track prep for stock wrx
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track prep for stock wrx
Hello,
New here. Tracked a porsche 944 s2 with supension upgrades and Yoko A032s for a few years. Now have an 03 wrx. The S2 had a baffled oil pan , used Mobil1 15w50, overfilled 1/2 quart to keep from starving the oil pickup in long high speed corners at watkins glen. What type/grade oil is recomended for the wrx and does anyone overfill a little or is oil starvation not a problem ? I know I will have to keep an eye on the stock front brakes of the wrx and I'm just going to grind up the RE92s. Any other advice for tracking a wrx besides the usual brake and supension upgrades ?
Brake Pad choice ?
Thanks, Nate
New here. Tracked a porsche 944 s2 with supension upgrades and Yoko A032s for a few years. Now have an 03 wrx. The S2 had a baffled oil pan , used Mobil1 15w50, overfilled 1/2 quart to keep from starving the oil pickup in long high speed corners at watkins glen. What type/grade oil is recomended for the wrx and does anyone overfill a little or is oil starvation not a problem ? I know I will have to keep an eye on the stock front brakes of the wrx and I'm just going to grind up the RE92s. Any other advice for tracking a wrx besides the usual brake and supension upgrades ?
Brake Pad choice ?
Thanks, Nate
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Car Info: 2005 Subaru STI
Stick with the Mobil 1 15W50. We have raced at stock oil levels without any issues.
You will most likely have fade issues with the front brakes, but the RE92's will help a bit there. Still, if possible, you should probably go with a hotter fluid and a hotter pad.
With a stock suspension, the car is going to feel extremely soft and wallowy. It will also understeer a lot. With the soft suspension and crappy tires, you will be able to momentarily lift throttle oversteer mid-corner to work the car through the corner. However, as soon as you get back on the throttle, the front end will wash out again.
Have fun!
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.teamSMR.com
You will most likely have fade issues with the front brakes, but the RE92's will help a bit there. Still, if possible, you should probably go with a hotter fluid and a hotter pad.
With a stock suspension, the car is going to feel extremely soft and wallowy. It will also understeer a lot. With the soft suspension and crappy tires, you will be able to momentarily lift throttle oversteer mid-corner to work the car through the corner. However, as soon as you get back on the throttle, the front end will wash out again.
Have fun!
Gary
Sheehan Motor Racing
www.teamSMR.com
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Nate,
Do yourself a favor and swap out the RE92's now. I ran them on a lowly 01 RS for 2 track days and severely chunked them. I mean chunks missing out of the center of the tires in some spots. Get a set of RS wheels for $450 and some Azenis for $400 and avoid the problems. You'll then have the RE92's for when you drive on the street, or if you don't want to buy wheels, swap them over and have RE92's for when you sell the car. I got 14 track days and 13k miles out of my Azenis 215-45-16's before selling them, since I'm trading in my car. The new owner is using them on the street and for rain tires on his WRX.
jack
Do yourself a favor and swap out the RE92's now. I ran them on a lowly 01 RS for 2 track days and severely chunked them. I mean chunks missing out of the center of the tires in some spots. Get a set of RS wheels for $450 and some Azenis for $400 and avoid the problems. You'll then have the RE92's for when you drive on the street, or if you don't want to buy wheels, swap them over and have RE92's for when you sell the car. I got 14 track days and 13k miles out of my Azenis 215-45-16's before selling them, since I'm trading in my car. The new owner is using them on the street and for rain tires on his WRX.
jack
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Thanks for the info ! I am currently looking for some used rims to put some decent rubber on. I got a few sealed jugs of "racing blue" ready for the brake fluid. Any advice on a good pad for the stock wrx front brakes for track use. Not sure if I want to go to the carbon kevlars just yet (portofields or similar). Maybe a good carbon metalic ? I used metal masters on the porsche for a while , they weren't bad but I started shredding them in a day.
I would like to start with something like the metal masters though until I get up to speed with the new car.
Thanks again !
Nate
I would like to start with something like the metal masters though until I get up to speed with the new car.
Thanks again !
Nate
pads
I use AP Lockheed ZC pads
It's a big improvement from stock obviously but it's still a high-end street pad.
Never faded on track but it did on tight canyons
I think I want more stopping power and i don't mind the brake noise.
Next time I'll try Endless CCR which is another performance street pad.
If you want track pads, I suggest Endless MA. I never used it but I hear good things about it from people using it on racing Civic.
as for a fluid i use MOTUL, but i don't think the brand matters too much.
