Preparing for FATT event - stock 2010 ZR
 

Hi there! I've been doing an extensive amount of research through searching the forums, but have not found a concrete answer to my specific question, so here goes!

I have a 2010 370Z Roadster with sport package, and I am preparing to go to a Friday at the Track day at Summit Point next month. My car has about 13k miles on it right now and is completely stock. For the day at the track, is it advisable to replace my brake pads on the ZR w/ sport package, or, should my stock pads hold out quite well?

Prior to the ZR, I had an 08 G37 S coupe, and I was told that I needed to replace the brake pads prior to my first track day in that car. While I only did one track day, I had replaced the pads (with Hawk Perf. HPS) and brake fluid. Since the two cars are very similar, I was curious to see what the community felt in terms of me upgrading the ZR's pads.

Thanks, as always, for the help!

A roll bar? Make sure they let you run with a convertible.

For safety, get minimum of clutch fluid, brake fluid, pads and fresh motor oil. You might be able to do a few laps if you are a novice without an oil cooler, but you will end up short shifting or lifting early before limp mode.

HPS are garbage, save your money on real pads

Thanks for the feedback.

The 370ZR has a built-in, fixed roll bar behind the driver and passenger seats. This has been approved for the track event that I'm going to.

A little more on FATT -- this is an instructor-led course that includes about 5 sessions of 15-20 minutes each on the track. There is no passing/racing with other vehicles on the track without the front driver acknowledging and allowing you to pass them (on straight-aways only).

I have a 7AT - are there any pre-track steps for the automatic?

What is your recommendation for pads that will get me through the track day (realistically once or twice a year) and also suffice for daily driving. Is there such a thing?

Thanks again for your help! :tup:

everyone wants a dual purpose pad, but there is no such thing and you will get marginal performance on both. its simple to change brakes on the sport pkg, just get yourself a couple tools and you can change it within an hour when you bleed the brake fluid.

personally i use the carbotech xp8 as they have proven to last and hold up for what i do. there are probably better pads, but it would be for more money or at the expense of rotor or pad life. cobalt friction is excellent, but they are twice the price.

transmission cooler would probably be a wise thing to protect your at, you should do it around the same time as you do oil cooler. it is recommended, but not required

I have done a bunch of FATT’s at Summit Point. Most with my old G35 and some in my 370Z (I prefer to do NASA track weekends at the Point).

From looking at your post, you do not have an oil cooler. This could be a real problem in the summer time. However, I have seen a novice driver in a G37 run at Summit Point w/o an oil cooler and he never overheated. But he was really crawling around the track.

Once you get a little bit of skill you will overheat your oil.

The same goes for your pads. If you are driving at a pace that does not overheat your oil then you probably won’t overwhelm your pads. Although, I would suggest that you upgrade your fluid to at least Super Blue.

Please be careful if you find your speed increasing through your sessions. Your instructor is not going to know the short comings of our Z cars. He may start pushing you harder thinking that you and the car are capable.

Always keep in mind that your brakes going into ice mode is the single most dangerous occurrence with our Z’s. It’s one thing to go into limp mode, lose clutch pedal pressure, get fuel starvation in turn one, or ruin your differential. These things are easy to recover from for any driver of any skill level.

But with ice mode, remember to drive straight into the gravel trap at the end of the main straight or at the bottom of turn five...

Go in at an angle and you may roll the car.

Thanks ResIpsa for the feedback. I think your first line captured it best - once I get a little bit of skill! :) As amazing as I think I am, the reality is that this will be only my second track event (first was in my G37). I'm going to search these boards some more for a recommendation on brake pads, fluid, and an oil cooler, and see if I can fit those into my budget (along with a helmet - instead of renting this time) for the September session. Safety is my priority, and if it means that I have to fork out money now vs. later, I would prefer to do it now!