Brake Pads Crumbled
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Southlake TX
Brake Pads Crumbled
Went racing this weekend using PFC-Z pads. My rotors were agressivelly grooved out and the pad of course matches them. The edges of the pad are crumbled with sections of the pad near the edges missing. It's like someone hit it with a hammer in sections and it crumbled.
The pads have a significant amount of taper to them and it seems to be opposite on the leading vs. trailing edge. The outer pad was tapered at the leading edge and the inner was tapered towards teh trailing edge. Would that be because the caliber is not aligned properly?
Also, anyone have experience with Wilwood Js. I went through these PFC-z pads in 2 events where I got about 3 or 4 20 minute sessions on the TMS inner track. Seems like they should have lasted a bit longer, although I am very rough on the brakes.
The pads have a significant amount of taper to them and it seems to be opposite on the leading vs. trailing edge. The outer pad was tapered at the leading edge and the inner was tapered towards teh trailing edge. Would that be because the caliber is not aligned properly?
Also, anyone have experience with Wilwood Js. I went through these PFC-z pads in 2 events where I got about 3 or 4 20 minute sessions on the TMS inner track. Seems like they should have lasted a bit longer, although I am very rough on the brakes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
Likes: 1,839
From: Hot Springs AR
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (bigDvette)
Well, I'd try the autocross/road racing forum as far as the brake pad crumbling goes. Had you bedded them in before-hand?
As far as the LE/TE tapering goes, is that on one side only? If so, then I'd guess you've got either a caliper pin or piston that's sticking and causing the caliper assembly to "fowl" slightly. Otherwise the taper should be symmetric.
And, as always, AIR, AIR, AIR! to the brakes. All I do is autocross, so I don't have a heating problem, but if I ever start tracking, two things I'm going to do:
1. Engine Oil cooler
2. Brake ducts to the fronts
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
As far as the LE/TE tapering goes, is that on one side only? If so, then I'd guess you've got either a caliper pin or piston that's sticking and causing the caliper assembly to "fowl" slightly. Otherwise the taper should be symmetric.
And, as always, AIR, AIR, AIR! to the brakes. All I do is autocross, so I don't have a heating problem, but if I ever start tracking, two things I'm going to do:
1. Engine Oil cooler
2. Brake ducts to the fronts
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (bigDvette)
Those pads are not made for heavy use. That is what will happen unless you go real easy on the brakes. The rotors grooved because the metal got HOT. You need better pads, Wilwood or PFC 01's and a few other available. You need ducting also and tie rod end protection. If you got it hot the rubber boots are probably burned up near the rotor. You need to then replace the enitre control arm. :eek: LGM will really have spindle ducts soon. Stainless steel pistons from DRM along with the DRM ducts.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,775
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (John Shiels)
John is right on. After losing one tie rod end boot I cover them and I also put some wrap around the lower ball joint boots. The pad tapering was probably due to caliper flex. First time I went to the track with my 97 I tapered the pads so bad the dealer warrantied all of them front and back. You probably had a low pedal after a few sessions. The only pads I haven't tapered are Hawk Blues. They are a very high torque pad and all you have to do is breathe your foot across the brake to get a lot of stopping power but do they do eat the rotors.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (C5inNY)
You can't find anything on the car cheaper to do than cover the ball joints except wash it :lol: I ran a whole set of PFC 01's on a rotor and the rotor had NO wear due to cooling. Part way into the second pad set it split big time in two places on one rotor so watch them.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (Bob25thTA)
DRM ducts and the LGM spindle ducts. I just take some heat shield tubing and wrap and safety wire it. Cheap & easy! I'll try to find some pictures or take some tomorrow as I prep the car for VIR
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (John Shiels)
John is right BigD. You need air to the brakes and better pads. The PF01's and the Carbotech XP9's are very good for the track and quite similar in performance. Also shielding as many things as possible from the heat of the brakes will be beneficial to surronding parts.
Jim
Jim
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Southlake TX
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (Jim 47)
Thanks for all the replies guys.
So what does the tie rod end boot look like? I ask because I lost I have this rubber boot with a slit in the end that someone said came off my car yet I can't find where it would have come off.
I want to upgrade to wilwood brakes all together, but I can't find a good tire combo other than hoosiers. John, what do you run.
I'm looking this winter to get John at CCW to change my wheel sizes. I run 335/30/17 in the rear and 215/35/17 in the front. Kumhos of course. I need 18s to run wilwood package acording to Lou.
I'm going to redo all this stuff this winter. I've got 1 more event and I replaced the PFC-zs already with well PFC z again.
I just switched the entire suspension to 2004 z06 suspension over the weekend and brakes / ducting / heat shielding will come right after my next event. When it is 50 out the brakes stay pretty cools, so hopefully that will help.
Anyway I need a tire combo to switch out the brakes.
Donald
So what does the tie rod end boot look like? I ask because I lost I have this rubber boot with a slit in the end that someone said came off my car yet I can't find where it would have come off.
I want to upgrade to wilwood brakes all together, but I can't find a good tire combo other than hoosiers. John, what do you run.
I'm looking this winter to get John at CCW to change my wheel sizes. I run 335/30/17 in the rear and 215/35/17 in the front. Kumhos of course. I need 18s to run wilwood package acording to Lou.
I'm going to redo all this stuff this winter. I've got 1 more event and I replaced the PFC-zs already with well PFC z again.
I just switched the entire suspension to 2004 z06 suspension over the weekend and brakes / ducting / heat shielding will come right after my next event. When it is 50 out the brakes stay pretty cools, so hopefully that will help.
Anyway I need a tire combo to switch out the brakes.
Donald
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (bigDvette)
I am running the GY GSCS in GS sizes 275/315 x 17 going to a bigger tire next year on my next set of rims. I need two sets of rims. I'll look to see if I have a tie rod picture wrapped or take one this week. The rims I will order from CCW will let me run scrubs, Hoosiers, and real slicks..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Southlake TX
Re: Brake Pads Crumbled (John Shiels)
Thanks John so you run stock brakes with Wilwood pads?
John has just about talked me in to scrubs as well on 18s. If you run real slicks will you run GY slicks?
John has just about talked me in to scrubs as well on 18s. If you run real slicks will you run GY slicks?
