Brake Pads - Wearing Too Fast

More air would help, but a better pad like PFC or Pagid is the answer.

 

I'm assuming the RA 888s are a high grip DOT-R type tire. Obviously the more grip, the greater retardation the car can manage since the limitation on deceleration is the tires grip rather than pad/rotor. An upgrade in grip will wear stock pads much more quickly, hence the good recommendation of better pads.

FWIW on my challenge car I get through pads in about 1-1.5 days of hard track use - obviously that's on slicks.

 

I've had tremendous performance out of Cobalt pads this year. Cobalt's service and communication are second to none.

Not only do they have great bite and modulation, it took me 10 sprint races, 1 two-hour enduro, 9 qualifying sessions and 8 test days to consume one set of pads.

My endorsement's sincere, we actually buy our pads, no freebies here.

 

Sorry, I meant more air to the front brakes. Bending back or removing splash shields (if they're still there) or installing some ducting to the area around the caliper.

 

Holy-crap!..... Do you actually hit the middle pedal at all!?

How many sets of rotors did you go through though?

Seriously, thanks for the heads up - I've changed pads so many times it's crazy..... I'm now using Pagids, which are a definite improvement, but nowhere close to that. Sounds like I need to check these out (assuming they don't eat rotors of course )

Does that reduce wear? Or just improve effectiveness? I see the latter, but respectfully question that cooler brakes = less wear - But, I'm certainly prepared to be educated Peter - TIA.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I've always been easy on brakes, but I use them to their maximum deceleration capability. Plus, we run race compound tires.

The Cobalts aren't eating rotors. We've used two sets of rotors so far this season.

I'd suggest that you enquire with the Cobalt guys if just to get info, they're easy to work with. PM me if you need contact info.

 

I'm like b-mak my pads/rotor last forever and I wheel to wheel a dedicated C5Z06 racecar. I second the more air to brakes of procoach. Dispite being light on brakes even when I ran my lightened 348 as a racecar my brakes lasted forever and I believe alot of that long life was from 3" brake ducts which were much larger than what was run during the 348 challenge series. Also, I'm a big fan of carbotech pads. They come XP8-16 and the cool thing is you can pick your compound for how you drive and what your car likes and Mix your compound say xp10's in the rear and xp12's to help balance bias issues when you run a car without adjustable brake bias.

 

Good to hear about the carbotech's. I just ordered xp10's for the front and xp8's for the rear, hopefully that'll be a good set-up.

 

Hey Brian,

Can you PM me contact info for Cobalt? I'm thinking about trying a set on the Z06 next time around, instead of the Carbotech pads I'm currently running.

Which Cobalt pad do you use?

Ramon

 

My understanding of the situation is that the entire braking system (pads, rotors, fluid) can only handle a certain amount of heat, built up obviously by friction. Once you exceed that capacity, performance and durability of the various components degrades rapidly, although each in their own way (i.e. fluid boils, rotors warp/crack, pads disintegrate).

I had custom cooling ducts installed in my Z06 this season to direct air straight onto the rotors and have had very positive results. Fluid has help up much better, pads and rotors have lasted longer.

 

That's been my experience especially on quicker, heavier (not purpose built formula or sports racing) cars. GT-2 and GT-3, Challenge spec, C-5 and C-6 cars all respond well to more air.

What is one truism stated at nearly every Skippy School?

"Brakes turn kinetic energy into heat..."

 

PM sent.