Cayman S - brake pads for track?

Cayman S - brake pads for track?

Author
Discussion

petermann

Original Poster:

29 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
I've had a Cayman S for nearly a year (bought from OPC so still warranty remaining) and thinking about changing the stock pads for something better for track. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also, I know that changing the pads would void the warranty, but could I replace any track pads that are fitted with the current ones (that still have plenty of life left in them) before the next service? Or would there be potential issues?


Trev450

6,307 posts

171 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
Pagids seem to get good feedback on here although I don't have any first hand experience of them. I personally use Performance Friction in my track tool and have no complaints whatsoever apart from the price. smile

I can't see any potential issues in swapping back to OE pads in relation to your warranty.

sportsandclassic

3,774 posts

217 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
Hi,

You will be fine with Pagid RS4-2 pads. Used these in my wife's Boxster and it stopped it far better than stock compound.

Mike

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
Have you had braking fade or problems on track yet?

I would suggest to stick to OE pads for track use. 3 reasons:

- they are very good and the limiting factor of the set-up will be front tyre grip rather then disc/pads friction.
- track pads may reduce the amount of inherent modulation that the set up has, which would be a shame, but would explain why some people feel that track pads have much better performance.
- obviously you'll void your warranty in the unfortunate event of a breakdown and recovery to the OPC while you're still on the track pads.

You'll have to be a very serious track peddler to fade the standard brakes or need more retardation, and in which case a track car might actually be a better idea.

HTH.



Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 24th August 12:42

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Have you had braking fade or problems on track yet?

I would suggest to stick to OE pads for track use. 3 reasons:

- they are very good and the limiting factor of the set-up will be front tyre grip rather then disc/pads friction.
- track pads may reduce the amount of inherent modulation that the set up has, which would be a shame, but would explain why some people feel that track pads have much better performance.
- obviously you'll void your warranty in the unfortunate event of a breakdown and recovery to the OPC while you're still on the track pads.

You'll have to be a very serious track peddler to fade the standard brakes or need more retardation, and in which case a track car might actually be a better idea.

HTH.



Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 24th August 12:42
hogwash lol

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
nickfrog said:
Have you had braking fade or problems on track yet?

I would suggest to stick to OE pads for track use. 3 reasons:

- they are very good and the limiting factor of the set-up will be front tyre grip rather then disc/pads friction.
- track pads may reduce the amount of inherent modulation that the set up has, which would be a shame, but would explain why some people feel that track pads have much better performance.
- obviously you'll void your warranty in the unfortunate event of a breakdown and recovery to the OPC while you're still on the track pads.

You'll have to be a very serious track peddler to fade the standard brakes or need more retardation, and in which case a track car might actually be a better idea.

HTH.



Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 24th August 12:42
hogwash lol
Excuse me ?

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
Fitting a better pad for track work is very worth while and your coments are imo hogwash :-)

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
Fitting a better pad for track work is very worth while and your coments are imo hogwash :-)
Not sure what experience you have of Cayman/Boxster 4-pot brakes for track use but I would love to learn from you.

Not sure when your next track day is but maybe I could show you what a standard OE pad can do on track pretty much all day without fade and that "upgrading" to a "better" pad on those cars is actually rarely a good idea for 99% of track drivers, hence my post based on 12 years of track work, most of them on Boxsters. Bedford Autodrome 03/10 is my next event, if you happen to be around.



dontdobends

485 posts

213 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
There is plenty of posts on planet9 on this subject in my gen2 cayman s it's very quick and easy to change the pads for trackwork,standard pads are brill on the road and if your just going steady on track I did a set at spa in one track day.
I've used pagid RS14 and performance friction 01 both excellent but expensive,
I had my car in for warranty work at the opc and they didn't give me any grief off them.
If anyone is looking for pagid RS14 front and rear pads for a cayman s the pads only done 100miles on track £150 cost £400 just send me a PM

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Not sure what experience you have of Cayman/Boxster 4-pot brakes for track use but I would love to learn from you.

