here is my opinion !
since its gonna be your first season with that car .
like you said you should go too crazy about much of any mods !

Should i run a staggered or square tire setup?
I wouldnt worry too much at this point , just run what you have and learn from there what the car and you will need ... some ride will prefer to have a square setup or staggered. but if you go staggered , dont go to small in the front to compare with the rear !! I made the mistake to try 255/295 .. not soo good !

What's a good rotor pad combo for the track?
what brake kit do you use ? Brembo or sliding piston type. ?
I ran the stock rotor on the Brembo just fine !
since you are starting to track the car I would just worry about brake pad and an GOOD brake fluid !! such as RBF600
I used Ferodo 2500 at my second track day (2008) they were quite good for my experience and speed!


and then once you become fast , you will eat thru front tire quite fast ! ( camber kit ) since from the factory the front camber isnt adjustable

 

Going to need a impact to get the ring gear bolts off 2th.
I took mine to my shop and they zipped it off for me.
And that bushing it a b*tch to get in. Threaded rod and a backing plate is the
way to go. Can't hammer it really.

 

Last year was my first year on the track as well. So I know where you are coming from.

Since you have square rims, and one of the best street tires out there, yes I would run square 275 or 285/ 35 RS3s.

I think for safety it is a good idea to get a higher temperature pad than just your run of the mill street pad. I used Hawk HP+ last year and liked them. I am switching to Carbotech XP10 but can't offer any reviews, but they should offer better performance and give up some everyday driveability.

As for the cooling, you already have an oil cooler, and in 10-15 minute lapping sessions in Canada I don't think you will overheat. Get a infrared pyrometer cheap and check your temps on your car. If you are demonstrating overheating still then you can start spending more money on cooling. The pyrometer is also a good idea for safety because you can check brake temps.

Just my admittedly still inexperienced opinions. If you are anything like me, you will be hooked after 5 seconds at the track.

 

I am thinking about sucking it up and getting a suit and shoes. I will look like the biggest poser on Earth, and 70% of people will be making fun of me the whole time, but... saftey is safety. Also might mount a fire extinguisher. But don't know where I can put one of those 2.5 pounders because I don't have a cage yet....

 

Hey Vic how are ya man?? Why'd you sell the R1 Titan??? Omg
Get pads, rotors, lines, and motul for first track mods.
I'm using hawk hps, stock rotors, AP lines, and motul.
If you're buying tires go square ya and fat. IMO and a seat maybe if you have leather.
I want a seat next...

 

I do have an impact gun with a 120psi tank... so relatively light duty. but I dont have a vice to stop it from moving around when I hit it. Being a garage genius I just thought "I will just step on this with my FOOT and hold it STILL while I IMPACT THE HELL OUT OF YOU"
Of course this doesn't work. I over estimated my leg power.

 

Oh yeah and brake fluid is the most important! get something high temp and make sure it is fresh.

 

btw anyone knows what is the true real thread pattern on the differenciel drain/fill plug ?

ive search that info and came up with 2-3 different answer...

 

Hmmm wow dude. I just had mine in the trunk of my car and they went zip zip.
Are you tightening them?? Lol
Jam a long screw driver in the diff and try to wedge it between something
and use the leverage to hold it??

 

No it's on lefty loosey.

It will take the hammer of thor to loosen them.

 

Lol good guy that Thor.

 

re firesuit: If I had budget I would buy a suit. Right now I wear nomex gloves and shoes, and plan to put a nomex shifter boot in. May also wear a nomex undershirt. Racecar or not, fires can happen. Scott was telling me about his 240 last year, motor blew, oil sprayed down the bottom of the car, soaked some heat shielding in the trans tunnel, and the exhaust ignited it. He was out of the car when it happened, but the fire came through the shifter and scorched both seats. I personally am mounting a small extinguisher to the passenger floor somehow. Maybe even the rear shelf if it stays. Just make sure its REALLY secure, as it can become a nasty projectile in a crash. We may be in street cars but they are not slow!

Victor: I agree with the other two. Don't worry about cooling mods yet. Just get some good fluid in there, some decent pads (HP+ would be fine, any performance pad), and go have fun. Best mod you can do is track time!



a decent read on safety:
http://www.timeattackforums.com/foru...ce-safety.html

 

We should change the title from USELESS to USEFUL...

 

^ True, and now the drive gear bolts refuse to move.
Going to have to pay someone to remove them. sucks.
Wasted 2 hours of my life today and got no where. Typical of the modding.

 

you started the thread mike, you should have the power to change the title

 

It will never change! Usefulness of information is situation dependant!

 

just to tell you all how desparate i was...

I pinned the oem vlsd between a ramp, and i dropped the lift on it.
I then used my impact gun. The bolts still did not break free. I even used break free.

Only thing I didnt doo was torch them.

 

Who needs a vice when you have a lift!

 

Lol!!!

 

'twas hilarious.

I BBM'd my mechanic neighbor outlining my plan. He said "bad idea".

I said "screw this". The frustrating thing was just watching the lsd vibrate in defiance.