Rear brake pads more worn than front?
11-19-2006, 11:37 AM
#1
Instructor
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Rear brake pads more worn than front?
I have taken my Z16 to the track three times since I got it in August: twice to Gingerman in South Haven, MI and once to Autobahn Country Club in Joilet, IL. I have maybe 300 track miles and 6000 regular miles on the car. After the third event, my rear brake pads are entirely gone (and sound like metal on metal), while the front pads still have some (presumably minimal) life to them.
Is this normal? Can anyone explain what would cause this to happen? I push the car pretty hard, sometimes using competetive mode and other times turning the system off entirely.
Thoughts?
Jason
Is this normal? Can anyone explain what would cause this to happen? I push the car pretty hard, sometimes using competetive mode and other times turning the system off entirely.
Thoughts?
Jason
11-19-2006, 11:47 AM
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rear brake pad execess use if from running with AH turned ON or in Comp mode. When you turn those OFF your front pads were out 3 times faster then the rears.
HTH
HTH
11-19-2006, 01:10 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
rear brake pad execess use if from running with AH turned ON or in Comp mode. When you turn those OFF your front pads were out 3 times faster then the rears.
HTH
HTH
11-19-2006, 09:27 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Then again there is the other side of the story. I run with the AH on in
Comp mode and my rear pads run about twice as long as the fronts.
That is Performance Friction X pads with street tires. The key is to
be smooth, brake in a straight line and get on the throttle early as you
enter corners so you have acceleration as long as possible through the
next straight.
Is this the fastest way around a track? No! I've been to Spring Mt. and
as they teach in the advanced class you can pick up time if you master
trail braking among other things to get deeper into corners. Is it a safe
way to track a $25k to $50+k car, usually. To those that say the
system won't overcome physics, I agree, but if you are always smooth
and approaching the edge in small increments the system will intervene
with very little impact on the pads. That is if you have it come on at
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
Comp mode and my rear pads run about twice as long as the fronts.
That is Performance Friction X pads with street tires. The key is to
be smooth, brake in a straight line and get on the throttle early as you
enter corners so you have acceleration as long as possible through the
next straight.
Is this the fastest way around a track? No! I've been to Spring Mt. and
as they teach in the advanced class you can pick up time if you master
trail braking among other things to get deeper into corners. Is it a safe
way to track a $25k to $50+k car, usually. To those that say the
system won't overcome physics, I agree, but if you are always smooth
and approaching the edge in small increments the system will intervene
with very little impact on the pads. That is if you have it come on at
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
Last edited by StArrow68; 11-19-2006 at 10:08 PM.
11-19-2006, 11:49 PM
#7
Safety Car
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
rear brake pad execess use if from running with AH turned ON or in Comp mode. When you turn those OFF your front pads were out 3 times faster then the rears.
HTH
HTH
11-20-2006, 12:58 AM
#8
Le Mans Master
My rear pads last three times longer on my Z16 than my front pads, but I run on the track with everything off.
11-20-2006, 12:58 AM
#9
Burning Brakes
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Interesting comments.
My fronts last at least twice as long as my rears at tracks like Grattan, Gingerman and Putnam. Carbotech XP10's and XP8's. Z06 ....no AH or ABS.
.
My fronts last at least twice as long as my rears at tracks like Grattan, Gingerman and Putnam. Carbotech XP10's and XP8's. Z06 ....no AH or ABS.
.
11-20-2006, 06:30 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by StArrow68
Then again there is the other side of the story. I run with the AH on in
Comp mode and my rear pads run about twice as long as the fronts.
That is Performance Friction X pads with street tires. The key is to
be smooth, brake in a straight line and get on the throttle early as you
enter corners so you have acceleration as long as possible through the
next straight.
Is this the fastest way around a track? No! I've been to Spring Mt. and
as they teach in the advanced class you can pick up time if you master
trail braking among other things to get deeper into corners. Is it a safe
way to track a $25k to $50+k car, usually. To those that say the
system won't overcome physics, I agree, but if you are always smooth
and approaching the edge in small increments the system will intervene
with very little impact on the pads. That is if you have it come on at
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
Comp mode and my rear pads run about twice as long as the fronts.
