Track forum general chit chat.

[kyippee]

Well day went well after fixing the ABS sensor the night before. However, three wheel bolts snapped in the rear driver side. Very odd. Luckily we were able to pick them out and I had extras. Replaced all 5 with spares to be safe, as the remaining two were damaged. Glad I felt the vibration and oddness, immediately slowed down and went to pit. Felt it in T4, so it was a a long haul back. Somehow a brake pad wear sensor warning light came on, but those have been disconnected and tied away.. odd.

Did end up setting a new PB. More time to be gained. A friend ran a 1:41.32 in my car, he's a much better driver. I ran a 1:42.48.

Oh and somebody's Laguna pipe fell off, I was passing someone in T5-6 so I couldn't dodge it as I was already nearing turn in. Cracked my front lip but it's still strong and in one piece.

Rendering videos tonight. With my friend driving we had fun with another friend also in a white E92 M3. He passed us with some nice sliding on the inside of T2. Should be good footage.

My PB session footage, looks like I left some time to shave off in the future. Chickening out, not WOT T1-T2 and I seemingly dozed off for a moment in T8-T9!

Session with my friend Joe driving, we had some fun with another friend also in white E92 M3:

[roastbeef]

nice job man, you're faster than me. how was the weather up there?

[kyippee]

It was cold and in the 40s! Later it hit the high 50s. NT01s started out at 25 cold, ended up hitting 35-36 hot.

MPE v2 with rest of exhaust system stock passed sound without lifting. Was nice to not lift...!

Oh and other stuff - Max @ Apex was there, as well as TC Kline in an M2 comp he brought.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

It was cold and in the 40s! Later it hit the high 50s. NT01s started out at 25 cold, ended up hitting 35-36 hot.

MPE v2 with rest of exhaust system stock passed sound without lifting. Was nice to not lift...!

Oh and other stuff - Max @ Apex was there, as well as TC Kline in an M2 comp he brought.

how did your brakes do? notice any particular wear pattern?

[kyippee]

@roastbeef I was in a hurry to go to dinner so I didn't swap out pads yet. Will take a look later probably in 2019 😂

[VicS5]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Well day went well after fixing the ABS sensor the night before. However, three wheel bolts snapped in the rear driver side. Very odd. Luckily we were able to pick them out and I had extras. Replaced all 5 with spares to be safe, as the remaining two were damaged. Glad I felt the vibration and oddness, immediately slowed down and went to pit. Felt it in T4, so it was a a long haul back. Somehow a brake pad wear sensor warning light came on, but those have been disconnected and tied away.. odd.

Did end up setting a new PB. More time to be gained. A friend ran a 1:41.32 in my car, he's a much better driver. I ran a 1:42.48.

Oh and somebody's Laguna pipe fell off, I was passing someone in T5-6 so I couldn't dodge it as I was already nearing turn in. Cracked my front lip but it's still strong and in one piece.

Rendering videos tonight. With my friend driving we had fun with another friend also in a white E92 M3. He passed us with some nice sliding on the inside of T2. Should be good footage.

My PB session footage, looks like I left some time to shave off in the future. Chickening out, not WOT T1-T2 and I seemingly dozed off for a moment in T8-T9!

Session with my friend Joe driving, we had some fun with another friend also in white E92 M3:

Please replace all of your remaining lug bolts immediately. I had the same thing happen to me at WGI last year - 2 of 5 left rear lug bolts snapped while torquing. I replaced as many as I could with what the Little Speed Shop had on hand and ordered a full set to be delivered to track from their main store next day. Never got the chance to install them because all 5 on the left front broke in T5 later in the day. Car doesn't turn right very well with no LF wheel. Hit the outside wall and flipped onto the roof.

If 3 went, the others are fatigued and ready to go, and you're playing Russian Roulette. Learn from my mistake.

[dparm]

So my dad got me a Motive Power Bleeder for Christmas. Are these things legit? I feel like a lot of people swear by them, but many also have problems. Fall-Line used to use them on my car all the time.

[kyippee]

VicS5 Thanks - I am placing an order with FCP euro for a set of bolts while I buy brake pad wear sensors at the same time. Going to get more replacement pads and rotors on the way as well, can't have myself getting stuck again!

Sucks to hear what happened for you. That's what I feared while driving slowly back from T4 to pit at Laguna. A slow nervous drive with the white flag out.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by dparm

So my dad got me a Motive Power Bleeder for Christmas. Are these things legit? I feel like a lot of people swear by them, but many also have problems. Fall-Line used to use them on my car all the time.

