I have a 2005 with the Z51 pkg. and am going to my first HPDE at Virginia International Raceway. I have doing my homework and it is recommended to change brake fluid to one with a high wet boiling point. It looks like Castrol SPF is the best but will it work OK with the ABS ? Also, any other pointers from those of you who have done this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Use the Motul or synthetic for higher viscosity.. every run and finish you need to change and flush the system...

 

Hey John - I have the same car and I've been to VIR many times. I use Motul 600 and I've never had a problem. I also use Wilwood 15H8600K on the front and 15H8599K on the rear with the stock calipers but only at the track. I do crack rotors periodically but I'm likely driving a little harder than you will. I swap the pads out for ordinary pads for street use. They fluid is fine for street use and I change it about 3 times a season. I went through a whole season with the same set of pads ... much different than my former Mustang Cobra that used to go through about 4 sets of pads per season.
Go out, have some fun, and then decide if you want to get more serious and then it could be a cold air system, maybe sway bars, and, of course, tires. Actually, the car more or less just as stock is great for track days ... again, much different (read that as better) than the Mustang.

 

I have already installed a Vararam intake and Corsa sport exhaust and the car has the Z51 pkg. As soon as all the snow goes away I am taking it to Livernois Motorsports for a new set of heads, a Stage 2 cam and set of Kooks headers. Not sure what tires at this point to use, currently am running Mich. PS 2 and really like the way they ride and handle. Our local Corvette club sponsors a auto-cross each year and I did make one run on the course, but is only a slow course because of the small area. I had a blast and think the bug has got me !!

 

You really do not need to go with SRF at this time. There are several DOT 3 fluids with a sufficiently dry boiling point that you do not need to go with the most expensive fluid on the market. For years I used Ford Super Duty DOT 3 and only stopped using it because they dropped the dry boiling point from 550 to 500. I use Wilwood 570 now. It obviously has a 570 dry boiling point. These fluids when fresh will give you all the heat protection you will need. All I do is flush the system at the beginning of each track season and then use a 12 oz container to bleed the brakes for subsequent events. The Ford fluid is cheap and used to be called the Best Kept Secret in Motorsports. I used to get 12 oz containers for less than $5 each (including the 8% sales tax). I get the Wilwood fluid from the local circle track supply store as a lot of dirt track racers use it and the owner always has a lot of it on hand. I have been using Ford and Wilwood fluids since 1993 and only boiled the brake fluid once during that time. Not sure why it happened that once but that was several years ago and hasn't happened again.

If you are not doing a lot of events it will more cost effective to go with the lower cost fluids and spend the rest of the money somewhere else. Most novices never get close to boiling their several year old brake fluid let alone a fresh batch.

Bill