Brake pad life?

SeattleLion

Any experience with the stock pads and occasional track use (like maybe one or two track days)? How often should I inspect them?

ChrisSlicks

You should do a through the wheel inspection every session. You should have a wheels off inspection every track weekend and assess if the pads are going to be up to the task. Once the pads are 2/3rds worn they are no good for track days. I wouldn't recommend tracking on the stock pads anyway, they're not really up to the task. Get some Carbotech's XP10/XP8's and switch out before the track day.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

SeattleLion

Great advice! Thanks. I haven't found a dealer for Carbotech. Z1 Motorsports has the AMS Carbon-Ceramic pads which they claim make a good choice for DD and track use. Any experience with them?

I am getting a floor jack, jack stands, and impact wrench so I can switch out pads once my skill improves to the point that I can use high performance brakes. Short of switching out every time (we have weekday track afternoons here), it would be nice to have my DD brakes also perform well on the track.

My thought is that for a Tuesday afternoon track session I could use a less dusty and aggressive set of pads (like the AMS if they are good), and then for full track days, swap out to Carbotech.

Make sense?

ChrisSlicks

Don't have any info on the AMS. The Mintex Extreme is a respectable double duty pad if you aren't super hard on them, they have a nice progressive feel and reasonable heat capacity. They do dust a little bit. There is no pad that excels at both so you either go with a compromise or use 2 sets of pads so that you can have the best of both worlds. Changing pads is really easy on the sports package even if you don't have any mechanical experience.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

cossie1600

Order directly from Carbotech, Carbotech Performance Brakes, tell them Tom sent you.

I am swapping my pads for the track tomorrow. Is there a video on how to do it, maybe I can put one together tomorrow for you if you need it

SeattleLion

A video would be a great help. I have no mechanical experience, but I do see the sense in swapping out for the track. Thank you for doing this.

cossie1600

I recorded it a few hours ago. The job is truly easy. You need maybe 10 common tools to do the job. I will try to post it this week for you.

You need
a jack
jackstand
1/2 driver
21mm socket
mallet
long nose plier
big plier
cloth
torque wrench