I use them. I used to do it wet - fill up the bleeder and pump into reservoir. But it makes a mess and you have to clean it up after use. I've since went to using it dry. Just fill up the reservoir and pump up to 15-20#. No clean up. Just have to monitor level closely.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I use them. I used to do it wet - fill up the bleeder and pump into reservoir. But it makes a mess and you have to clean it up after use. I've since went to using it dry. Just fill up the reservoir and pump up to 15-20#. No clean up. Just have to monitor level closely.

i haven't used mine yet, but this is how i plan on using it. i have a chunk of time off coming up and i'm planning on doing some maintenance!

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by dparm

So my dad got me a Motive Power Bleeder for Christmas. Are these things legit? I feel like a lot of people swear by them, but many also have problems. Fall-Line used to use them on my car all the time.

I have the Schwaben version and I've used it twice now. Works great. You do have to flush it with denatured alcohol when you're done, but it's not that bad. Nice firm pedal when done.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by dparm

So my dad got me a Motive Power Bleeder for Christmas. Are these things legit? I feel like a lot of people swear by them, but many also have problems. Fall-Line used to use them on my car all the time.

Yeah use mine all the time. Works great.

[gmx]

There was a consumables/track day post in here but I can't find it. Just finished my 1st season, and compiling a list of hardware/parts to replace. Fluids are a given.
Wheel bolts, what else?

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by gmx

There was a consumables/track day post in here but I can't find it. Just finished my 1st season, and compiling a list of hardware/parts to replace. Fluids are a given.
Wheel bolts, what else?

Apart from wheel bolts, brake fluid, engine oil, diff/power steering fluid*, spark plugs are also a great idea. I'm sure all of us have enough spare brake pads around. That's about it.

*I like Liqui Moly for both and they're cheap.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Well day went well after fixing the ABS sensor the night before. However, three wheel bolts snapped in the rear driver side. Very odd. Luckily we were able to pick them out and I had extras. Replaced all 5 with spares to be safe, as the remaining two were damaged. Glad I felt the vibration and oddness, immediately slowed down and went to pit. Felt it in T4, so it was a a long haul back. Somehow a brake pad wear sensor warning light came on, but those have been disconnected and tied away.. odd.

Did end up setting a new PB. More time to be gained. A friend ran a 1:41.32 in my car, he's a much better driver. I ran a 1:42.48.

Oh and somebody's Laguna pipe fell off, I was passing someone in T5-6 so I couldn't dodge it as I was already nearing turn in. Cracked my front lip but it's still strong and in one piece.

Rendering videos tonight. With my friend driving we had fun with another friend also in a white E92 M3. He passed us with some nice sliding on the inside of T2. Should be good footage.

My PB session footage, looks like I left some time to shave off in the future. Chickening out, not WOT T1-T2 and I seemingly dozed off for a moment in T8-T9!

Session with my friend Joe driving, we had some fun with another friend also in white E92 M3:

Nice times! I lose massive time due to understeer in T2 but I'm running a summer tire so that's to be expected. I'm amazed at how many people lift for T1. Just tell yourself don't lift and once you do it you will realize it's not actually scary. I was hitting 122-125 front straight so it makes a noticeable difference, then again I was also running a 1:48 so I shouldn't be coaching. You definitely would have me covered elsewhere.

Remind me your suspension mods?

Wow that is super annoying about the laguna pipe. People need to learn to safety wire crap like that and I generally think most overreact to the 90dB limit. My buddy has a C63 Black Series which is louder than my SuperSprint Race F1 rear section and neither of us have ever gotten the meatball. My SuperSprint F1 definitely screams and I don't lift.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Apart from wheel bolts, brake fluid, engine oil, diff/power steering fluid*, spark plugs are also a great idea. I'm sure all of us have enough spare brake pads around. That's about it.

*I like Liqui Moly for both and they're cheap.

I don't see any reason to replace diff and PS fluid every year unless the car is seeing dozens of track days. Even spark plugs seems like overkill. If you're in doubt, pull a plug and visually inspect.

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Nice times! I lose massive time due to understeer in T2 but I'm running a summer tire so that's to be expected. I'm amazed at how many people lift for T1. Just tell yourself don't lift and once you do it you will realize it's not actually scary. I was hitting 122-125 front straight so it makes a noticeable difference, then again I was also running a 1:48 so I shouldn't be coaching. You definitely would have me covered elsewhere.

