Brake Advice for HPDE
#32
#33
#34
That said, it's a completely different issue if you're driving a 3000GT VR4 or a Twin turbo Z or a hemi 'Cuda... the stock brakes on those cars are NOT up to the task. I've driven all of the above at Hallett with the student (car owner) in the car while I showed them the lines. Brakes failed on all three within 3 laps and I was going easy on it.
I went to Hallett with the Midwest Z-Fest in '08. I drove my Y2K, 5MT Maxima out there all day long and had a BLAST!!! I was running stock fluid and Wearever Ceramic pads all around, and I didn't really have fade problems on that setup. I was definitely in the slowest group that day, but I wasn't the slowest car out there. I look forward to hopefully getting my G over there in the spring/summer for another blat, but I think it would be even MORE fun in my SR-powered S13!
#35
If you haven't figured it out yet, most of what fits the 350Z will fit your G35 in terms of braking suspension eng etc., so if you feel you haven't found a particular racey part your are looking for, see if they have it for the 350Z.
Nissan Motorsports just came out with a nice $300 brake duct (you'll need to source the hose, run it and choose an entry point for the air-inlet), StopTech has the Trophy series of performance brake kits and there are other companies like RacingBrake.com and even Brembos standard big brake kits that might do the trick with proper pads.
Have fun and good luck!
#36
I just ran my first trackday yesterday. It was a small course with a ton of elevation changes, very technical and brake intenstive. I use ATE Super Blue fluid and EBC Redstuff and had no problems. I drove my friends' wrx and modded legacy gt. I faded the brakes on both and boiled the fluid on both before have the sesison was over.
#37
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#39
I'm reviving this old thread as an update. I finally, over a year from original post, made it to the track. It is Carolina Motorsports Park and is known for being hard on brakes.
Taking advice from here and from the NASA forums here is what what I did with brakes:
Prior to the event I had noticed some shuddering under hard braking in the right front with my stock setup. The old rotors had been cut once and barely had enough for another cut. So I figured I needed new rotors up front. I did the work myself. I installed EBC sport rotors up front and left the rears (they still looked good). I used EBC Yellowstuff pads front and rear. I changed the brake fluid to ATE 200 (same as Blue but amber colored).
Over the two days I did 8 sessions of 20 minutes or more. The first two sessions I absolutely sucked. By the third the instructor was getting through to me. By the 7th session he let me solo. I wasn't super aggressive and usually topped out around 90 mph in the straights but occasionally got over 100. Instructor taught me to brake super hard and that's what I did.
I had no brake fade or brake related problems. After a session there would sometimes be slight whiffs of smoke coming off the brakes. I have an infrared thermometer and after a cool down lap rotor temps where 350 F max usually less.
I think at my skill level, at this particular track this set up will be fine for me for a while. Thanks for all the advice.
And if any of you are on the fence about tracking your G, get off it and go do it. Its much harder than it looks but it is fun. I'm already planning for my next track day!
Taking advice from here and from the NASA forums here is what what I did with brakes:
Prior to the event I had noticed some shuddering under hard braking in the right front with my stock setup. The old rotors had been cut once and barely had enough for another cut. So I figured I needed new rotors up front. I did the work myself. I installed EBC sport rotors up front and left the rears (they still looked good). I used EBC Yellowstuff pads front and rear. I changed the brake fluid to ATE 200 (same as Blue but amber colored).
Over the two days I did 8 sessions of 20 minutes or more. The first two sessions I absolutely sucked. By the third the instructor was getting through to me. By the 7th session he let me solo. I wasn't super aggressive and usually topped out around 90 mph in the straights but occasionally got over 100. Instructor taught me to brake super hard and that's what I did.
I had no brake fade or brake related problems. After a session there would sometimes be slight whiffs of smoke coming off the brakes. I have an infrared thermometer and after a cool down lap rotor temps where 350 F max usually less.
I think at my skill level, at this particular track this set up will be fine for me for a while. Thanks for all the advice.
And if any of you are on the fence about tracking your G, get off it and go do it. Its much harder than it looks but it is fun. I'm already planning for my next track day!
#40
Hey N80 i read somewhere else that your an auto guy. How did the auto tranny handle track duties? Ive been doing my research on tracking the G and i just dont feel comfortable with beating on my car in track conditions without beefing up the brakes, suspension and cooling on the car (especially a tranny cooler). Plus how many miles do you have on her?
#41
Hey N80 i read somewhere else that your an auto guy. How did the auto tranny handle track duties? Ive been doing my research on tracking the G and i just dont feel comfortable with beating on my car in track conditions without beefing up the brakes, suspension and cooling on the car (especially a tranny cooler). Plus how many miles do you have on her?
I think upgrading the brakes with better pads and fluid is a good idea before going to the track. I would not spend money on the suspension for your first few track days. I have no idea about transmission coolers or how much they cost.
And even though most cars out there are manuals, I think you can still have a lot of fun and go very fast with an AT. In fact, I was so lost out there the first two sessions my instructor had me leave the car in 4th gear for several sessions in a row until I learned my braking points, turn in points, steering with the throttle etc.
I think putting the AT in sport mode would work just fine.
#43
#44
Registered User
iTrader: (9)
Yeah, but once you get used to rowing it more, you'll likely be better, too!
My first few times out, i really liked having the AT as i could concentrate more on the other things. Exactly as you experienced by sticking to 4th. As i progressed i started "rowing" it myself, but even leaving it in D or DS still works pretty well.
Speaking of track, i always get a kick out of seeing Spec-Miata's passing me by at the turns like i was standing still. There's only so much gap i can create when a track is mostly curves.
My first few times out, i really liked having the AT as i could concentrate more on the other things. Exactly as you experienced by sticking to 4th. As i progressed i started "rowing" it myself, but even leaving it in D or DS still works pretty well.
Speaking of track, i always get a kick out of seeing Spec-Miata's passing me by at the turns like i was standing still. There's only so much gap i can create when a track is mostly curves.
#45
Yep. There were a number of Miatas out there with me, especially when we ran DE1 and DE2 together on Sunday. One of my best sessions was following a Miata. I'd catch him in the straights, he'd leave me in the corners. Main thing I had to remember was that I could not watch his brake lights! They could brake way later than me and not brake at all on some 'kink's.