What is the go-to street/track pad?

94jedi · 10-05-2020, 10:08 AM

Hey all - planning on attending my first track day event next month at VIR; what's the go-to street/track pad? I'll be flushing the OEM fluid and replacing w/ RBF 600 so I should be good there. I know my OEM pads prob won't last 3+ laps at a time so I'd rather swap pads for those few days (and the drive up/back from VIR). This is my first event ever so I'm not too worried about SS lines at the moment. I don't plan to push the car hard since I'm a complete novice.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

b4hand · 10-05-2020, 11:30 AM

I used PFC Z-rated pads for my first track day but I think I needed fluids as I was getting some fade.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Brakes/S...ds-918-10.html

Davisca455 · 10-05-2020, 04:36 PM

I used these Hawk HP Plus (fronts only) for my 1st track day.
It rained the first two sessions (25 minute), but they were fine the next three sessions.
So I used them the next two track days as well.
It was really hot on the third day, but I still didn't suffer any scary braking events.
I install them the day before the event and drive to the track.
They are obnoxious, screeching, grinding loud on the street though. They come off the first thing when I get home.

derbo · 10-05-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94jedi

Hey all - planning on attending my first track day event next month at VIR; what's the go-to street/track pad? I'll be flushing the OEM fluid and replacing w/ RBF 600 so I should be good there. I know my OEM pads prob won't last 3+ laps at a time so I'd rather swap pads for those few days (and the drive up/back from VIR). This is my first event ever so I'm not too worried about SS lines at the moment. I don't plan to push the car hard since I'm a complete novice.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

First track day ever, don't bother with brake pads. Just do a nice brake fluid flush and go out there!

Ideally, dont drag your brakes longer than you have to. Do your braking hard initially and release to adjust pressures. It is the complete opposite of street driving where you gradually ease into your braking zones while braking harder as you get deeper in.

If you really need a track duty hybrid pad, DS2500 is a solid contender.

Ervin87 · 10-05-2020, 11:54 PM

There really is no hybrid pad. There is a dedicated track pad and then a street pad. If you end up doing track days more often, you will soon realize that buying a set of dedicated track pads is the best route. Hawk race pads are really affordable and good for the money. Yes, there are better and more expensive options, but they are a great starting point pad.

Good luck.

Davisca455 · 10-06-2020, 12:44 PM

And since I mentioned earlier that I only used track pads on the front...I should share the problem I created for myself that first day by doing so.
I had decided to only put track pads on the front, even though I had the matching track pads for the rears sitting on the shelf (L-A-Z-Y).
My thinking at the time was "How much grief will the rears really experience? I'll just do the fronts and see what happens."
Like I said earlier, I didn't suffer any scary braking events, so that was the formula I kept for the next two track days.
Fast forward to last weekend, I'm taking a drive in the country and I get a brake lining warning from the car. I assumed it was the fronts, maybe all 4, but it was the rears.
When does anyone ever wear out rear pads before front pads? (I don't use DSC on the track, hardly ever for that matter)
So while my recipe performed on the track, for my level of experience, from now on I'll change out all 4 pads the day before a track day.

(Original rear pads at 61,000 miles and three track days: .130" of pad left)
(Original front pads at 61,000 miles and zero track days: .300 of pad left)

derbo · 10-06-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ervin87

There really is no hybrid pad. There is a dedicated track pad and then a street pad. If you end up doing track days more often, you will soon realize that buying a set of dedicated track pads is the best route. Hawk race pads are really affordable and good for the money. Yes, there are better and more expensive options, but they are a great starting point pad.

Good luck.

I do agree there isn't a perfect hybrid pad. DS2500 is a good contender for a light use track day tho. Especially with Pat's 1st time, I think this brake pad is more than enough. If he decides to need stronger pads, he can move up to Ferodo's line and use the DS2500 as street pads.

Just food for thought. I do still believe stock pads for 1st time on the track is more than enough.

Redd · 10-06-2020, 07:29 PM

Stock pads for first track day is OK. Just don't try to be a hero and overtake under braking, and take a cool down lap every 3-4 hot laps. Watch the brake pedal, if it starts to feel spongy rest the car.

