In an ideal world (brakes)

[VictorH]

Right now I'm reasonably satisfied with track pads and high temp fluid on the otherwise stock e90 M3 brake system. Usually I'll change to track pads one week before an event (this is my daily driver) which scuffs the stock pad material off the disc and then I bed the track pads in before or during the first session of the day. This works fine for 2 day events, however when I did the 5 day event at the BMWCCA O'Fest last year I had a pulsating brake pedal by day 4 which got worse by day 5 (the disc didn't really look any different to me, other than a bit blue). Driving home 1,100 miles and a few more days to work cured this and putting the stock pads on was fine.

I'm doing the 5 day O'Fest this year again and I'm wondering (here's the question finally) is it worth having a set of rotors that I change out with my track pads so that I always have a matching pair rather then using the same rotors for both street and track use (they are stock ones)?

I;m running a set of Pagid RS19 pads that I got from a fellow member who sold his car. I'm happy with the pad performance and just ordered a new set of rears, but I'm wondering if things would be better if I also had a dedicated set of rotors to go with the track pads. Does anyone do this? I've not really heard of it so perhaps it's not worth the bother.

[AMPowerJ]

Victor I would recommend the Stoptech BBK. The 4-pot front/rear is plenty and you will not have to change the pads before tracking. ST's standard street/performance pad is great on both the street and the track. I know this requires a larger investment that just pads/rotors but the convenience of not having to do anything to go from the street to the track and back is more than worth it IMO.

[lucid]

Swapping rotors requires you to remove the caliper carrier IRRC, but I don't remember the details so maybe that is not the case. That would be too much of pain IMO every time you want to go to the track. Changing pads is enough of a pain with this caliper design to begin with...

[JAJ]

From the sounds of it, you got some pad material build-up on the rotors. The "cure" for that is usually to brake a little earlier and run a little cooler.

As for changing rotors from stock to track, I personally wouldn't bother. It's not difficult (yes, you have to unbolt the caliper bracket, but it's only two bolts per caliper) but the benefits are limited. Think of it this way - if you had a pulsating pedal at the end of day 4 and swapped out the rotors, then at the start of day 1 the next time out, you'd still have a pulsating pedal.

Having said that, I do swap rotors when I go from track to street pads, although not when I change track pads from one type to another. I can do that because my Mustang has OEM Brembo's and the one-piece (genuine made in Italy Brembo) rotors only cost $100 each from my local Ford dealer.

Originally Posted by VictorH

Right now I'm reasonably satisfied with track pads and high temp fluid on the otherwise stock e90 M3 brake system. Usually I'll change to track pads one week before an event (this is my daily driver) which scuffs the stock pad material off the disc and then I bed the track pads in before or during the first session of the day. This works fine for 2 day events, however when I did the 5 day event at the BMWCCA O'Fest last year I had a pulsating brake pedal by day 4 which got worse by day 5 (the disc didn't really look any different to me, other than a bit blue). Driving home 1,100 miles and a few more days to work cured this and putting the stock pads on was fine.

I'm doing the 5 day O'Fest this year again and I'm wondering (here's the question finally) is it worth having a set of rotors that I change out with my track pads so that I always have a matching pair rather then using the same rotors for both street and track use (they are stock ones)?

I;m running a set of Pagid RS19 pads that I got from a fellow member who sold his car. I'm happy with the pad performance and just ordered a new set of rears, but I'm wondering if things would be better if I also had a dedicated set of rotors to go with the track pads. Does anyone do this? I've not really heard of it so perhaps it's not worth the bother.

[VictorH]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess once I wear out this set of track pads I'll switch over to a BBK. Too bad no one has come up with a decent vented front brake kit as I bet some extra cooling would go a long way.

[ring007]

Simply wipe the rotors down with windex. Takes all the buildup off and rotors And they will feel like new.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by VictorH

Too bad no one has come up with a decent vented front brake kit as I bet some extra cooling would go a long way.

I thought PFC is selling replacement rotors for the OEM caliper, which should have better cooling. No?

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by ring007

Simply wipe the rotors down with windex. Takes all the buildup off and rotors And they will feel like new.

Really? Just spray both sides and wipe? How can that work? I'm willing to try anything.

Lucid, sorry I was not clear, not a vented rotor but what I think we need is ducting for the brakes to properly cool/vent the rotor.

[rzm3]

Victor, I would simply do a StopTech 380 mm front BBK (plus rears if budget allows). It comes with Street Performance pads which work very well on the track. No need to ever change pads before/after track days.

Nowadays in 100+ degree weather, my engine would overheat before my BBK shows any indication of fade.

[ring007]

works for me everytime I use the presoaked windex towels that come in the plastic can. Remove the wheel, and spin the rotors (front) and get as much of the back as you can. Good as new.

Originally Posted by VictorH

Really? Just spray both sides and wipe? How can that work? I'm willing to try anything.

Lucid, sorry I was not clear, not a vented rotor but what I think we need is ducting for the brakes to properly cool/vent the rotor.

[elh0102]

I have the StopTech kit, ST-60/380 front, and ST-40/355 rear. It is an excellent system, and the ST high performance street pads provided are as close as you will come to a dual purpose pad. With that said, it will not compare to the Pagid 19 for track use, especially in durability. Obviously, this depends on a lot of variables, but I would not expect them to last through the 5 day session you plan. On the positive side, they are not very expensive, and are easy to change.

[persian54]

which BBK provides the easiest way to change pads? Is it AP?

[Erhan]

I heard that stoptech is extremely easy.

Originally Posted by persian54

which BBK provides the easiest way to change pads? Is it AP?

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by erhanh

I heard that stoptech is extremely easy.

[Richard@M-World]

Yup. 4 small bolts, remove bridge, replace pads, tighten bolts. And that's it. 10 min each corner.

[bunnn]

Originally Posted by persian54

which BBK provides the easiest way to change pads? Is it AP?

Brembo's front has more to do then AP or Stoptech, but the rears are fairly easy. It's just a matter of how fast you can remove the front caliper.

[JAJ]

Originally Posted by bunnn

Brembo's front has more to do then AP or Stoptech, but the rears are fairly easy. It's just a matter of how fast you can remove the front caliper.

Even the OEM Brembo's on the front of my 2011 Mustang GT are easier to change than that! They're good brakes too.

[bunnn]

It's weird because the STI brakes have a removable bridge, too. I don't know what came over Brembo when they decided to ad a fixed bridge on the caliper. But it's no big deal, just a little bit more time.