The definitive track car brakes thread
Discussion
It's ok; I was just kidding with the title. I know that this conundrum is entirely unresolvable. 
But it'd be good to have a pile of opinions in one place.
I guess what's being weighed up is quality versus price, and finding that value for money middle ground.
I've had Yellowstuff pads on my E36 track car for the last two trackdays - c.350 miles - and they're completely shot. Not worn out, but the heat has turned them into Hobnobs. (other crumbly biscuits are available)
A friendly PHer said that he had 'told me so' and reminded me that I had ignored his advice re using RS29s. So this morning I reminded myself why: they're £250 a set versus £55 for the Yellowstuffs. So, with fitting, I could go through at least three sets of Yellowstuffs for every one of RS29. Would the RS29s do six track days?
Over to you. What do you use? How much are they? How long do they last? Also some detail would be good, e.g. are some specialist pads great on light cars but poor on heavier ones?
But it'd be good to have a pile of opinions in one place.
I guess what's being weighed up is quality versus price, and finding that value for money middle ground.
I've had Yellowstuff pads on my E36 track car for the last two trackdays - c.350 miles - and they're completely shot. Not worn out, but the heat has turned them into Hobnobs. (other crumbly biscuits are available)
A friendly PHer said that he had 'told me so' and reminded me that I had ignored his advice re using RS29s. So this morning I reminded myself why: they're £250 a set versus £55 for the Yellowstuffs. So, with fitting, I could go through at least three sets of Yellowstuffs for every one of RS29. Would the RS29s do six track days?
Over to you. What do you use? How much are they? How long do they last? Also some detail would be good, e.g. are some specialist pads great on light cars but poor on heavier ones?
Different pads work differently for different people & cars, depending on their driving style.
I used to change my DS2500/DS3000 pads every 3 days on my e34 M5, but I'm not a racer and don't try to be the last of the late brakers, as it's only a track day after all.
I have been using Yellowstuff this year (due to them being road legal), and haven't had a problem with them at Oulton Park & Nürburgring, but am looking at the newer BlueStuff pads as they're supposed to be an out & out endurance race pad (not road legal) so may stand up to a bit more abuse.
I'm not saying the EBC stuff is the best, but they're certainly value for money when I can get a 4 wheel set for less than £100 (with marshal's discount direct from EBC) - and don't need £400 worth of non road legal Pagis RS*
* which won't matter if you're swapping road pads out for track pads when you get to the track as I did with the M5.
I used to change my DS2500/DS3000 pads every 3 days on my e34 M5, but I'm not a racer and don't try to be the last of the late brakers, as it's only a track day after all.
I have been using Yellowstuff this year (due to them being road legal), and haven't had a problem with them at Oulton Park & Nürburgring, but am looking at the newer BlueStuff pads as they're supposed to be an out & out endurance race pad (not road legal) so may stand up to a bit more abuse.
I'm not saying the EBC stuff is the best, but they're certainly value for money when I can get a 4 wheel set for less than £100 (with marshal's discount direct from EBC) - and don't need £400 worth of non road legal Pagis RS*
* which won't matter if you're swapping road pads out for track pads when you get to the track as I did with the M5.
My track day brake experience has been:-
Yellow stuff = junk, fell apart within a day, had the yellow paint on them catch fire once.
Pagid RS4-2 = brilliant, just worked and lasted.
Carbotech Panther plus = brilliant, just worked and lasted, did make a bit of noise when cold.
Axxis Ultimates = brilliant as the carbotech.
Moral of the story for me has been the £100 - £170 pads are worth every penny over the £50 yellow stuffs.
Yellow stuff = junk, fell apart within a day, had the yellow paint on them catch fire once.
Pagid RS4-2 = brilliant, just worked and lasted.
Carbotech Panther plus = brilliant, just worked and lasted, did make a bit of noise when cold.
Axxis Ultimates = brilliant as the carbotech.
Moral of the story for me has been the £100 - £170 pads are worth every penny over the £50 yellow stuffs.
chris7676 said:
Where did you get the Yellows for only £50 ? 
I have used them on Elise and Boxster and they costs £100+ and £200+ respectively. Unlike yours, managed to last.
Camskill. They were £55 when I bought them just before Christmas. Just looked them up again and they're £60.95 now.I have used them on Elise and Boxster and they costs £100+ and £200+ respectively. Unlike yours, managed to last.
V8mate said:
Bluestuff pads aren't road legal, as I understand it. Is that because of their cold performance? Would you 'risk' road use?
