My Z is 2 years old, has about 14K miles on it and I have attended 3 DE events with the local Audi club. At these events the S4 guys with chips, tires and stuff in my group run almost as fast as I do. They typically get little more than one event out of a set of pads. I am still on my original pads.
Any explanation?
__________________
"ROSSO Z"
02 TR/Blk Z06, '04 shocks, CAGS Defeat, JETTCO Cup Holder
Support our troops; bring them home.
Most of them tremble at the site of my car closing in their rear view mirror. At VIR Randy Pobst was driving an S4 Avante behind me and as we exited the Oak Tree turn he commented to his student passenger, [Watch that car and you will see what American Iron is all about]. I heard this from his passenger who has a video of me dissappearing into the distance down the back straightaway.
Actually, I think as I get faster I should get smoother and that will mean even less brake wear. When I had my brakes looked at after my first DE, the tech mentioned that he was at some testing at Mid-Ohio where they ran factory fresh Z06's for several long and fast days before the pads were wasted. My DE events have included no more than 1.5 to 2 hours per day at speed.
I figure I am probably pushing the car to about 60% of its capability and my skill level is probably about 25% of my potential. That does leave a lot of room for improvement.
After 2 days of running with a viperdays event at VIR, the 02 pads I had on the front where done. They had some pad left but they where tapered and the pedal feel was reduced. I put my ceramics back on the drive home and they where fine.
My best time was a 2:21.
Keep an eye on them, if they get too low you can do some damage.
My stock 02 pads were gone after 5 DE days. They are actually a pretty decent pad overall. I was very pleased with how well they held up on the track for a street pad.
Most of them tremble at the site of my car closing in their rear view mirror. At VIR Randy Pobst was driving an S4 Avante behind me and as we exited the Oak Tree turn he commented to his student passenger, [Watch that car and you will see what American Iron is all about]. I heard this from his passenger who has a video of me dissappearing into the distance down the back straightaway.
Larry...that is just TOOOOO Cool!!!
I like that "American Iron" comment!!!
Originally posted by Subdriver My stock 02 pads were gone after 5 DE days. They are actually a pretty decent pad overall. I was very pleased with how well they held up on the track for a street pad.
I have been thinking about going back to the stock pads for DE's for these reasons:
1. They are cheap.
2. A very good friend who probably is one of the faster drivers in the Southwest area is using them and having good success.
3. At the last DE the stock pads were all I had left in my pad supply so I used them and they worked fine.
4. I had a long talk with a Performance Friction engineer. Performance Friction was competing with another vendor for the OEM Z06 brakes and they lost on cost. The brake compound that PF was going to use was similar to the Z rated pads. So it stands to reason that the other vendors pads are similar. Or did the accounts over rule the engineers and made the design decision and go with a cheaper less performace pad.
I am going to use the stock pads next year, keeping track of my times. Then after getting a good data base I see what a difference other pads make.
Would like to hear some more comments.
It would be great if a GM engineer with balls would come out and public tell us on this forum more information as the coefficient of friction verse temp. But when a engineer goes to work for GM they are generally castrated or they become it.
My conclusion: OEM pads are pretty good. If Sub... got 5 DE days out of his, then my case is not that abnormal. I will be replacing them in the next few days, though. I have an unused set in my garage that I bought off of one of our members.
Originally posted by ROSSO Z
I am just too slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or are you running on tracks that do not require heavy braking.
I run two on two tracks that go through pads. The best example would be Hallet OK. Down hill straight coming to a turn call the stop sign. You are in fourth and down shift to second.
Your post got me thinking and my current bank account have inspired me to try the stock pads for next year DE's. More to come after Hallet.
Hey for all you folks who have stock pads with little or no use I am in the market.
Someone told me that the stock Z06 pads are either OE or the equivalent to the Hawk HPS pads. Does anyone know if this is true? If this is true, it makes me want to laugh because I know guys that changed to Hawk HPS pads just to drive their cars at DE's.
