which brake pads do you guys suggest for track/racing use?
i have the track oem brembo brakes
i'm thinink about hawks street pads becoz they are gentle on the rotors
coz i wanna keep my oem rotors' life longer

 

I have found the Carbotech Panther XPs to be great.

 

I highly recommend Ferodo DS3000. Absolutely amazing pad for hard-core track use.

 

I'm partial to the Cobalt Friction Spec VR for full race pads. If the course is less demanding on brakes and/or you're running 20-30 sessions, I like their GT Sports. I run both pads depending on the conditions.

 

Cobalt Friction Technologies is a great company and really knows their stuff. I'd definitely recommend (as I've done many times before on this site) that you give them a call and someone there will discuss what would best suit your specific needs. They carry their own line of excellent pads.

 

You can't go wrong with the Hawks. These other pads are probably great too, though. I'd recommend that if you're going to be doing track events, stick with the non-street pads. They will withstand the elevated temperatures better. The Brembos are a snap to replace pads on; just pull the two pins and you've got the pads in your hand! So, just swap them in when you get to the event and swap them out when you leave. You should only really need to replace the fronts anyway, and it's safer to keep track pads separate from your street pads. Have fun!

 

thx for all the inputs

i was thinking of the getting hawks sport/track pads for track events and switch back to oem's for street use but i heard they eat rotors!! is that true?? if so, i'll have to stick with the HPS street....
thx

 

i have only been to the track once but my rear brakes start making noises whenever i go over bumps....not squeaking noises though....the noise is likely from the caliper not clamping the pads properly....the mech said it was becoz my rotors are warped...any idea why??

 

Warped rotors usually can be felt by a rapid ‘thumping’ felt through the pedal as you are braking. Maybe that's just when the rotors are really warped but the symptom is quite noticeable. I think warping is usually caused by overheating of the rotors.

 

yeh i did overheat it at the track last time
but i didn't notice those sympton....only the noise

 

I'd have to chime in on the Hawks as well. If your going to run them track only, you may want to look at the Pluses instead of the HPS. Or just go all out on Blacks or Blues .

Ct Panthers are good too.

 

An very important tip you should know before your first track day: don't use the parking brake between track sessions! Just put it in gear and shut off the engine. If you apply the parking brake to the hot rotors, you will warp them. And the dealer price on our (track) rotors is $400 each! Retail is $600!!!

This is why I haven't used full blown track pads, even though I've put 13 HPDE track days on the car since getting it last October. I'm on my second set of Ferodo DS2500s, a combo street-track pad that's easier on the rotors than race pads, and works well at normal street temps, too. They're somewhat better than the stock pads, I think, but not amazingly better.

Even though it's relatively easy, I just haven't wanted the hassle of changing pads before and after track events. However, I may try a more aggressive pad next season. My mechanic actually suggested having a separate set of track rotors as well as pads. Until I told him (and he confirmed) how expensive they are.

Has anyone heard about aftermarket rotors for the Brembos that might be a little less expensive? Or slotted or drilled?

 

Schuitemaker Motorsports runs PFC pads. We have done extensive testing with PFC with various compounds. I have done back to back testing between PFC and other pads in GT cars and PFC has always been a clear and proven winner.
I highly recomenr PFC brake pads for track use witht he 350Z..............the last thing you want to have at a track day with your street car........is a braking problem.
BJZ
Schuitemaker Motorsports

 

James, I do not understand why you do not want to use the parking brake on the Z. It is a separate drum brake within the rear rotor hat. SOME parking brakes on other cars use the rear caliper as the parking brake, and that COULD/Would warp the rotor. Please elaborate.

Also, my Panther + pads are VERY rotor friendly. As are their XP's. Also, I've left the Panther +'s on all summer, and other than a few extra squeeks, NO problems!

 

You don't want to use even this drum brake. The rotors are quite hot after a session (you can actually feel the wheels get very hot to the touch because the brakes are dumping heat into them). They can possibly be hot enough that the steel has softened up enough for a brake pad to permanently deform it. Discs will warp and drums will "egg shape." Even if the rotor isn't hot enough to deform the drum, it still isn't a good idea to keep a set of pads in contact with metal THAT hot: it can cause the adhesive binder to loosen up and leave deposits on the drum or disc. Discs are easy to tell when this happens because they will leave a "ghost" outline of the pad on the disc itself.

So, play it safe and don't use the brakes in the pits!

 

* Brembo makes some replacement rotors already, both drilled and slotted. Dunno what they cost.
* Stillen also makes replacement rotors. I think they are about $400/ea as well. They're neat because they put temperature monitoring paint on them so you can tell how hot you're running. Of course Stillen sells sway bars for $400/ea too...what a rip off...so these rotors are probably overpriced too.
* Check with Stoptech. I know they are definitely planning on making a set for the Track...just don't know when. They'll be 100% reliable too...Stoptech has been impressing me lately.

 

Well, ummm... it's because, uhhh...

What archman350z said!

Glad you showed up, archman. I didn't know that about the Z's emergency brake. I started running track events in a Miata, which is where I first heard about it, then moved to a 944 Turbo, and was told the same thing by other 944 owners. I just assumed it was true of the Z.

 

I purchased some Ferodo DS2500 which are good track pads and should have been fine for street. I have used them at one track event and they were perfect. However, they are certainly not street pads. They can grind and resonant when stopping.

I just put them back on my car last night because I am going to Gingerman this weekend. Since they had been off the car and and I am sure I did not put them back in the same locations, I tried bedding them in last night. I did multiple 40mph-5mph runs with medium to hard braking. After 20 minutes, everything was nice an hot, but the pads began to whine. Instead of just a little resonance at the very end of stopping, when hot they now squeel with any brake pressure. I am hopping that this will not return at the track and that it is not a sign of a larger issue. Any comments? I too am looking for a better pad. These Ferodos do not meet my needs. What I want is a aggressive street pad that can take occasional track events. This way, I would not have to switch them out before each race. I would like them to be quiet. Low dust would also be nice, but not necessary.

 

I just got done running the Hawk HP+ pads this weekend at Gingerman. They worked excellent! They gripped a lot harder than the stocks and were pretty consistent in grip from being cold to really hot. I did have soft-pedal issues in the third session, but I'm quite sure this is the fluid, not the pads. They did seem to throw quite a bit more dust than the Ferodos on PEPTIDBOND's car.

For giggles, I ran them on the 3-hour trip home. They had excellent feel and were pretty quiet. The rotors were nice and flat, and there was no detectable wear after this weekend. The wheels were black again when I got home, however. The dust seems to wash right off at the car-wash (no scrubbing), so it shouldn't be too hard on the wheels.

The regular HP pads should be perfect for you. They shouldn't dust as much, be pretty easy on the rotors, and I think you will notice the improved grip. Hawk does OEM for many car companies, I think Nissan should get on the bandwagon...

 

Dude! you scared me... they don't charge that much for their sway bars.. Here's what their site has listed as a price.

Our Price: $479.00 - for the front and rear SET.

snip....."Of course Stillen sells sway bars for $400/ea too...what a rip off...so these rotors are probably overpriced too." snip....------ if you're gonna roast - roast accurately.