Remind me your suspension mods?

Wow that is super annoying about the laguna pipe. People need to learn to safety wire crap like that and I generally think most overreact to the 90dB limit. My buddy has a C63 Black Series which is louder than my SuperSprint Race F1 rear section and neither of us have ever gotten the meatball. My SuperSprint F1 definitely screams and I don't lift.

Thank you! I have much to continue working on still. If you compare my driving in the 1st video to Joe driving my car in the 2nd, you'll see how he hits all the marks way better, for example the T6 track out. I need to get the habit of trusting the car a bit more and keeping that throttle on through the corner. I'm taking a gradual approach, so maybe I can set a few more PBs before hitting 1:40

RE: the Laguna pipe part I rammed in T5-6, attached is an after pic the photographer took.

Mods wise, here's the full list of performance mods. Handling related ones up top:

JRZ RS One suspension (new to me, 2nd track day on them)
Hyperco 550/800 springs w/front helper springs
Ground Control rear weight jacks, race camber plates (-3.5 F)
Powerflex rear shock mounts (yellow)
Dinan front sway bar
Dinan front control arm monoballs
Rotora 6p/380mm & 4p/355mm BBK with PMU 999 pads
APEX EC-7 18x10 square wheels with 275/35/18 NT01
No aero
No weight reduction, full fat

BMW M Performance exhaust v2 (passes sound check!)
CSF oil cooler, radiator, and power steering coolers
Slon workshop baffled DCT oil pan
ESS ECU tune
BMW GTS/euro DCT tune
Vibra-Technics Fast Road engine mounts

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by dparm

I don't see any reason to replace diff and PS fluid every year unless the car is seeing dozens of track days. Even spark plugs seems like overkill. If you're in doubt, pull a plug and visually inspect.

I'd definitely change the diff fluid annually at a minimum. I do mine every 6 months for a car that sees track time. I know the diff oil will get really hot. Same for MT fluid. I hope to install a diff cooler with a temp gauge this year to confirm this.

I suck out the PS reservoir with every oil change. I think our PS systems are prone to failures.

I'd do lugs every other year unless there's some reason to change them.

I think engine mounts are an overlooked item and should be at least checked.

[gmx]

Engine mounts, added

kpewpew How's balance with 550 front springs and the Dinan front sway bar?

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by gmx

Engine mounts, added

kpewpew How's balance with 550 front springs and the Dinan front sway bar?

Btw the Vibra-Technics Fast Road (not full race) engine mounts are great! I don't notice any increased NVH even when idling, and I think the metal casing will hold up much better than my stock mounts that died.

When Joe drove my car, his feedback was that the suspension is great and balanced. Only tips I got was to increase my shock stiffness. I was running at 10 out of 24 clicks, the recommended track setting by JRZ. I will try 11 to 12 clicks at Thunderhill East on the 13th.

Regarding the front sway bar, I actually loosened it up to the softest setting. I'd like to let the shocks do more of the work, and I'm weary of how I had a front subframe tear before. I figure this should work for now.

Next changes are really light - just maintaining my stock of spare pads/rotors, replacing whichever brake pad wear sensor died (melted?), replacing all wheel bolts with new ones sourced from FCP, and Recaro Pole Position seats. Should keep me going

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dparm

I don't see any reason to replace diff and PS fluid every year unless the car is seeing dozens of track days. Even spark plugs seems like overkill. If you're in doubt, pull a plug and visually inspect.

I don't know about your Vette, but transmission fluid would get scorching hot (>300 deg F) on my E36M3 club race car. Diff fluid would get to 275 deg F until I put the Rogue Engineering diff cover on the diff. How do I know this? Diff and trans had temp sensors in them. I solved the transmission temp issue by putting black electrical tape over the gauge face...

On your Motive brake bleeder question, I found mine to be an indispensable tool to have. Especially when you are flushing fluid out at the end of the season (or week or day or ...). Customer service is great too. I know the owner of the company though, so I'm biased.

[Richbot]

The E90M 6MT has half the trans cooler blocked off. It doesn't need the cooling that's installed already, remove blockoff plate if you're feeling paranoid

The diff ehhhhh yeah I'd change that often. It's a clutch diff and it slips a larrt