nice you found some :D

You run upgraded pads and fluids on your Z right? When I was tracking my car I noticed a little pedal flutter (not ABS, I know what that feels like) later in the day but I never had any fade. They got very firm but still bit well after maybe 10 mins of full speed driving too, which I blame the pads for.

Yes there are a few aftermarket rotor replacements for the stock brake kit, Rotora and StopTech to name a few. There are no 2-Piece rotors available yet though which is a bummer, they are all 1-piece replacements.

Yes I run Motul RBF600 fluid, Challenge stainless steel braided lines, and Carbotech XP10 front, XP8 rear pads on the track. Same setup on the street, but with stock pads.

Even with the Carbos you run the same rotors? No wonder you need new ones. I've heard that with them you have to seat the pads every time you switch or you'll have issues with residue.

Do my assumptions on the issues I'm having seem correct? It definitely made me trust my car a little less when powering into turns and I want to avoid it next time.

Yeah same rotors for both sets of pads. Ideally you would have one set of rotors paired for each set of pads, but thats a pain in the *** and expensive.

Its hard to say what your car is doing just based off of that info without feeling it myself, but if your pedal didn't get soft then its most likely the pads.

yeah I had a little bounce while light braking (fluid) and then after a while it would get real firm (pads)

I'll probably be getting something a little more double duty in the pads dept.

I'd heard the 600 fluid is prone to holding moisture and requires bleeding and refilling from time to time... ?

Another bad habit of mine is not bleeding my brakes or doing routine fluid changes. :)

I have not bled/changed my Motul fluid since March with no issues.

sweet thanks :tiphat:

You might want to do that when you swap the rotors on. A year is the absolute max you want to run a high temp fluid. After 1 year you're probably at about 2% moisture and boiling point has been reduced 35%.

Oh I know. I SHOULD at least bleed the brakes after every event, but I am lazy lol.

I just remembered though, I did swap the fluid when I changed the lines in September. Forgot about that.

Good thing you're not driving your Z then anymore :stirthepot::facepalm:

:rofl2:

Nah, every event is overkill, save that for the teams with a full crew. Speed bleeders make it pretty easy but it's a pain to get to the inside bleeder especially on the rear.

I don't know, if I was you I would do it every weekend. I do it every weekend in my race car, or for a single test day (probably more like what you are doing) right after the test day.

Some quick photos after some prep for an upcoming car show this Sunday.

Finally put my EVO-R side blades back on the car after one got violently ripped off during an off-track excursion at Buttonwillow back in November. The one that came off the car is virtually un-damaged which is awesome seeing that it was also run over by my back tire after being ripped from the side skirt. I think the look of the side blades really helps with the wing and the overall look of the car, way more so than they did without the wing I think. Now I just need a front lip to finish the "time attack" look.

Also lowered the car about 1/2" all around and re-adjusted my alignment back to street specs so the wheels look more flush. Found some 6mm spacers in my garage from my 350Z so I threw those on the rear wheels too.

Also obviously removed all of the stickers. I think it looks soooooo much better without stickers, but unfortunately that is one of the drawbacks to having sponsors. I have an appointment with 702 Graphics tomorrow to get the car re-stickered, but this time it will be a much more minimalist look compared to my last few vinyl layouts.

The decals is the last thing that will happen to the car before Sunday's Hellaflush 3.5 / Berk Technology Charity Ride-A-Long event. My StopTech slotted front rotors and replacement OEM rear rotors are due to arrive Monday so those will go on next week. I also want to get around to installing the SPC Performance rear toe bolts I have had sitting in my garage forever. That will allow me to lower the car some more in the rear while still being able to keep within factory toe specs. I still have an NST pulley kit in my parts bin that I have yet to install as well. Not going to tackle that one myself though without a lift so thats still on hold.

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/nodecals370z1.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/nodecals370z2.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/nodecals370z3.jpg

You need a gunmetal tow hook. That or black. The red doesn't go with anything.

The wheel setup does look nice though. Hell, I think you could still push the rears out a bit lol.

I've always been a fan (if you have to do it) with either a vertical line near the forward door seam or across the bottom. Typically when they are just somewhat noticeable. Like a lighter silver for your car. Not sure if your sponsors would be okay with the "ghost" look for their logo though heh.