That is Performance Friction X pads with street tires. The key is to
be smooth, brake in a straight line and get on the throttle early as you
enter corners so you have acceleration as long as possible through the
next straight.
Is this the fastest way around a track? No! I've been to Spring Mt. and
as they teach in the advanced class you can pick up time if you master
trail braking among other things to get deeper into corners. Is it a safe
way to track a $25k to $50+k car, usually. To those that say the
system won't overcome physics, I agree, but if you are always smooth
and approaching the edge in small increments the system will intervene
with very little impact on the pads. That is if you have it come on at
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
I use comp mode often. Rears still outlast fronts 3 to 1. I run street tires so the car moves around quite a bit too. I am no pansy. My car will allow quite a bit of drift if it's done smoothly. Even when it does intervene, it's momentary. I have never been able to save more than 1 second on a lap with and without. Why risk it for an HPDE? jmho 
11-20-2006, 08:26 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by Tourmgr1
no ABS.
11-20-2006, 06:18 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
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Well I run with everything off but the ABS situation has more to do with my ECBM problems. I would always prefer to use the ABS as it's very handy to have in the rain etc. (as is the AH).
I have pulled the fuse.
My previous track car was a '94 Camaro which had no ABS or AH and so I got used to running without these luxury's. I am not advising anyone else to do this ...you're on your own.
I have pulled the fuse.
My previous track car was a '94 Camaro which had no ABS or AH and so I got used to running without these luxury's. I am not advising anyone else to do this ...you're on your own.
11-20-2006, 08:58 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by StArrow68
.....That is if you have it come on at
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
all if you are smooth enough. It takes patience.
Randy
If you run with it on and push the car hard (good or bad) it will eat up more of the rear pads. That is how the system operates.
jeff
11-20-2006, 10:22 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
Jeff,
I know I'm not as smooth as I'd like to be and one of these days I hope
to get the chance to try it out some places other than the 6 tracks we
have within four hours of the Bay Area. Actually when I was doing more
days per month than I am now, I was smoother early on when getting
back on track. With only 1 to two days per month it is getting harder
to go out and stay smooth, so as everyone knows, seat time is a major
factor. Looking forward to next spring when I will try running with it off
at Reno-Fernley again. Hope to see you out west again.
Randy
I know I'm not as smooth as I'd like to be and one of these days I hope
to get the chance to try it out some places other than the 6 tracks we
have within four hours of the Bay Area. Actually when I was doing more
days per month than I am now, I was smoother early on when getting
back on track. With only 1 to two days per month it is getting harder
to go out and stay smooth, so as everyone knows, seat time is a major
factor. Looking forward to next spring when I will try running with it off
at Reno-Fernley again. Hope to see you out west again.
Randy
11-20-2006, 11:51 PM
#15
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One other thing that can contribute to rear brake pad wear on 2001 and newer cars is the dynamic rear braking. The system will put as much brake pressure to the rear as the tires can take. Previous years didn't get as much rear brake pressure since they had a fixed front to rear bias. Even using the DRM bias spring didn't always get enough rear brake pressure.
Bill
Bill
11-21-2006, 09:52 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
Originally Posted by StArrow68
Jeff,
I know I'm not as smooth as I'd like to be and one of these days I hope
to get the chance to try it out some places other than the 6 tracks we
have within four hours of the Bay Area. Actually when I was doing more
days per month than I am now, I was smoother early on when getting
back on track. With only 1 to two days per month it is getting harder
to go out and stay smooth, so as everyone knows, seat time is a major
factor. Looking forward to next spring when I will try running with it off
at Reno-Fernley again. Hope to see you out west again.
Randy
I know I'm not as smooth as I'd like to be and one of these days I hope
to get the chance to try it out some places other than the 6 tracks we
have within four hours of the Bay Area. Actually when I was doing more
days per month than I am now, I was smoother early on when getting
back on track. With only 1 to two days per month it is getting harder
to go out and stay smooth, so as everyone knows, seat time is a major
factor. Looking forward to next spring when I will try running with it off
at Reno-Fernley again. Hope to see you out west again.
Randy
jeff
