| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 144 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Mike, while that IS a good thing to do when bleeding the car, keep in mind that this does not change the fluid in the claipers (which is where it matters, as that's where water/etc gets in, and it's where the point-heating/boiling can occur. You probally already do this, but this kind of a message in general to the forum: Do both (change resivor fluid, AND completely bleed!) often! Best! Ben. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Junior Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 153 Registered: 8-2002 |
Kelly: Regarding brakes, you might consider changing over to Porterfield R4-S pads. They're carbon/kevlar. Very little dust, no squeel, and the dust is a lighter color when you finally do see some. Also very rotor-friendly. I've used those for a lot of street and track miles on mine. Also, for "quick maintenance" on brake fluid, every couple of months I take a turkey baster and suck a fair amount of fluid out of the reservior, then put in new fluid. It keeps it "fresh" and always ready for hard braking. And it's a lot easier and quicker than doing a bleed job. | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 141 Registered: 6-2002 |
'bleed' and just keep bleeding for a while, untill only new fluid is left in. It implies a fluid change. Well worth it. Who even thinks about brake fluid's cost? Best! Ben. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
New member Username: Psk Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2002 |
Kelly, Bleed is fine as it is only the fluid in the brake calipers that gets the abuse. Thus save some money and just bleed often  . Plus replacing all the fluid makes the bleeding process harder as you might introduce air ... Pete | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2299 Registered: 9-2001 |
yes you should make a habit of changing it for track days, I think some people use bleed and change interchangably | ||
| Kelly (Tifosi1)
Member Username: Tifosi1 Post Number: 446 Registered: 2-2002 |
So, you don't change the brake fuild completely. you just bleed some out??? I was gong to change all of it. And I have been chnaging it all. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
New member Username: Psk Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2002 |
Kelly, Please ignore this if you know this already, but from your posts it sounds like you are just getting into this track stuff ... More important is to make sure that you bleed your brakes often (maybe even as often as before each track day) otherwise your brakes will fade and you could end up with a brakeless Ferrari. I have been a scrutineer in the past and many occasional track day racers do not know this and simply assume that a Ferrari can handle track activities. I have also watched a 308 stuff itself into a fence due to brake problems ... a Ferrari is just a machine like any other car and needs more maintainence to safely enjoy track days. Thus you need to get into the habit of race checking your car the weekend or day before the race. This should involve, atleast: * Remove all wheels to check tyres, bleed brakes, check brake hoses, suspension joints and steering for play, etc. * Check all engine fluids and listen for 'new' or unusual noices. Check belts for tension, etc. Check throttle/accelerator linkages ... don't want that to stick wide open!!! * Check tyre pressures (to be repeated on the day at the track). If nothing else this ensures that car problems do not keep you from playing on the track Pete | ||
| Kelly (Tifosi1)
Member Username: Tifosi1 Post Number: 444 Registered: 2-2002 |
John, I have no e-mail from you. try sending again. Kelly | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 140 Registered: 6-2002 |
brake pads-depends so much on so many factors... Just check them VERY often, and always bring a spare set to the track! Best! Ben. | ||
| John A. Suarez (Futureowner)
Member Username: Futureowner Post Number: 339 Registered: 3-2002 |
Kelly, I have sent you a couple e-mails, let me know if you got them. Great pics by the way! | ||
| Kelly (Tifosi1)
Member Username: Tifosi1 Post Number: 443 Registered: 2-2002 |
I'm going to check my brake pads this weekend. How often do you have to replace them. I put in 240 miles, Interstate and around 50 to 60 miles on the track. I've done it 3 times so far. Thanks kelly | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Junior Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 139 Registered: 6-2002 |
That's great, I've always said "If you can still see the wheels, take it out for another session, you're not done yet!" Best! Ben. | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 3558 Registered: 5-2001 |
...and another one is hooked! | ||
| Mark (Markg)
Member Username: Markg Post Number: 360 Registered: 2-2001 |
"I stared at the oil pressure and water temp all the time. I always had my cell phone with me. I always was waiting for the break down on the highway." That's EXACTLY how I feel. Drove form Colorado to Las Veags and back, never took eyes off of the temp gauges except to look at road to see how safe the emergency parking was for when the inevetable break-down occured. Only.....never hit 190 water temp until The Strip, and never missed a beat the entire trip.... one week after getting home it died on me on the Freeway...after thorough inspection discovered: Bad fuse and fuse block, bad rear wheel bearings, inoperable fan and dying voltage regulator, yet not a single hitch on the trip!! As much as I belly-ache about my car, it has amazing resolence! Maybe I'll keep it | ||
| Ric Rainbolt (Ricrain)
Member Username: Ricrain Post Number: 376 Registered: 2-2002 |
Welcome to the addiction. My 348 has now spent over 3000 miles on the track (nearly 2000 track miles at my hand) and has over 40K miles on it. Compression & leakdown are fine. The tranny works well. All the accessories work. It was wrecked at the track by the prior owner (but not hard) and repainted. The prior owner installed a clutch, but I've never needed another. I have used up at least 5 sets of stock brake pads and 3 sets of Porterfields, and 4 sets of Hoosier tires. I'll throw in some cam belts and tensioners and probably a couple of syncrhonizers later this year (the syncros were fairly balky when the prior owner took delivery at 12K miles). The car has held up very well... witness my 348 pictures at: www.visiblecare.com/gallery.htm | ||
| Markus Lex (Playersmarkus)
New member Username: Playersmarkus Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2002 |
this picture is a classic ;O) Markus | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Junior Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 126 Registered: 12-2002 |
Wow, that 308 looks a bit...small But it does look mighty quick too! It must be fun to track a Ferrari! I can only imagine the feeling! | ||
| Randy (Schatten)
Member Username: Schatten Post Number: 545 Registered: 4-2001 |
Congrats on discovering the drug of choice! Now.. the first time out is cheap, but tires and brakes start to add up. =D I think about any performance made car drives differently, sounds differently and behaves differently after its driven on the track. And most of all, that car really appreciates it if she doesn't tell you enough already. Looks like great fun! | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 3133 Registered: 12-2000 |
You're right Kelly, in two years the best the car has ever run was on the trip home from two different track days. That was four 25 minute redline sessions each day. | ||
| Massimiliano Frasca (Massimo)
New member Username: Massimo Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2002 |
I didn't realize that those italian engineers were so short. No one in my family is that small. | ||
| James Angle (Jimangle)
New member Username: Jimangle Post Number: 16 Registered: 9-2002 |
Kelly, How tall are you? It looks as if the roof line obstructs your vision. You look really uncomfortable. What's the fastest speed you've reached on the track? | ||
| Kelly (Tifosi1)
Member Username: Tifosi1 Post Number: 438 Registered: 2-2002 |
I never drove it in the rain. I did not care about the radio. I did not want AC. I would not drive it in the summer heat. I stared at the oil pressure and water temp all the time. I always had my cell phone with me. I always was waiting for the break down on the highway. Now I treat my car right. I hope you see the light to. Thanks Paul for taking these great pics.   At the end of the track day, you could not tell my rims were silver. WOW that's a lot of break dust. The drive to the track and track time is over 300 miles round trip. I've done it three times since September and I AM HOOKED. I would run it for about 5 to 6 laps or when the oil temp got over 220 or I could smell the brakes. I would then let it rest for 30 mintues. The car never over heated. The car really runs better on the way home than going to the track. That means it likes to be kept from 4 to 8,000 RPM. That's what they were built for. MY 2 Cents Kelly Luca Brasi |