BBK / Track brake set up advice needed!

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by fjork_duf

What track(s) do you drive? And what class at the HDPE? Can you describe your tracking?

I drive tracks in TX and Road America. So everything from really fast, flowing tracks to technical, twisty, and slower tracks. I drive in the advanced group but I'm probably easier on my brakes now vs when I was between the intermediate and advanced group...that's where I was murdering brakes.

Track pads on the street will accelerate rotor and pad wear. Cold track pads eat rotor alive and most will not have much bite for the first 2-3 stops.

[bk_g80_m3]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I drive tracks in TX and Road America. So everything from really fast, flowing tracks to technical, twisty, and slower tracks. I drive in the advanced group but I'm probably easier on my brakes now vs when I was between the intermediate and advanced group...that's where I was murdering brakes.

Track pads on the street will accelerate rotor and pad wear. Cold track pads eat rotor alive and most will not have much bite for the first 2-3 stops.

I would most likely just swap pads prior to an event for the drive in so I wouldn't need to do it at an event. I won't daily drive the pads I will buy.

[JAJ]

Originally Posted by gan1hck

...As for driving around town on race pads.....the dust is corrosive, and will eat your rims if you don't clean every weekend...

I use Pagid RS19/29's and PFC 01 (and newer) pads exclusively because they don't damage your rims. I've only used Hawk's once (DTC-60's) and they're brutal.

[bigjae1976]

Actually the dust is your mostly from your rotors and a little comes from the pads.

[gan1hck]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Actually the dust is your mostly from your rotors and a little comes from the pads.

right...but do you not agree that the dust from race pads (like PFC's) seem more corrosive than regular dust?

The dust from the regular pads always seem to just wash off no matter how long it's left on.

The dust from my PFC's....ate into my rims after the winter because I didn't bother washing them like I should have...

Maybe something else in the equation?

[bigjae1976]

Yeah, I have black crud stuck on my wheels. My guess is the dust is much hotter and sticks to the wheels.

[Shosholoza]

I live in Florida, so heat is an issue. Sebring is my home track, so speeds are high, the track is heavy on brakes. I drive in the red/instructor group, so I use the brakes pretty hard.
I'm one of those who finally installed a BBK (ST60), and kicked myself for not doing it sooner. I installed front BBK only. Excellent track performance and modulation with carboteck and Endless track pads. The street pads are very good too. I now get 6-8 track days out of a set of pads. I wouls have saved a lot of money if I had installed my BBK sooner. Also, I feel that I am not using the system at 100% of its capability, so I feel safer.

Before that I went through all the time and money of: Motul brake fluid, track pads (Pagid Yellows, Carbotechs), cooked and replaced my OEM front calipers, added a Cantrell brake cooling kit. The cooling kit meant that the pads last 2 days instead of 1 day. And I felt I was running the OEM brakes at 110%.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Shosholoza

I'm one of those who finally installed a BBK (ST60), and kicked myself for not doing it sooner. I installed front BBK only. Excellent track performance and modulation with carboteck and Endless track pads. The street pads are very good too. I now get 6-8 track days out of a set of pads. I wouls have saved a lot of money if I had installed my BBK sooner. Also, I feel that I am not using the system at 100% of its capability, so I feel safer.

Before that I went through all the time and money of: Motul brake fluid, track pads (Pagid Yellows, Carbotechs), cooked and replaced my OEM front calipers, added a Cantrell brake cooling kit. The cooling kit meant that the pads last 2 days instead of 1 day. And I felt I was running the OEM brakes at 110%.

It is a big money saver over time!

[414bhp]

Originally Posted by gan1hck

right...but do you not agree that the dust from race pads (like PFC's) seem more corrosive than regular dust?

The dust from the regular pads always seem to just wash off no matter how long it's left on.

The dust from my PFC's....ate into my rims after the winter because I didn't bother washing them like I should have...

Maybe something else in the equation?

I too have the opinion (and experience) that the brake dust from racing pads can irrepairably bind to wheels. I found this to be particularly true after I did a track weekend in the rain - the race pad dust never came off!

Thus, I would second the advice about using the race pads on the street for the minimal amount of time, and being very diligent about cleaning off the dust after an event.

An alternative would be to buy a set of trashed second-hand wheels as your track wheels and just ignore the cosmetics!

(I am also trying out this Armor All Wheel Protectant product (http://www.armorall.com/products/wheel-protectant/) to keep the brake dust from sticking to the wheels. I am very impressed but I have only used it once with track pads and track driving so far.)

[Hujan]

This is a very interesting discussion. Are those of you with BBKs finding that you run the same pad on track and street, or are most of you still swapping pads every time you go to the track?

Also, to the extent you still have to swap, are there any BBKs that make it exceptionally easy to swap pads?

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Hujan

This is a very interesting discussion. Are those of you with BBKs finding that you run the same pad on track and street, or are most of you still swapping pads every time you go to the track?

Also, to the extent you still have to swap, are there any BBKs that make it exceptionally easy to swap pads?

i always just left my track pads in for the street as well. my car was never driven that much to matter. makes a lot of noise but i didnt care. the stoptech has the removable bridge which makes pad changes very easy.

[Porschefile]

I like stoptechs because they are easier to fit a wheel over (compared to brembo, at least), have a removable bridge that makes pad swaps super easy, and are less expensive. I have had 380mm front stoptechs for a couple of years and would buy the same brakes if doing it over again.

[Hujan]

Thanks for the responses guys. Sounds like StopTech might be the way to go if I make the switch.

[bk_g80_m3]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Thanks for the responses guys. Sounds like StopTech might be the way to go if I make the switch.

Another option seems to be the AP Racing kit from Essex. See the other thread in this forum. I was considering those if I go the BBK route.

[hgmotorsports]

Great information here. You will also want to start with pads and fluids just to get a feel for the car. It's important to know your limitations on something that will graciously tell you it's limits.

-Mike

[Foozed]

I just picked up ST40's for both front and rear and I can't help but notice the front rotors of the ST40 kit look smaller than then OEM's..
I haven't installed yet, or looked up the spec but just from initial looks I would think the OEM should/could perform better based on more surface area?
The contact area of the st40 seems really thin.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Foozed

I just picked up ST40's for both front and rear and I can't help but notice the front rotors of the ST40 kit look smaller than then OEM's..
I haven't installed yet, or looked up the spec but just from initial looks I would think the OEM should/could perform better based on more surface area?
The contact area of the st40 seems really thin.

your right the oem are 360x30 and the stoptech are 355x32 or 332x30 i believe depending on the kit.

[yandy]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

your right the oem are 360x30 and the stoptech are 355x32 or 332x30 i believe depending on the kit.

Stoptechs are 355x35 Fronts and 355x32 Rear

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by yandy

Stoptechs are 355x35 Fronts and 355x32 Rear

yeah i have e46 and all 4 are the same 355x32 i believe. sorry. been away from e90 m3 for a while. st-40 doesnt really indicate the rotor size as several are available for it.

[yandy]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

yeah i have e46 and all 4 are the same 355x32 i believe. sorry. been away from e90 m3 for a while.

It's cool, I thought they were 355x32 at first too, till I started researching and purchased mine.

Maybe the 35mm width is how they make up for in height?