Yeah thinking of powdercoating the red part of the tow hook either black or my new accent color that will be on my car via the vinyl. Red is not in the works though, red/black/silver is soooo 2007. :D

Yeah I wouldn't do the "ghost" look for my sponsors. Even though most, if not all of them probably wouldn't say anything about it, I am better to my sponsors than that lol. A sponsor's logo on my car is a main staple of my sponsorships. If a company is willing to invest in me and help me out, the least I can do is make sure their logo is easily readable. :) The color scheme of the car is actually chosen by my title sponsor Berk Technology this year. It will match the new look of their time attack BMW 135i which I will be driving for them in time attack. Its not a traditional "safe" color scheme though so don't get excited. I think it will look cool, it will be more along the lines of what I like to call a "Ken Block" style color scheme. You know how I love that neon. :D

Yeah his cars always looked sweet. The only qualms I ever had was the overuse of the DC logo as a pattern or texture.

I'm :excited: to see how yours turns out. If it's the same dark gold color that's on your Bimmer then it'll definitely be a crapshoot but I'll stay positive :tup:

Or you could ask your awesome sponsor for a black one to swap out. :tiphat:

:wtf2:

Rest assured that when I reference Ken Block's cars I am talking about his color choices. Usually pretty monotone with one or two bright "neon" colors. My car will not feature any patterns or textures, just simple one color logos with another color border. And no, the black/gold scheme of the Berk car in 2009 is gone so gold will not be making its way onto my car. :)

Thats true, but I am trying to save you $$$ here. I will let you pay the powdercoating bill if you want. :)

looking clean Mike,

Good to see the beast back on the streets =)

Crap, I should have made a deal to be a used parts supplier sponser. ;)

:shakes head: nothin' wrong with red! lol

Gimme my money back and I'll put a sticker of your face on the car. I have no shame. :D

LOL, I'm rather tempted.

Sure, the red/black/combo is still cool. Your iPod Shuffle isn't out of date yet either, don't worry. :D

Fresh coat of wax and back to being riced out with all of the sponsor stickers.... :D

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/neonyellow1.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/neonyellow2.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/neonyellow3.jpg

http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/neonyellow4.jpg

Found this fitting seeing as I am going to a Hellaflush meet this weekend. :D
http://www.bonannimotorsports.com/neonyellow5.jpg

The florescent yellow/black color scheme is designed to match the Berk Technology Time Attack 135i's look for 2010 since my 370Z will be used as the official Berk Technology demo car.

After looking at the photos, what needs to happen next, looks wise, is to get rid of all of the bright red on the car. The JDM fog light will be replaced with the stock "smoked" piece, the tail lights and third brake light will get smoked, and the tow hook will go black or florescent yellow.

Tomorrow its off to Bakersfield for a quick overnight stay then onto Buttonwillow Raceway Sunday morning for the Hellaflush 3.5 Car Show, Team Drift Championship Drift Event, and Berk Technology Charity Ride-A-Long program! More pics from that event next week and as always, I will be updating my Twitter live from the event with news and updates about how our fundraiser is going and more. Mike Bonanni (BMSTimeAttack) on Twitter

yay green and not gold/bronze! :tup: I like it!

Its yellow, like highlighter ink. :D

Yeah I would not have been down for gold/bronze...

Just installed the Blue Batmobile smoked third brake light overlay. Tried to install the tail light overlays, but apparently they are way beyond my skill level for that type of thing so those are ruined lol. Also swapped the JDM fog light for the stock piece. Looks much better with less bright red in the back. Pics next week after Hellaflush 3.5.

The spacers in the rear make a big difference. Looks great!

Q: Are you rubbing in the front when turning and hitting a bump??

It was probably more the alignment settings than the spacer. Went from -2.5 degrees out back to -1 degree.

Nope.

Mike B. I thought I remember a post you made about the passwordjdm engine covers that you were working with them on.. did that ever happen?

You should get the rear valence overlay from Blue Batmobile, blacking out that lower part of the rear bumper would look great with the black wing!

Mike, let me know if you ever want to get rid of those sideskirt add-ons. I know the abuse they have seen :)

I like them I dont know why you would want to get rid of them...They look awsome, I like how they keep the beautiful lines of the stock Z. Very classy in my book.

I take that back, after a long trip out of state, there are some instances where the fronts rubbed ever so slightly.

The engine cover itseslf never happened, but the radiator cooling panel and battery/brake fluid covers did.

Yeah that will get done eventually, but I am going to go with paint probably.

They will stay on the car for a while most likely unless I can somehow nail down a body kit sponsor. :) They don't show any signs of abuse anyway.

Damn that sucks. Those other pieces look awesome, a matching engine cover would be pretty sick.

Just paint the engine cover. ;)

Yeah, unfortunately once DDM went out of business and I couldn't sell their products for them, they were no longer interested in using my car for development purposes. :thumbsdown: