Track Day/HPDE Brake Pads
04-25-2007, 08:18 PM
#1
Instructor
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Track Day/HPDE Brake Pads
After checking out the search function and the FAQ, I am looking for some ideas about brake pads for track days... I absolutely can't stomach paying nearly half a thousand dollars for pads!!! I was SHOCKED by the prices for PFC and Hawk pads... I am being quoted $450.00 to almost $500.00 for a set!!!! Does anyone have any ideas on other choices of pads that are in the realm of affordable, OR do any of you have sources for the aforementioned pads at sane prices?
Any ideas and help will be much appreciated.
Any ideas and help will be much appreciated.
04-25-2007, 10:07 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
PFC-01 or DTC-70. As far as cost. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but racing is very expensive. It's a fact. And rotors are consumable items (not just pads). I was once told that you should be prepared financially to walk away from your totaled car on the first lap of your first race. If you can't do that, you are not prepared to race.
04-25-2007, 11:00 PM
#4
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PFC-01 or DTC-70. As far as cost. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but racing is very expensive. It's a fact. And rotors are consumable items (not just pads). I was once told that you should be prepared financially to walk away from your totaled car on the first lap of your first race. If you can't do that, you are not prepared to race.
I'll try pricing out the Carbotechs.. Thanks for the advice.
04-25-2007, 11:11 PM
#5
Drifting
Carbotech seems to be the best value IMHO.[/QUOTE]
You wont go wrong with the Carbo's. A search will show you that a lot of us use them and the NAPA rotors. With what you save you can do another track day or two
good luck.
You wont go wrong with the Carbo's. A search will show you that a lot of us use them and the NAPA rotors. With what you save you can do another track day or two
good luck.
04-25-2007, 11:23 PM
#6
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I was using DT70s and looked for a cheaper alternative. Used carbotechs this weekend and found them to work great, and I believe i paid right at 200 bucks for the fronts.
Rotors are less than 25 bucks a peice at napa. stock up, you will need them with an agressive pad. But you use em up and throw them out.
And by the way, if you total your car on the first lap of a HPDE they put you in the wrong class. You shouldnt have to walk away from a totaled car. Hell im not "prepared" to walk away from a totaled car, and I dont think anybody else going to HPDEs is "prepared" for that.
Now I have not done a ton of them, only about 20, but ive never seen a "totaled" car there. A few bumpers torn off, a couple of crunched fenders, and maybe a trunk with some serious closure issues. He said track days, not full out W2W racing. Give this poor guy a break.
Also I go through the rotors and the pads in two days. I drive pretty hard and dont worry to much about the wear on the brakes. So be prepared to spend about 350 per every 2 days or so on pads and front rotors. The rotors will heat up and crack, and there isnt much you can do about it. The rear ones last longer, but not to much longer. Maybe another two days, depending on your driving.
One thing you might consider is looking for some used pads. I baught about three sets of DT70s from a forum member with more than 80 pct pad for less that half of what they would be new. 80 pct may get you through two days.
Have fun.
Rotors are less than 25 bucks a peice at napa. stock up, you will need them with an agressive pad. But you use em up and throw them out.
And by the way, if you total your car on the first lap of a HPDE they put you in the wrong class. You shouldnt have to walk away from a totaled car. Hell im not "prepared" to walk away from a totaled car, and I dont think anybody else going to HPDEs is "prepared" for that.
Now I have not done a ton of them, only about 20, but ive never seen a "totaled" car there. A few bumpers torn off, a couple of crunched fenders, and maybe a trunk with some serious closure issues. He said track days, not full out W2W racing. Give this poor guy a break.
Also I go through the rotors and the pads in two days. I drive pretty hard and dont worry to much about the wear on the brakes. So be prepared to spend about 350 per every 2 days or so on pads and front rotors. The rotors will heat up and crack, and there isnt much you can do about it. The rear ones last longer, but not to much longer. Maybe another two days, depending on your driving.
One thing you might consider is looking for some used pads. I baught about three sets of DT70s from a forum member with more than 80 pct pad for less that half of what they would be new. 80 pct may get you through two days.
Have fun.
04-25-2007, 11:40 PM
#7
Safety Car
I have seen plenty of totaled cars at HPDE track days. at lease 1 per event average.
even some parked cars !!! completely totaled. that is however rare.
even some parked cars !!! completely totaled. that is however rare.
04-25-2007, 11:54 PM
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Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '07
You wont go wrong with the Carbo's. A search will show you that a lot of us use them and the NAPA rotors. With what you save you can do another track day or two
good luck.[/QUOTE]
I've been using Carbotech pads for quite some time and have always been very pleased with them.
http://www.ctbrakes.com
good luck.[/QUOTE]
I've been using Carbotech pads for quite some time and have always been very pleased with them.
http://www.ctbrakes.com
04-25-2007, 11:59 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
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St. Jude Donor '07
Carbotech pricing...
http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/chevy.html
C6 Z06 is a bit spendy for pads, but everyone else is under $201 for a set. I just ordered another set the other day.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/chevy.html
C6 Z06 is a bit spendy for pads, but everyone else is under $201 for a set. I just ordered another set the other day.
04-26-2007, 12:29 AM
#10
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Carbotech pricing...
http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/chevy.html
C6 Z06 is a bit spendy for pads, but everyone else is under $201 for a set. I just ordered another set the other day.
http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/chevy.html
C6 Z06 is a bit spendy for pads, but everyone else is under $201 for a set. I just ordered another set the other day.
All the advice is much appreciated, thanks guys...
04-26-2007, 12:34 AM
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I was using DT70s and looked for a cheaper alternative. Used carbotechs this weekend and found them to work great, and I believe i paid right at 200 bucks for the fronts.
Rotors are less than 25 bucks a peice at napa. stock up, you will need them with an agressive pad. But you use em up and throw them out.
And by the way, if you total your car on the first lap of a HPDE they put you in the wrong class. You shouldnt have to walk away from a totaled car. Hell im not "prepared" to walk away from a totaled car, and I dont think anybody else going to HPDEs is "prepared" for that.
Now I have not done a ton of them, only about 20, but ive never seen a "totaled" car there. A few bumpers torn off, a couple of crunched fenders, and maybe a trunk with some serious closure issues. He said track days, not full out W2W racing. Give this poor guy a break.
Also I go through the rotors and the pads in two days. I drive pretty hard and dont worry to much about the wear on the brakes. So be prepared to spend about 350 per every 2 days or so on pads and front rotors. The rotors will heat up and crack, and there isnt much you can do about it. The rear ones last longer, but not to much longer. Maybe another two days, depending on your driving.
One thing you might consider is looking for some used pads. I baught about three sets of DT70s from a forum member with more than 80 pct pad for less that half of what they would be new. 80 pct may get you through two days.
Have fun.
Rotors are less than 25 bucks a peice at napa. stock up, you will need them with an agressive pad. But you use em up and throw them out.
And by the way, if you total your car on the first lap of a HPDE they put you in the wrong class. You shouldnt have to walk away from a totaled car. Hell im not "prepared" to walk away from a totaled car, and I dont think anybody else going to HPDEs is "prepared" for that.
Now I have not done a ton of them, only about 20, but ive never seen a "totaled" car there. A few bumpers torn off, a couple of crunched fenders, and maybe a trunk with some serious closure issues. He said track days, not full out W2W racing. Give this poor guy a break.
Also I go through the rotors and the pads in two days. I drive pretty hard and dont worry to much about the wear on the brakes. So be prepared to spend about 350 per every 2 days or so on pads and front rotors. The rotors will heat up and crack, and there isnt much you can do about it. The rear ones last longer, but not to much longer. Maybe another two days, depending on your driving.
One thing you might consider is looking for some used pads. I baught about three sets of DT70s from a forum member with more than 80 pct pad for less that half of what they would be new. 80 pct may get you through two days.
Have fun.
04-26-2007, 06:48 AM
#12
Burning Brakes
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No clue where you guys are seeing 200/set pads - more like 200/pair, ~350/set for carbo's. The carbotechs just don't last very long, so I'm not sure how economical they are in the long run. Wilwood H's by far lasted the longest. At least our rotors are cheap!
04-26-2007, 07:02 AM
#13
Team Owner
cost per mile not per pad
04-26-2007, 07:04 AM
#14
Safety Car
CarboTech gives discounts to CorvetteForum and NASA members. Not sure which is better or if the discount is the same. Be sure to mention that when ordering pads.
