Track Day Prep

spearfish25

This is misleading for anyone considering their FIRST track day with the car. For those individuals, here is a more honest necessity list.

You can go bone stock, but you will run into engine oil temp issues and potentially brake fade if you're an aggressive first-timer. I was conservative and my first track day was fine except for 260F engine temps.

To safely prepare your car for the track day and avoid any limiting mechanical issues, your first modifications should be:
1. high temp brake fluid
2. track brake pads
3. engine oil cooler
These three changes will keep you lapping all day long. Stainless steel brake lines are NOT a mandatory change and only change the feel of the pedal. I've never had a clutch issue on the track, so changing clutch fluid is not a mandatory to-do item.

Beyond those three items, the single best thing you can do to go faster is get more track time. Coil-overs, R-compounds, exhaust/intake, etc etc won't improve your times if you still can't drive at the limit and consistently. I'm still in this learning zone.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

RCGsupra

That's what I was trying to accomplish with the "essentials" list. Notice the SS brake lines are in the performance section, after seat time. As far as the clutch goes with people having issues, what would it hurt to do some preventive maintenance and put some motul or something in the clutch? I'm all about preventive maintenance especially when it comes to running your car hard. With that said, make sure you're not on the tail end of an oil change and it may be worth while doing an oil change shortly after your track event as well. Keep the inputs coming guys!

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-Rick
09 370Z 6MT Sport/Touring. FI Exhaust

spearfish25

Ah, gotcha. I didn't read it closely enough. I would still take clutch fluid off that list. The problems people are having are sparse and not even track related. Sure I'd like RBF600 as my clutch fluid but it's honestly a non-issue on the track. I can't recall anyone that tracks their car complaining of a mushy clutch or boiled fluid. I've also done the power steering cooler upgrade but it's not necessary unless you're running front tires that are much wider than stock. I've never boiled fluid with the stock steering cooler.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z