Destroying Brake Pads

[Osmoliver]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to be educated. Yesterday was the second time that I've gone through a set of brand new front brake pads in less than a day on track. I've done this in different cars; my NA Mx-5 and my BMW Z3.

I can't remember the brand of my Mx-5 pads, but they were cheap. On my Z3 I'd fitted Brembo pads, although road pads I didn't expect to last such a short time.

Both track days were at Blyton Park, which has a lot of braking and few straights for the brakes to cool off.

Is it simply that I'm using road pads that are not designed for track use and they're disintegrating? Or am I potentially doing something wrong when fitting them, bedding them in or am I braking wrong?

Appreciate any insight you can offer.

[illmonkey]

Your problem is road pads. I’ve killed a set of brembo road pad in my 182 in an hour. It’s all I could get the day before though.

Get some good track pads and you’ll do a few track days per set.

[MJ85]

How many track miles/laps are you doing on each track day?

[thebraketester]

Yes. Buy better brake pads.


.....and improve cooling.

[Osmoliver]

illmonkey said:

Your problem is road pads. I’ve killed a set of brembo road pad in my 182 in an hour. It’s all I could get the day before though.

Get some good track pads and you’ll do a few track days per set.

That beats me yesterday, I thought lunchtime in the Z3 was impressive! Definitely getting the feeling that track pads are a worthwhile investment.

[Osmoliver]

MJ85 said:

How many track miles/laps are you doing on each track day?

I won't have managed much more than 50 miles yesterday. The Mx-5 was probably more like 100 miles in the day.

[Osmoliver]

thebraketester said:

Yes. Buy better brake pads.


.....and improve cooling.

Thanks for the advice, duly noted!

Excuse my naivety, but would improving cooling be via slotted/grooved discs? And/or getting more air to the brakes?

[iguana]

Yes to an appropriate pad, yes to improving cooling, no to fancy discs, waste of money, oe quality is fine.

What pad is a very long list & discussion & disagreements abound, few will disagree with say a pagid rs29 pad however, only real downside is price, a Ds1.11 does a similar job for less, but the squeal on road is a downside.

[james_gt3rs]

How long are your sessions and are you on track tyres? These combined will kill brakes... also have you checked they aren’t binding?

[Osmoliver]

iguana said:

Yes to an appropriate pad, yes to improving cooling, no to fancy discs, waste of money, oe quality is fine.

What pad is a very long list & discussion & disagreements abound, few will disagree with say a pagid rs29 pad however, only real downside is price, a Ds1.11 does a similar job for less, but the squeal on road is a downside.

Those pagids are pricey! Ferodo's website suggests the DS1.11s are for track use only? I've previously been recommended DS2500s for the Mx-5 and was planning on purchasing some of them at some point.

[Osmoliver]

james_gt3rs said:

How long are your sessions and are you on track tyres? These combined will kill brakes... also have you checked they aren’t binding?

I try to keep them short, roughly half to a dozen laps with a cool down lap too. No, road tyres. I don't believe they're binding, there's no pad/disc noise until I'm down to the backing plate. Are there any other checks I should be considering?

[Demelitia]

Osmoliver said:

james_gt3rs said:

How long are your sessions and are you on track tyres? These combined will kill brakes... also have you checked they aren’t binding?

I try to keep them short, roughly half to a dozen laps with a cool down lap too. No, road tyres. I don't believe they're binding, there's no pad/disc noise until I'm down to the backing plate. Are there any other checks I should be considering?

The standard discs will probably be vented anyway, maybe focus on getting some direct air feeds going from existing bumper ducts, or adding some. Flexible ducting on to some rivet on flanges in the backing plates will force air through the discs, lowering your temps.
There are little plastic attachments available for some cars that cable tie on to suspension components to direct airflow under the car in to the centre of the discs for a similar but less pronounced effect.

[iguana]

Osmoliver said:

Those pagids are pricey! Ferodo's website suggests the DS1.11s are for track use only? I've previously been recommended DS2500s for the Mx-5 and was planning on purchasing some of them at some point.

Ha well you know where I said opinions may vary on pads, IMHO 2500s are as useful as weetabix for track pads on anything of weight.

[Munter]

I'd give carbotech UK a ring and see what they have in an XP8.

I seem to destroy lesser pads...these last.

[motorhole]

Osmoliver said:

Hi all,

I'm hoping to be educated. Yesterday was the second time that I've gone through a set of brand new front brake pads in less than a day on track. I've done this in different cars; my NA Mx-5 and my BMW Z3.

I can't remember the brand of my Mx-5 pads, but they were cheap. On my Z3 I'd fitted Brembo pads, although road pads I didn't expect to last such a short time.

Both track days were at Blyton Park, which has a lot of braking and few straights for the brakes to cool off.

Is it simply that I'm using road pads that are not designed for track use and they're disintegrating? Or am I potentially doing something wrong when fitting them, bedding them in or am I braking wrong?

Appreciate any insight you can offer.

Was it you who I was following in the Z3 who's front wheels burped out a huge cloud of smoke every time you were on the brakes?

Agree with the sentiments above. Better pads are they way forward. Seem expensive, but...well I've done 9 trackdays on the set of CL RC5+ in my E30 now (including yesterday), still 6 or 7 mm left. So they do pay for themselves after a while...

If you try that and it's still not enough, try the 330i disc & caliper upgrade, again with track pads - provided you have the 17" wheels to clear them.

[Mr MXT]

Blyton isn’t that hard on brakes, especially in a low powered and light car like an MX5.

IT could be a technique issue.

[roddo]

Mr MXT said:

Blyton isn’t that hard on brakes, especially in a low powered and light car like an MX5.

IT could be a technique issue.

I beg to differ as there is several 100-30mph corners at Blyton. It's much heavier on brakes that the likes of Donington

[MJ85]

Osmoliver said:

MJ85 said:

How many track miles/laps are you doing on each track day?

I won't have managed much more than 50 miles yesterday. The Mx-5 was probably more like 100 miles in the day.

Does sound like relatively excessive wear then. Good luck getting it sorted.

[Osmoliver]

motorhole said:

Was it you who I was following in the Z3 who's front wheels burped out a huge cloud of smoke every time you were on the brakes?

Agree with the sentiments above. Better pads are they way forward. Seem expensive, but...well I've done 9 trackdays on the set of CL RC5+ in my E30 now (including yesterday), still 6 or 7 mm left. So they do pay for themselves after a while...

If you try that and it's still not enough, try the 330i disc & caliper upgrade, again with track pads - provided you have the 17" wheels to clear them.

If you were at Frank's, yup! 😂

Definitely going to give better pads a go. Your E30 went well!

I've got 16" wheels on the Z3, so will start with just pads. My Mx-5 is my usually track drive, but it's off the road at the minute.

[Mr MXT]

roddo said:

Mr MXT said:

Blyton isn’t that hard on brakes, especially in a low powered and light car like an MX5.

IT could be a technique issue.

I beg to differ as there is several 100-30mph corners at Blyton. It's much heavier on brakes that the likes of Donington

Only into the wiggler and the right hander after port froid...and what corners are as slow as 30?!

I’ll allow you the poetic license though, You can peddle an mx5 a heck of lot faster than I can...!