04-26-2007, 07:19 AM
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ppl Say the Carbotechs would work but I also agree with Freefall. Some guys like the carbos some guys dont. Carbos seem to last only one good weekend, vs the Wilwood H or PFC-01s lasted 3 to 5 weekends depending on the conditions. Rotors are just lunch meat.
Last edited by AU N EGL; 04-26-2007 at 07:22 AM.
04-26-2007, 07:37 AM
#16
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Sorry but I gotta disagree with the brake sooner stuff.
Im out there to have fun yes, but I also want to push my limits a tad and improve my driving. If I can afford a 35k car and all that goes along with it i should be able to afford 350.00 per event on some brake parts.
I know that the totaled car stuff happens, i just have not seen it at one of the events I have been to. Ive seen damage and flat beds hauling undrivable cars away, but never a total loss.
I was on youtube looking at race videos the other night. There is a definate difference on how some HPDEs are run compared to others.
One had a z06 at a track, the guy is in short sleave shirt, he says it was his first time on a track, and he is passing in the corners, no point bys, and generally doing things by a completly different set of rules than what im used to. I have to believe that events that are run like that would ad to the amount of cars that become damaged at events.
Im out there to have fun yes, but I also want to push my limits a tad and improve my driving. If I can afford a 35k car and all that goes along with it i should be able to afford 350.00 per event on some brake parts.
I know that the totaled car stuff happens, i just have not seen it at one of the events I have been to. Ive seen damage and flat beds hauling undrivable cars away, but never a total loss.
I was on youtube looking at race videos the other night. There is a definate difference on how some HPDEs are run compared to others.
One had a z06 at a track, the guy is in short sleave shirt, he says it was his first time on a track, and he is passing in the corners, no point bys, and generally doing things by a completly different set of rules than what im used to. I have to believe that events that are run like that would ad to the amount of cars that become damaged at events.
04-26-2007, 07:56 AM
#17
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Sorry but I gotta disagree with the brake sooner stuff.
Im out there to have fun yes, but I also want to push my limits a tad and improve my driving. If I can afford a 35k car and all that goes along with it i should be able to afford 350.00 per event on some brake parts.
Im out there to have fun yes, but I also want to push my limits a tad and improve my driving. If I can afford a 35k car and all that goes along with it i should be able to afford 350.00 per event on some brake parts.
I was on youtube looking at race videos the other night. There is a definate difference on how some HPDEs are run compared to others.
One had a z06 at a track, the guy is in short sleave shirt, he says it was his first time on a track, and he is passing in the corners, no point bys, and generally doing things by a completly different set of rules than what im used to. I have to believe that events that are run like that would ad to the amount of cars that become damaged at events.
One had a z06 at a track, the guy is in short sleave shirt, he says it was his first time on a track, and he is passing in the corners, no point bys, and generally doing things by a completly different set of rules than what im used to. I have to believe that events that are run like that would ad to the amount of cars that become damaged at events.
I do know things are run much differntly depading on if you live in the west or east coasts, the number of instructors, and if it is a true DE or just a track / lapping day. Events are set up differnently, which is a good thing.
TIA
Tom
04-26-2007, 08:06 AM
#18
Safety Car
I always get a laugh out of these threads about which pad is better.
I brake late and I brake hard. I want a pad that gives a good hard initial bite and a smooth release. If I can get that I don't care whether the pads last for a single 2 day weekend or for 4 weekends.
I use 'el cheapo' rotors from RockAuto so I could care less whether the pad is hard on rotors. The rotors are going to heat crack before the pads wear them out anyway.
When asked by my students which is the best pad I tell them "Get the most aggressive pad you can and try different manufacturers (PFC, CarboTech, Wilwood). You find one that works for you."
I brake late and I brake hard. I want a pad that gives a good hard initial bite and a smooth release. If I can get that I don't care whether the pads last for a single 2 day weekend or for 4 weekends.
I use 'el cheapo' rotors from RockAuto so I could care less whether the pad is hard on rotors. The rotors are going to heat crack before the pads wear them out anyway.
When asked by my students which is the best pad I tell them "Get the most aggressive pad you can and try different manufacturers (PFC, CarboTech, Wilwood). You find one that works for you."