The ECE R90 regulation states they must be ±15% of the OEM spec, and most 'race' pads exceed this specification.It's not just EBC BlueStuff, but also the suggested Pagid, Ferodo, Carbotech pads, that are not road legal.
But to make it worse, you have to apply for R90 certification on an application by application basis, as an RS4-2 pad for a Mitsubishi with Brembos & DS2500 pads as standard would probably gain R90 certification whilst the same pad for a BMW M5 that uses chocolate teapot pads would not gain certification.
5paul5 said:
V8mate said:
Bluestuff pads aren't road legal, as I understand it. Is that because of their cold performance? Would you 'risk' road use?
Not sure how that would be enforced, but use mine on the road always.I think early evidence suggests that Yellowstuff are fine for light cars, but not for big braking on heavier cars.
@mmm-five - Very interesting to hear about how the regs work. Thanks for the info
5paul5 said:
Not sure how that would be enforced, but use mine on the road always. Cold performance is great by the way.
Probably never would be unless you got stopped for something else, or they were spotted during an MOT, or you were involved in an accident and your insurer voided your policy because your car was not 'road legal'.Silly, I know, as these would actually make your car safer - but insurance companies will try to wriggle out of paying anything.
You have to consider the disc's and pads you are using aswell, its not just the pads!
On the subject of pads though, i ran Pagid RS29's on my Marea on the road and the cold use they really wernt as bad as i was expecting, i was under the impression they wouldnt work atall until you were flying but thats not the case, they work just as well as any cheapo pad which cold but when hot they are AWESOME!
i understand the price can be offputting but i dont think anything else will compare. I dont remember where i read it but i did see it mentioned you will get through 2 sets of disc's to 1 set of Padid RS29's and i dont doubt it for a minute given my previous experience with them.
I jsut forked out £250ish for a set on my 996 Porsche calipers for the BMW because i know they will be good, i get mine from Racepads.co.uk, they are top guys.
V8mate - wasnt me who said that was it?!
On the subject of pads though, i ran Pagid RS29's on my Marea on the road and the cold use they really wernt as bad as i was expecting, i was under the impression they wouldnt work atall until you were flying but thats not the case, they work just as well as any cheapo pad which cold but when hot they are AWESOME!
i understand the price can be offputting but i dont think anything else will compare. I dont remember where i read it but i did see it mentioned you will get through 2 sets of disc's to 1 set of Padid RS29's and i dont doubt it for a minute given my previous experience with them.
I jsut forked out £250ish for a set on my 996 Porsche calipers for the BMW because i know they will be good, i get mine from Racepads.co.uk, they are top guys.
V8mate - wasnt me who said that was it?!
V8mate said:
I've had Yellowstuff pads on my E36 track car for the last two trackdays - c.350 miles - and they're completely shot. Not worn out, but the heat has turned them into Hobnobs. (other crumbly biscuits are available)
Surely your options are thus either pads with much higher thermal stability (such as the RS29) or possibly lots of extra brake cooling?On an E36 the Pagids ought to last at least 6 though - I've managed to get them to do that on a GT3 before (and I am generally considered fairly brake hostile). You should certainly consider biting the bullet if the latest ones that you are trying don't do the job.
A bit mixed on yellowstuff pads. When I first had them fitted they were absolutely awesome (compared to standard Mits ones), though I did burn most of the yellow paint off on the first track day.
They do work well on the road, provided you don't rely on them before they've warmed up.
After 3 track days and about 12,000 miles they're about 60% worn but I wouldn't describe them as awesome any more.
Being relatively inexpensive, I might just fit new ones without waiting for the MoT man to tell me I have to.
They do work well on the road, provided you don't rely on them before they've warmed up.
After 3 track days and about 12,000 miles they're about 60% worn but I wouldn't describe them as awesome any more.
Being relatively inexpensive, I might just fit new ones without waiting for the MoT man to tell me I have to.
I find Yellow stuffs "ok" in general but mine were just easiest to chuck on 2 days before Castle combe, although when they get hot they squeel like a b
h.
A mate uses Pagid Blues on his Clio 172 twinned with brembo "max" discs and that is excellent, he drives Cadwell park about 8 times per year etc on them and he says they don't really drop off at all in any conditions.
Carbon Loraines are meant to be really good, quiet a few of the guys that track big yank stuff and alot of the TVR lads use them.
h.A mate uses Pagid Blues on his Clio 172 twinned with brembo "max" discs and that is excellent, he drives Cadwell park about 8 times per year etc on them and he says they don't really drop off at all in any conditions.
Carbon Loraines are meant to be really good, quiet a few of the guys that track big yank stuff and alot of the TVR lads use them.
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