Not sure when your next track day is but maybe I could show you what a standard OE pad can do on track pretty much all day without fade and that "upgrading" to a "better" pad on those cars is actually rarely a good idea for 99% of track drivers, hence my post based on 12 years of track work, most of them on Boxsters. Bedford Autodrome 03/10 is my next event, if you happen to be around.
What now, you want to race me lol ?
I don,t do bedford any more it,s a bit dull, i just do the howfast events there now which i have already taken part in and is a timed event.
I look forward to your time.

( i ran rs42 in my cayman s btw)
But do a track day at donnington and you can take me out in yours i,ll pop over.

Edited by mrdemon on Wednesday 24th August 20:02

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Wednesday 24th August 2011
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
What now, you want to race me lol ?
LOL. No, just wanting to demonstrate how good 987/Cay OE pads are on track.
Donny too far for me.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Thursday 25th August 2011
quotequote all
I know what itcan do i ran a tuned 340bhp cayman

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Thursday 25th August 2011
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
i ran a tuned 340bhp cayman
All the gear...

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Thursday 25th August 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
All the gear...
Says the man who doesn't even get his standard brakes hot enough to notice their shortcomings on track rolleyes
wink

To the OP, the other thing is that on track you will need to remove the wear sensors, otherwise they will melt and need replacing anyway (not dear, around £7 per corner, but a shame to waste them).

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Thursday 25th August 2011
quotequote all
thegoose said:
Says the man who doesn't even get his standard brakes hot enough to notice their shortcomings on track rolleyes
wink
LOL. Touché but not coulé. Plenty of heat in my OE pads mate, plenty. wink

jackwood

2,601 posts

207 months

Friday 26th August 2011
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
LOL. Touché but not coulé. Plenty of heat in my OE pads mate, plenty. wink
You run standard brake fluid too, I presume.....

heebeegeetee

28,509 posts

247 months

Friday 26th August 2011
quotequote all
thegoose said:
Says the man who doesn't even get his standard brakes hot enough to notice their shortcomings on track rolleyes
wink
Whoa!

So now an ability to wear out brakes is a sign of speed?

Hmm. The likes of Jim Clark and Alain Prost were clearly wrong then. They should have been wearing out their equipment like everyone else. scratchchin

nickfrog

20,821 posts

216 months

Friday 26th August 2011
quotequote all
jackwood said:
You run standard brake fluid too, I presume.....
Yes and guess what ? it hasn't boiled yet, despite the pub talks about the "shortcomings" of running plain DOT4 and standard lines on track.



nsm3

2,831 posts

195 months

Friday 26th August 2011
quotequote all
Pah - you will be telling us you venture out on track without bucket seats next - LOL wink

Don't know about Boxsters, but the OE pads on my Exige S were sh0ite, even for road use (no bite and no feel), so I changed them for Pagid 42's and there was a marked improvement in both areas of braking that was previously lacking. I also remember that my e46 M3 would develop a braking "shimmy" after hard use, again on the road and plenty of people change them out to eliminate this.

My point here is that sometimes the manufacturers will select a pad to give good wear, low noise and acceptable performance that appeals to a broader audience and "better" performance can be gained from aftermarket pads. That isn't to say that the OE stuff isn't acceptable or not fit for purpose - my GT3 OE pads squeal like a b1atch and are pretty numb and useless when cold, but then that is acceptable as they have designed the car for a more extreme driving environment.

boxsey

3,574 posts

209 months

Friday 26th August 2011
quotequote all
I think there is a lot of sense in the advice Nick is offering because he's specifically referring to the use of OE pads in conjunction with road tyres. I use track compound pads on my 964 but that's in conjunction with track tyres (R888s and Mich cups). His advice to the OP, who I believe is only going to occasional track days on normal tyres, comes from many years experience of tracking his own boxsters and from being a long time qualified ARDS instructor (I think he's retired from that now and is too polite to bang on a lot about his own experience).