Opinion on Brake Pads
 

In the past few months, I've got a couple of NASA HPDE track sessions and a 3 auto crosses on my '17 Grand Sport so I thought I would take a look at how the stock brake pads (with iron rotors) were holding up. This is a picture of one of my front pads. The cracks appear to be just on the surface as I don't see them extend into the material from the side and I can barely catch them with my finger nail. Looking for some feed back as to whether they are still good or if I should replace them. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cad57d04b2.jpg

The cracks are fine, how much material is left, that is what matters. The fingernail test is usually done on rotor cracks not pads.

I agree. However, I have one question. What is causing that groove on the left pad? Is there a corresponding ridge on the rotor or is it due to some debris that got caught between the pad and the rotor and is now gone? If there is a ridge on the rotor it will continue to wear that way and that groove is basically the thinnest part of the pad. If it was due to debris the groove may gradually disappear as the pad wears.

Bill

Bill, Good catch on noticing that groove. I suspect it must have been some debris that got caught and caused that because I did not feel nor see a corresponding groove or ridge on the rotor. I thought about replacing the pads due to that groove (and cracks in the pad) because I did not want a ridge developing on the rotor. However, as you mention, the pad will most likely wear down before the rotor ridges to fill that void. Maybe another track day at High Plains Raceway will fix it. :lol:

Small stone.

Zoom in on 10:00

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5c893ebb59.jpg