Brake fade - discs or pads?

pilgrim_fgau

pilgrim_fgau

Member +
Im in the middle of getting my track sleg ready for the track and until the funds are here for a bigger brake kit, I would like to just get the car out on the track first and see what way it reacts. would it be advisable to pay more attention to the brake pads ie red/yellow stuff or is the discs a more important factor when it comes to brake fade?

unfortunately due to lack of funds as ive nearly spent my whole months salary on a project car, towing car, tow bar and transporter and all the other bits and bobs like rachet straps, jerry cans etc I only really have the money at the minute for either discs or pads. Both the current discs and pads are in good nick with a brave bit of life left, so which one, discs or pads would be a better upgrade for the time being?

Thanks
 
Iain@CRD

Iain@CRD

Lifer
The stock calipers being a single piston simply arent upto the job while on the track. I mean a decent set of grooved discs with pads with fresh brake fluid will provide a great difference on the road but on the track there always going to fade with the constant friction and heat produced.
 
pilgrim_fgau

pilgrim_fgau

Member +
so instead of wasting money on yellowstuff pads and grooved discs which will probably be about £150 in total, save the pennies for a full brake upgrade?
 
weeJohn

weeJohn

Lifer
You will notice a differnce with Redstuff pads on the track, they operate better at higher temps on stock discs on the track but still suffer fade after a while. If its Kirkiston you are going to then you will need a bigger set up. The 2 long straights certainly heat the brakes up a lot causing fade, you are on the brakes twice in a minute to slow from 100+ mph to about 40 or 50, and you dont want to have no brake pedal stopping from that speed there as the run offs are not hugh. We went to a ST165 set up and the differnce was hugh, that set up lasted a full 15 min session with no fade and better performance so its an easy and cheap option to consider.

Also fit some sort of piping to direct air directly onto the discs to aid cooling, 40mm flexible piping cable tied to the front bumper and the bottom wishbone worked well on our trackcar there, even though it sounds rough as lol.
 
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pilgrim_fgau

pilgrim_fgau

Member +
weeJohn said:
You will notice a differnce with Redstuff pads on the track, they operate better at higher temps on stock discs on the track but still suffer fade after a while. If its Kirkiston you are going to then you will need a bigger set up. The 2 long straights certainly heat the brakes up a lot causing fade, you are on the brakes twice in a minute to slow from 100+ mph to about 40 or 50, and you dont want to have no brake pedal stopping from that speed there as the run offs are not hugh. We went to a ST165 set up and the differnce was hugh, that set up lasted a full 15 min session with no fade and better performance so its an easy and cheap option to consider.

Also fit some sort of piping to direct air directly onto the discs to aid cooling, 40mm flexible piping cable tied to the front bumper and the bottom wishbone worked well on our trackcar there, even though it sounds rough as lol.
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is there much work involved in fitting a st165 brake kit?

rep added too
 
K

Keri-WMS

Member +
If you're sticking with standard calipers the best way to use your money is faster pads, and standard (but new) discs. Black discs, drilled discs, plated discs, grooved discs - none of these increase the heat resistance / performance, the PAD does that.

But I agree with Iain, on track a proper upgrade really is worth doing to do the job properly.
 
pilgrim_fgau

pilgrim_fgau

Member +
looks like until I get the money up for a complete setup upgrade, I will give this setup a go : yellowstuff pads, standard discs, AP 600 racing brake fluid and some sort of air ducting to the brakes.

Thinking of removing the front fogs and running air ducts to the respective brakes

Thanks for all the help guys

rep added
 
dark_knight

dark_knight

Member +
brake air ducts

@pilgrim_fgau: i'd like to see your brake air ducting when you are done. mind posting some pics once that's done..? :)
 
Jay

Jay

Admin
Can remember a few scary moments at Kirky in my auto with stock brakes lol..

Would highly recommend bigger brakes, the Celica setup that Wee John mentions is a great upgrade in terms of braking power plus it will cope a bit better with long sessions of extreme braking. In the meantime cold air to the brakes helps immensely - tested it on my trackstar with good results. Kirkistown is really hard on the PSF corner so I'd make sure you have plenty of life left in whatever you have fitted.

Let me know when you are hitting the track, it's been ages since I've visited the place.

Jay
 
pilgrim_fgau

pilgrim_fgau

Member +
dark_knight said:
seems like you fell off the grid pilgrim_fgau.. :)
Click to expand...

Not quite, but not being at a computer 9-5 everyday anymore means I'm not on here every 5 mins lol. I sold the car on, but saying that, another glanza that I bought for the road looks like it has had ducting before as both the splash guards have been cut for it
 
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