I've been doing a lot of track days recently on my '03 non-brembo calipers. Six days to be exact.

October 28th, I put on all new rotors (slotted fronts, blank rears) and pads after my previous HP+ pads had been used 5 sessions and I noticed small cracks in my rear cross drilled rotors. Of note the front left HP+ was worn unevenly in the middle.

The new pads were Stoptech Street Performance, the best I've had available short notice.

So about 2.5 sessions in on October 29th I had terrible brake fade and had to go straight off the back of the second straight to avoid a crash. That's no pad left after about 40 minutes of driving.

This was the front left pad, rotor, and caliper as well as the track layout, clockwise for reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaNJxmie2vY





My theory is that the heat in that caliper caused it to seize a little, and the extra heat just destroyed the pad, which eventually started melting the rotor. The other pads are fine.

So what do I do? fix this? upgrade? Why exactly did this happen? will this happen again even if I get a bbk and keep racing on these tracks with fast right handers?

 

Upgrade your brakes man your pushing your car pass what they can handle!

Not saying the combo you had can't handle it, but you did.

So look for some oem brembos! Should be enough! $800 max for a used set!

 

I thought they didnt make HP+ for non-brembo.

 

oh they do
http://www.z1auto.com/prodmore.asp?m...ng&prodid=1939

I put them back on the front left off the shelf just so I could drive the car. The pads that failed were the stoptech street performance though.

 

The 309 pads? Everyone says there suppose to be good but I wouldent use them for track.

 

I would also check into getting DBA 4000 slotted rotors. They have a pretty good reputation with the Australian V8 super car series, and are supposed to have a patented vein design to help dissipate heat faster. I'm currently running them with the HP+ pad and I've done a few track sessions plus drag strip runs and haven't had any problems. Maybe even look into running some brake ducts to get some fresh air on those front calipers. Good to see someone getting their Z out and putting it to its limits!

 

It drew a nice star shape on the rotors lol.

I'm glad you made it out of there safely! Good thing there's plenty of run-off area there.

Looks like you pushed the brakes beyond their limits. I guess it's time for an upgrade to fixed calipers. Maybe to OEM Brembos's just like the guys said.

I don't think this will happen to a BBK setup. As i've read somewhere, floating calipers are prone to this when it comes to high performance driving.

 

Wow. Glad to see you made it out ok. Some of the local tracks here aren't so forgiving.

One thing is for sure, you won't doubt the fade the next time it occurs. Need to be off the throttle as soon as you feel it... cuz as you found out, the brakes won't be there next time.

I've never used those pads on the track, so can't speak to their performance or durability.

Not sure of the total distance on that track, but looks like you can get some decent high-speeds. I'd guess just wrong pad selection. You need race pads.. BBK may be a good idea too if you continue to track and progress.

 

Yeah I wascatching the GT3 about 2 seconds per lap, it was like a carrot in front of my nose. I could tell he didn't want me to go by either which made it worse. lol. But yeah, I noticed it going and just kept on it. Rookie mistake.

 

What the hell?
I wish Brembo's were being sold for 800!
I've been stalking the classifieds.
They go for ~1500

OP, good thing you didn't get into an accident.
Hope you find your alternative brake upgrade.
Brembos? Akebonos? Other BBK?

 

Im gonna test out the EBC yellow stuff pads and DBA 4000 or 4000XS rotors, from talking to people and reviews they should be great for drifting

 

There is your problem. NEVER EVER use a street performance pad on a race track..could get you in BIG TROUBLE. Glad you're ok.

 

are you still on your RS3s OP?

how many track days/street driving

how do they look?

sorry for the OT question.

 

Wow, glad you're ok and that there was somewhere to safely run off the track. If your brakes got hot enough to melt a pad, you may want to consider flushing your fluid.

If you're looking to go that route. For pads, check this link.

 

Sorry to hear what happened definitely need to look into something with more surface area to dissipate the heat and as someone mentioned rotors with veins to cool it off


Vivid Stoptech BBK in the $900 Area? LMK

 

 

I'm not a drifter, and the vid the OP posted is not drifting.. so not sure we are comparing similar activities here..

Yellow stuff pads will melt just like the OPs - I tried em.. I know. I got about 4 15min sessions out of them on a fairly small/lower speed track. Thankfully I called it a day after that, cuz there was about 1/32" remaining on them.

 

Yeah I am still on the RS3's. 5 track days and they still look really good. I don't travel much with them on the street. Mostly just to and from the track.

 

Just go carbotech XP10/XP8 and call it a day.

Been running those the past couple of years and no issues with brake fade on 05 non-brembo calipers, even at semi-high speed tracks like Mid-Ohio

 

NICE!
ive put like 1 actual track day on my RS3s so hearing 5 and their still good looking makes me feel a lot better

hell yeah!! I have those pads on my 07 non brembo brakes and I love them!
I have gotten a bit of fade once though but im still a n00b at the track and ride the brakes a lot.