Pad swapping - Competition to Street and Back

[WhosUrDaddy]

In my experience the competition pads I've used and then removed for the street are never the same when they go back on for a track day.

I put them in the same place as they came off and bed them again. Also, when I clean my car I generally use Maguires(sp?) Wheel cleaner to get the junk off with only modest scrubbing.

Is there a procedure when returning competition pads onto a mixed use street/track car? Could wheel cleaner damage race pads?

[wtknght1]

I've done the same thing with mine and never had any issues. Once you do a couple of hard stops and bed the rotors to the pads again, it should feel great.

You may want to do a quick 'burp' of the brake calipers to ensure there's no air in there and of course, new fluid never hurts.

I've never heard of any cleaners being detrimental to the pads or rotors. After a stop or two, they should come right back to you and feel great. You could avoid that possible issue though by cleaning the wheels while they are off the car (while you are changing pads).

[Cobra4B]

I used to only swap pads back and forth and drive to the track.... I cracked brake rotors at most every event. A few weeks back at VIR I put on a dedicated set of new rotors and new Wilwood H's... guess what, no cracking.

When I got home I put on my old rotors and ceramic pads as a set. I will do this from now on.

As for cleaning brake dust... that's a bitch... it's my least favorite part of tracking a car I like to keep nice for street use.

[Olitho]

Originally Posted by WhosUrDaddy

In my experience the competition pads I've used and then removed for the street are never the same when they go back on for a track day.

I put them in the same place as they came off and bed them again. Also, when I clean my car I generally use Maguires(sp?) Wheel cleaner to get the junk off with only modest scrubbing.

Is there a procedure when returning competition pads onto a mixed use street/track car? Could wheel cleaner damage race pads?

I don't know what cleaner you are using, but some cleaners screw-up the pads and rotors. I have several years of extensive motorcycle racing at a fairly high level. I used to use Gunk Cleaner to help get the oily crud off of the bike, especially if I blew a fork seal or something.

What I found after spraying on the Gunk and rinsing the bike off, the brakes were never the same. They would become weaker, squeakey and more grabby when the did engage. I now either keep that stuff very clear of the brakes or use Simple Green. No problems anymore....

[NealB]

I do what CobraB4 does, swap pads and rotors

more work but no issues either

and makes you really examine the rotors

[Steve J.]

I've been told by a bake engineer that there is a layer of pad material that is deposited on the disc surface. So when changing to different pads, the deposited material will be covered over and or mixed. I think you can get more consistent brake performance by using the same pads. That's why I use a dual use pad, in my case the Hawk HP+ rather than a full race pad. Keeping a dual set of rotors and pads would do the same thing.