Base Brakes Track Day
 

Hi everyone, new member here looking to get some insight!

I have a 2014 base 370z I plan on doing a couple track days with this upcoming summer. I've read up on some of the required mods and plan on doing coilovers, FUCA, square wheel/tire (RE71-R), and oil cooler. However, regarding brakes, I plan on eventually going to BBK route but not planned for it this year, hoping the OEM base setup will last me. I'm switching to Yellowstuff and RBF 600, but still wondering about brake temps/fade (especially with the grippier tire). I'm considering doing the Stillen brake duct to help bring down temps but I'm wondering whether this will be effective given I have the OEM blank rotors (not slotted or drilled). I'd appreciate any input!

Thanks!

I'd try to go easy on the brakes. The fluid should help. You can still have a blast on the track without having to threshold brake every turn :driving:

I started with Yellow Stuff pads and it was a big mistake. Ate through the pads fast and ended up damaging my calipers. Switched to Hawk DTCs. They work great, last multiple track days and mate very well with stock rotors. But not good for daily driving. Changing the pads is so easy, you could consider doing track pads and switching them out for daily driving. I have the Stillen front bumper, which has large openings in front of the wheels and helps with cooling. Looks nice and is functional.

If he’s in the beginner group, I think his setup is more than enough. If he’s in the solo expert type of group trying to chase down others or personal best, then obviously he will exceed the hardware’s limit pretty quick.

As I get older, I have learned (or forced) to learn better brake management. If you have a fast car, driving 10/10 for a 25 minute session is very difficult. You are best to do 1-2 hot laps, cool down everything and try it again after 1 or 2 cool down laps. It's also better to avoid traffic too. Of course that is easier said than done, it's too easy to see the red mist.

Good stuff, appreciate the insight. Will be running in the beginner group just to get my bearings straight and understand the car's limits some more. I don't expect to push the hardware to its max at least until I upgrade some more of the essentials. Will look into the DTC pads.

I was more curious about the effectiveness of the brake duct upgrade. Reading some of the Stillen blog and reviews, it seems like it'll have a greater cooling potential for rotors already designed to either pull air/vent aka slotted. Should I expect the same cooling potential with blank rotors?

The biggest problem with the stock brake system is it's tendency to overheat under continuous hard braking. Motul RBF will help significantly. Brake ducts will help certainly but may not be necessary for you just yet. Slotted rotors won't impact cooling much. And the stock front rotors are vented IINM.

I have learned the best cooling system is better brake management. Ever since I started doing quality over quality, my brake life’s have improved and usually lap times too. When your clutch diff and brakes are overheating, it’s best to let it calm down before you hammer it

Quality over quantity sorry spell check

Right on! And yep, brake management will be key. Appreciate all the advice. Time for parts to trickle in and then the build will begin. Spring can't get here soon enough!

Cheers!

Base brakes here also.
Did my first track day this past November in S. Carolina. Temps were around 13-15C/55-59F.
Brakes were fine all day. Smelly, but ok. I ran yellowstuff and RBF600.
Big brakes are waiting to go on when it warms up a bit.

I started off with the Yellowstuff pads. Had no issues with them, other then dust. Once you get some experience, you'll know when to go to a better pad.

I'm running the 10/8 Carbo combo, RacingBrake 2 piece rotors, HardBraking Ti heat shields, stainless lines, Castrol SRF brake fluid, and 3" brake cooling hoses.

Thanks Rusty. Looked up the brake shields you mentioned. I’m going to give those a try. My caliper gaskets melt all the time and I have to rebuild. Maybe the shields will help.

Cossie's got a set of the Ti backing plates (heat shield) for sale in the Classifieds section of the forum. But they are for the sport package Akebono brakes only. I think you just have the regular base brakes? so that won't work. I'm not sure there are any available for the base brake calipers.

Thanks. I’m on the sport setup, so I’ll check what Cossie has out there.