm not saying you HAVE to keep them. Just know that nothing is added for fun.

 

I might do it later on, for now I might just try to find a way to get the rotors a little colder through a hose/duct.

Thanks again for your thoughts and opinions, they have helped me a lot.