V8 Vantage on track - durability

[jarodw]

Last weekend I took my V8V to the race track. It’s a small track in France, around 3km long and with 12 corners quite demanding for brakes and tires. Knowing that the Aston is not the perfect track tool I still expected it to be more durable on the rack (it’s still a sports car isn't it?). After a couple of labs the brakes start fading as they got hotter and hotter. In fact they got so hot, that the wear indication cables cooked (burned through). Also my fairly new brake pads (> 2.000km) are almost done yet.

Long story short, it seems tracking the AM Vantage is quite material consuming and expensive. My dealer suggested replacing the brake pads after every track day (at least after every other track day) and the brake rotors will only last 2 sets of brake pads. Also I guess constant gear changes under full throttle (I have the sport shift gear box) is quite challenging for the clutch.

What is your experience? How often do you have to change brake pads, rotors and clutch when lapping the V8V on the track?

Thanks, J

[johng39]

Stopping a 1.6 Ton car is always going to be hard on brakes, seriously consider track orientated pads for a trackday, rather than road pads. There is a huge difference in compound and operating temperatures.

I took my V8V on Nurburgring and the pedal was getting longer, but hardly cooked. The difference is long fast straights allowing some brake cooling. A short circuit will cook road pads easily. While AM talk of it being a more track orientated car, it is seriously heavy for this purpose and will definately need a change of pad material to get the best out of it.

[yeti]

Was this Ecuyers? If so, that place is REALLY not suitable for a big heavy car!!

It's a sports GT (same as a 911) not a sports car; an Elise (or a Boxster) is a sports car As mentioned, at Goodwood, Silverstone, Spa or any of the big tracks, the DB9/Vantage is very good as brakes get to cool down. There is virtaully no straight at Ecuyers (or Abbevile for that matter if that's where you went?)

I took my 964 round it and if i wanted to keep up with the Elises there I hade to really work the brakes and it was hard on them and the tyres. I just cruised round enjoying the rear weight bias eventually, just had a different kind of day.

[jarodw]

I was in Anneau du Rhin.
I know the car is quite heavy and it needs a lot of braking power to slow it down, anyhow I am a bit disappointed, as I expected it to be more durable on tracks. I am wondering how a M3 or a M5, which are by far not as sporty as the AM, deal with the track....

[yeti]

jarodw said:

I was in Anneau du Rhin.
I know the car is quite heavy and it needs a lot of braking power to slow it down, anyhow I am a bit disappointed, as I expected it to be more durable on tracks. I am wondering how a M3 or a M5, which are by far not as sporty as the AM, deal with the track....

Exactly the same I assure you unless they have upgraded brakes. You will notice that usually the M3 CSLs have upgraded Brembo brakes. The Vantage is a road car, with road brakes!!

When you try it on a larger track with longer straights, upgrade the pads and fluid, it will perform far better

[krisdelta]

jarodw said:

I was in Anneau du Rhin. I am wondering how a M3 or a M5, which are by far not as sporty as the AM, deal with the track....

+1 Lewis, the M's are not great on standard brakes, however my M3 was brilliant at the Nurburgring, the braking there isn't too bad and there are plenty of throttle only sections to cool it all down. Less amusing at Brands Hatch though

Whilst the Aston is a sporty car, it's a sporty car for the road - track days will need a different approach. You may want (depending on how often you track the car) to consider:

- Different tyres
- Uprated brake fluid
- Uprated brakes / pad compound

I think Bamford Rose or similar would be a great place to advise you on how to get the best out of your car on track. Anyhow - good for you using it all-out on track Better to burn out pads in a hurry with a massive smile on your face than over 12k miles in heavy traffic

Cheers

Kris

[quench]

The front brakes need proper cooling. Unless this is addressed, anything else is like a band-aid on an open wound.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[jarodw]

Thanks guys. I use the AM as a daily driver, and perhaps go 3 to 4 times a year on a track. Not sure if its worth the effort installing new brakes or a brake cooling system. But is it fair to say, I have to replace the rotors after 3 to 4 track days? And what about the durability of the clutch if used on the track occasionally?

[sadlerj]

I have had mine on various tracks in the UK and she holds up well. My clutch lasted 30k miles, and brakes pads about 10k and disks 20k, which is similar to the 911 I had before. Tyre wear is better than the 911, as that used to eat rears and she lasts about 10k for rears and 15k for fronts. This is with about 2-3 trackdays per year. I tend to stick to the big fast open tracks, that is where she is better. She is a hoot round Silverstone GP layout especially in the wet. I do get a long brake pedal which is sometimes off-putting, but the stoppers always seem to stop. Bedford is hard on tyres and brakes, if you go at max attack mode. Basically I treat her as "my" car and not a track hack, so am not fully on it, I would imagine if I was fully on it she would start to struggle. I did a Porsche customer track day at Silverstone and after about 20 mins of driving 'Porsches' 911 C4S at max attack mode the tyres were munched, (the brakes did hold up well, but then again they were ceramic!)

[Far Eastender]

When you do a track day, a driver is expected to wear a helmet and (at least) some long sleeved shirts, if not full racing gear. Why wouldn't you make the same changes to your car with the correct pads, brake fluid and tyres??

[jarodw]

It's easier to put on a helmet, then to install new pads, isn't it?