I didn't have a problem with stock pads, but I sure had a far better time with a set of Carbotech's at Road America last month. These pads are killer! Much better than stock IMO and they didn't really make much noise, dust much and were kind to my rotors. And.. I didn't even phase them after an entire weekend at the track.
My stock pads are now my back up pads. I use the Carbotech's for the track and a set of Durastop ceramic pads for the street for no dust, no noise. I'm very happy with my set up.
The Hawk HPS pads are worthless for track days, imo. I tried a set and had major pad fade with them. I didn't think they were even as good as the stock pads. Your current setup with carbotechs for the track and ceramics for the street is a great combination and since it's working for you I'd stick with it.
Personally, I use PFC 01's and 99's for the track and ceramics for the street. A very similar setup and it too works great.
Originally posted by rpallas I didn't have a problem with stock pads, but I sure had a far better time with a set of Carbotech's at Road America last month. These pads are killer! Much better than stock IMO and they didn't really make much noise, dust much and were kind to my rotors. And.. I didn't even phase them after an entire weekend at the track.
My stock pads are now my back up pads. I use the Carbotech's for the track and a set of Durastop ceramic pads for the street for no dust, no noise. I'm very happy with my set up.
Bob
Bob...are you using the panter pads? I have their Bobcat pads up front. I haven't tracked them yet, but they are pretty good on the street. They still dust as much as stock though.
Bob...are you using the panter pads? I have their Bobcat pads up front. I haven't tracked them yet, but they are pretty good on the street. They still dust as much as stock though.
MSiska: I had a very tough time picking out what pad compound to go with. Just do a search on Carbotech or pads and you will see all my posts. I ended up talking with Carbotech and they gave me the recommendation to run the XP8 compound in the front and the Panther + in the rear if I'm running street tires. I had previously thought that it was either the Panther + all around or to run the XP9's for the front and either XP9 or XP8 for the rear. I didn't know that the XP8 compound was available for the fronts and I didn't even think about running the Panther + for the rear. I'm running the stock GY F1 SC tires right now, so I went with Carbotech's recommendation and love it! It's a little bit more agressive than the Panther + all around, but not quite a race set up like the XP9's for the front and XP 8's for the rear (What Subdriver and others use with R compound tires for race day).
What made you go with the Bobcat pads? From what Carbotech says, the Bobcat pads are their alternative to the Durastop/Raybestos ceramic pads for the street (not track), albeit a more expensive option. Carbotech was trying to sell me a set when I told them that I wanted to run the Durastop ceramics for the street. I told them that I wanted the ceramics because of a low or no dust solution and they said that their Bobcat pad would fit the bill. I'm glad that I went with the Durastops now (mainly because of price) because I get little or no dust driving on the street with them.
That being said, I don't know if I'd track the car with Bobcat pads if they are similar to the Durastop ceramics. Ceramic pads retain heat from what I hear and you may get brake fade at the track.
No Doubt: That's funny what you said about the Hawk HPS. I know someone that swapped out their stock pads for the HPS just to drive DE days. It looks like he wasted his money.
As for the PFC 01's, I've heard that they are great pads. I just wanted something that was a bit more rotor friendly and didn't have wheel eating brake dust since I use my street wheels for track days. I've heard a mixed bag about PFC's 01 compound, that's why I went with the Carbotech's. If I end up going with different set of wheels and tires for track days, I may give the PFC's a shot. I'm VERY happy with what I have now though.
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Your pads will probably last another 14,000!! 
I ended up talking with Carbotech and they gave me the recommendation to run the XP8 compound in the front and the Panther + in the rear if I'm running street tires. I had previously thought that it was either the Panther + all around or to run the XP9's for the front and either XP9 or XP8 for the rear. I didn't know that the XP8 compound was available for the fronts and I didn't even think about running the Panther + for the rear. I'm running the stock GY F1 SC tires right now, so I went with Carbotech's recommendation and love it! It's a little bit more agressive than the Panther + all around, but not quite a race set up like the XP9's for the front and XP 8's for the rear (What Subdriver and others use with R compound tires for race day).
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