Factory Brake Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Ia
Factory Brake Question
I am doing a track day (driver education) 2 day event in a few weeks. My car is an 08 base model. I'm worried about the brake pads and rotors. I am not an avid track racer and will only be doing this a couple times a year. So spending >$2000 for a set of big brakes seems like an over kill to me. I will be pushing the envelope and seeing what this car can do, and I am a "spirited" driver on a day to day basis anyway. Does anyone have any feedback on how well an all factory set up will handle this environment? Thanks in advance for your help!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh PA
Is this your first on track driver's ed? If so, then your stock brakes will work just fine; just make sure the brake fliud has been changed and the system properly bled.
I don't care how 'spirited' you drive on the street, you will find that once on the track, you don't drive as fast, nor as well as you think you do. ...and realizing that will be a good thing for you, as at that point you will be on your learning curve...
One of the first things I ask my students is, over the course of a year driving over all the roads you traverse, what do you think your average speed is? The answer is between 40 and 45 miles/hour. What this means is that, simply by surviving, you've managed to develop a skill set that's tuned to 40 to 45 mph. HPDE will allow you to raise that skill set.
Go for a ride with your instructor; I guarantee it will be a humbling experience. Also, welcome to the world of High Performance driving...you'll see there is much more to it than you imagined...and you'll also go home with a big grin on your face...and I'll further warn you, driving on a track is habit forming...(I've been addicted to the go-fast crack pipe for over 25 years, and have been instructing since 91)...
I don't care how 'spirited' you drive on the street, you will find that once on the track, you don't drive as fast, nor as well as you think you do. ...and realizing that will be a good thing for you, as at that point you will be on your learning curve...
One of the first things I ask my students is, over the course of a year driving over all the roads you traverse, what do you think your average speed is? The answer is between 40 and 45 miles/hour. What this means is that, simply by surviving, you've managed to develop a skill set that's tuned to 40 to 45 mph. HPDE will allow you to raise that skill set.
Go for a ride with your instructor; I guarantee it will be a humbling experience. Also, welcome to the world of High Performance driving...you'll see there is much more to it than you imagined...and you'll also go home with a big grin on your face...and I'll further warn you, driving on a track is habit forming...(I've been addicted to the go-fast crack pipe for over 25 years, and have been instructing since 91)...
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
If you plan on doing track days a couple of times a year and classify youself as a"spirited" driver on the street then you should absolutely upgrade the brakes from the base system. At the very least swap out fluid for a hi temp fluid such as Motul RBF600. It is compatable will factory fluid and has much higher wet/dry boiling points. With the stock fluid you will experience fade pretty quickly. The money spent on brake upgrades is money well spent, for both performance and safety. Z06 brake swap or one of the big name BBK's is a worthwhile modification. At the track, good brakes should come before HP increases.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Ia
Thanks for replying.
Yes this will be my 1st time on a track. I know it will be a humbling experience, and honestly, I want it to be. I have been interested in this for many years but never had the car to do it. Now that I do, Im excited to get out there and have fun.
The good thing is; this saves me some money.
I appreciate the feedback.
Yes this will be my 1st time on a track. I know it will be a humbling experience, and honestly, I want it to be. I have been interested in this for many years but never had the car to do it. Now that I do, Im excited to get out there and have fun.
The good thing is; this saves me some money.
I appreciate the feedback.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Ia
I was wondering what type of fluid to change to. This helps me a lot. If I get hooked on this like I am sure I will. I will have to invest in a set performance brakes. I always err on the side of safety so this would be the first step. I have been doing a ton of research and its always a different answer between blank rotors, slotted, drilled and slotted, and drilled. UGH. I know I dont think I would buy any rotors that have been drilled from blanks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,340
Likes: 965
From: Carlsbad Ca
Don't worry about HP increases as you already have a fast car. You are doing right by investing in YOURSELF by enrolling in driver education. Too many people go to trackdays and bring their ego with them. I've made this mistake myself (complacency can screw you up!) They don't learn nearly as much as someone who is taking instruction. Once you are on the track, you'll discover that you don't "need to go fast" on the street. You'll just use the street for what it's intended~ to get from here to there. You'll have the track to "go fast." As far as brakes go, stoptech has some good slotted rotors. I don't know which track you are running on but sometracks are more "hp & braking" tracks (ACS) being one of them. Never get on a track with out health insurance too.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh PA
Devind100, it sounds like you've got the right attitude...
As NYC6 said, the Motul brake fluid is good stuff; it's what I used to use on my (Brand P) race car...it would be a good choice for you to make for getting your fluid flushed prior to your first track day...