I gave up on swapping track/street pads years ago. Just too much hassle. I run Project Mu HC+/HC800 year round now. It is a track pad for the street and probably one level below a pure track pad (that would not be streetable). It has better cold bite than DS2500 and tons better performance on track. Amazing pedal feel, lasts long and very very kind on rotors. About the same price as DS2500 as well (in my country anyway). It does randomly squeal a wee bit under light braking, just like DS2500 does. Pair it with Endless RBF650 fluid and you will have amazing brake pedal feel and performance that you can use year round.

10-05-2020, 10:08 AM	#1
94jedi Major 832 Rep 1,254 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	What is the go-to street/track pad? Hey all - planning on attending my first track day event next month at VIR; what's the go-to street/track pad? I'll be flushing the OEM fluid and replacing w/ RBF 600 so I should be good there. I know my OEM pads prob won't last 3+ laps at a time so I'd rather swap pads for those few days (and the drive up/back from VIR). This is my first event ever so I'm not too worried about SS lines at the moment. I don't plan to push the car hard since I'm a complete novice. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks! __________________ 2009 E92 M3 build thread: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1754875 Follow me on IG - www.instagram.com/the_driven_enthusiast
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10-05-2020, 11:30 AM	#2
b4hand Captain 661 Rep 967 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (3)	I used PFC Z-rated pads for my first track day but I think I needed fluids as I was getting some fade. https://www.bimmerworld.com/Brakes/S...ds-918-10.html
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10-05-2020, 04:36 PM	#3
Davisca455 Captain 2208 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Davis, California iTrader: (0)	I used these Hawk HP Plus (fronts only) for my 1st track day. It rained the first two sessions (25 minute), but they were fine the next three sessions. So I used them the next two track days as well. It was really hot on the third day, but I still didn't suffer any scary braking events. I install them the day before the event and drive to the track. They are obnoxious, screeching, grinding loud on the street though. They come off the first thing when I get home. Attached Images __________________ Chris, 2008 E92
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10-05-2020, 11:54 PM	#5
Ervin87 Captain 564 Rep 618 Posts Drives: E92 M3 \| B5 S4 \| E30 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (5)	There really is no hybrid pad. There is a dedicated track pad and then a street pad. If you end up doing track days more often, you will soon realize that buying a set of dedicated track pads is the best route. Hawk race pads are really affordable and good for the money. Yes, there are better and more expensive options, but they are a great starting point pad. Good luck.
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10-06-2020, 12:44 PM	#6
Davisca455 Captain 2208 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Davis, California iTrader: (0)	And since I mentioned earlier that I only used track pads on the front...I should share the problem I created for myself that first day by doing so. I had decided to only put track pads on the front, even though I had the matching track pads for the rears sitting on the shelf (L-A-Z-Y). My thinking at the time was "How much grief will the rears really experience? I'll just do the fronts and see what happens." Like I said earlier, I didn't suffer any scary braking events, so that was the formula I kept for the next two track days. Fast forward to last weekend, I'm taking a drive in the country and I get a brake lining warning from the car. I assumed it was the fronts, maybe all 4, but it was the rears. When does anyone ever wear out rear pads before front pads? (I don't use DSC on the track, hardly ever for that matter) So while my recipe performed on the track, for my level of experience, from now on I'll change out all 4 pads the day before a track day. (Original rear pads at 61,000 miles and three track days: .130" of pad left) (Original front pads at 61,000 miles and zero track days: .300 of pad left) Attached Images
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10-06-2020, 07:29 PM	#8
Redd Brigadier General 3922 Rep 4,185 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Stock pads for first track day is OK. Just don't try to be a hero and overtake under braking, and take a cool down lap every 3-4 hot laps. Watch the brake pedal, if it starts to feel spongy rest the car. I gave up on swapping track/street pads years ago. Just too much hassle. I run Project Mu HC+/HC800 year round now. It is a track pad for the street and probably one level below a pure track pad (that would not be streetable). It has better cold bite than DS2500 and tons better performance on track. Amazing pedal feel, lasts long and very very kind on rotors. About the same price as DS2500 as well (in my country anyway). It does randomly squeal a wee bit under light braking, just like DS2500 does. Pair it with Endless RBF650 fluid and you will have amazing brake pedal feel and performance that you can use year round.
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