And as Norty said, upgrading the brakes is the best thing you can do, next to getting proper instruction, and no doubt you'll want to do that after your first track weekend...but for your first time, just make sure you've flushed the brakes & filled the system with a good fluid, like the Motul, that you have plenty of pad thickness and your tires are in good shape...
I've been instructing for PCA, BMW CCA, and NASA for a long time...I'll 'fess up here; I've owned ten Porsches since 1974, but now I want a Grand Sport, as it seems to be the best bang for the buck out there, so sometime within a few months I plan on getting one...I have a lot to learn about the Corvette, so that's why I just now started to hang out here...
If you have any questions about HPDE, feel free to PM me, or just post here; I'll help out anyway I can...
BTW, I'll be instructing in the class room at Mid-Ohio the first weekend in May for Northern Ohio Region PCA (their events are open to any make of car) if anyone out there is going...
As NYC6 said, the Motul brake fluid is good stuff; it's what I used to use on my (Brand P) race car...it would be a good choice for you to make for getting your fluid flushed prior to your first track day...
And as Norty said, upgrading the brakes is the best thing you can do, next to getting proper instruction, and no doubt you'll want to do that after your first track weekend...but for your first time, just make sure you've flushed the brakes & filled the system with a good fluid, like the Motul, that you have plenty of pad thickness and your tires are in good shape...
I've been instructing for PCA, BMW CCA, and NASA for a long time...I'll 'fess up here; I've owned ten Porsches since 1974, but now I want a Grand Sport, as it seems to be the best bang for the buck out there, so sometime within a few months I plan on getting one...I have a lot to learn about the Corvette, so that's why I just now started to hang out here...
If you have any questions about HPDE, feel free to PM me, or just post here; I'll help out anyway I can...
BTW, I'll be instructing in the class room at Mid-Ohio the first weekend in May for Northern Ohio Region PCA (their events are open to any make of car) if anyone out there is going...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Ia
I actually going to St Louis for a PCA event. Luckily they do allow any car to attend the event. Im going with a friend of mine who has a Carrera 4S. It will be a great weekend and Im very excited to learn everything I can. I have read the 25page documentation on how to drive at the track, and watched numerous videos about Gateway International. By the looks of the track (remember I have no experience on a track) it dont appear to be a brake heavy track. I will be changing the fluid and bleeding the brakes the day before just to be safe.
As far as buying a Corvette. Good for you.
I really hope you find as much pleasure in driving it as the Porsche. I have driven the Porsche and, yes its a beautiful car and engineered precisely as you know, but the raw power of the Vette is hard to beat.
Last note; I havent been a member on the forum for a long time, but I have read countless threads from other people and the people here are absolutely the best I have I seen with knowledge, and good advice. Thats why I came here for some feedback.
As far as buying a Corvette. Good for you.
I really hope you find as much pleasure in driving it as the Porsche. I have driven the Porsche and, yes its a beautiful car and engineered precisely as you know, but the raw power of the Vette is hard to beat. Last note; I havent been a member on the forum for a long time, but I have read countless threads from other people and the people here are absolutely the best I have I seen with knowledge, and good advice. Thats why I came here for some feedback.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh PA
Devind100, you'll be in good hands at a PCA event...in all likelyhood your instructor will be nationally certified...if he instructs in your particular learning style, all the better for you...
The most important thing to remember is that the anxiety you feel before going out on the track the first time is normal and is also your friend...If I had a student that wasn't anxious the first time, I'd be worried...
Your instructor won't be impressed by raw speed; he'll want to see you being alert, smooth and safe...as I'm sure you've read, you have to go slow to go fast...work on being smooth, and the speed will come...Oh! Remember to keep your eyes up; you must be looking at least two seconds ahead of the car...everything within two seconds in front of you is history...
Be sure to post here about your weekend...I predict we'll have another one addicted to the go-fast crack pipe...and that's a good thing...
The most important thing to remember is that the anxiety you feel before going out on the track the first time is normal and is also your friend...If I had a student that wasn't anxious the first time, I'd be worried...
Your instructor won't be impressed by raw speed; he'll want to see you being alert, smooth and safe...as I'm sure you've read, you have to go slow to go fast...work on being smooth, and the speed will come...Oh! Remember to keep your eyes up; you must be looking at least two seconds ahead of the car...everything within two seconds in front of you is history...
Be sure to post here about your weekend...I predict we'll have another one addicted to the go-fast crack pipe...and that's a good thing...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
The St.Louis infield track at Gateway is a fun one, all the instructors there have been great and are very cautious from friends experiences as well as my own (I have only been out once).