I'm sure if you do a search in brake forum you'll find more info on different pads.
It's a big improvement from stock obviously but it's still a high-end street pad.
Never faded on track but it did on tight canyons
I think I want more stopping power and i don't mind the brake noise.
Next time I'll try Endless CCR which is another performance street pad.
If you want track pads, I suggest Endless MA. I never used it but I hear good things about it from people using it on racing Civic.
as for a fluid i use MOTUL, but i don't think the brand matters too much.
I'm sure if you do a search in brake forum you'll find more info on different pads.
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You will hate the RE92's on the track. Not only do they not grip, but they will cause your ABS to over-react under hard braking. I have a separate set of wheels & tires for the track. Last summer, I went through 2 sets of Kumho VictoRacers, which are great tires. However, with the understeer combined with their softness, they wear away too quick. At the end of last summer I got the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup's, which many of the Porsches run (they were developed for the Porsche Cup series). They aren't quite as grippy, but have a good bit of tread left after 3 track days.
As far as understeer, the car is a pig. Sorry, I love it, but... I replaced the rear sway bar with a Whiteline bar and KartBoy endlinks last year, and that helped some. I am waiting on UPS delivery of the Eibach springs, which I think will help also. Lowering the center of gravity with the springs should also help turn-in.
Brakes-you will definitely overheat them and get some fade, especially on the long straights of Watkins Glen. I have stock calipers/rotors, but replaced the fluid with Motul 600 and installed stainless lines instead of the stock rubber lines to the calipers. I have used Porterfield R4S pads, which I thought were good. My last 2 sets were Carbotech Panther Plus, which I liked a little more but they kick out a lot of dust, which many people don't like. I got them for their utility, so I tolerate the dust.
Have fun. With the turbo, you will be surprised at what cars you are faster than. I get invites to PCA events, and consistently blow away 911's and Boxsters, including the Boxster S (no engine mods on my car). The 944 Turbo, which everyone seems to have chipped, is too fast on the straights.
As far as understeer, the car is a pig. Sorry, I love it, but... I replaced the rear sway bar with a Whiteline bar and KartBoy endlinks last year, and that helped some. I am waiting on UPS delivery of the Eibach springs, which I think will help also. Lowering the center of gravity with the springs should also help turn-in.
Brakes-you will definitely overheat them and get some fade, especially on the long straights of Watkins Glen. I have stock calipers/rotors, but replaced the fluid with Motul 600 and installed stainless lines instead of the stock rubber lines to the calipers. I have used Porterfield R4S pads, which I thought were good. My last 2 sets were Carbotech Panther Plus, which I liked a little more but they kick out a lot of dust, which many people don't like. I got them for their utility, so I tolerate the dust.
Have fun. With the turbo, you will be surprised at what cars you are faster than. I get invites to PCA events, and consistently blow away 911's and Boxsters, including the Boxster S (no engine mods on my car). The 944 Turbo, which everyone seems to have chipped, is too fast on the straights.
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For pads I will second the Porterfield R4S. I used them all last season and just swapped in a new set at the track a few days ago. They do double duty for me as a track/street pad and the dust issues are manageable. The only problem I have with them is I can go through a whole set of front pads on one busy track day.
My brake fluid Is Castrol GT LMA. Works fine, is relativity cheep and can be easily found.
Heat in the front brakes is a reoccurring thing for seemingly all WRX track ******. For giggles and yucks I removed the front dust shields last time out and that did the trick for me. Granted this is up in the sunny pacific northwest with our balmy temperatures in the mid 50’s. We will see when “summer” swings around if I keep winning the heat battle.
Other than that my wagon has been pretty solid on the track. I always get a kick out of getting a point by in my grocery getter from some of the bigger egos that “talk the talk” in the paddock.
-roupp
My brake fluid Is Castrol GT LMA. Works fine, is relativity cheep and can be easily found.
Heat in the front brakes is a reoccurring thing for seemingly all WRX track ******. For giggles and yucks I removed the front dust shields last time out and that did the trick for me. Granted this is up in the sunny pacific northwest with our balmy temperatures in the mid 50’s. We will see when “summer” swings around if I keep winning the heat battle.
Other than that my wagon has been pretty solid on the track. I always get a kick out of getting a point by in my grocery getter from some of the bigger egos that “talk the talk” in the paddock.
-roupp
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Blindingly simple. 3 bolts per shield. You just have to remove the rotor to gain access to them. I haven’t put mine back on yet and im not really sure I will. I see enough track time and I inspect my brakes obsessively enough that i don’t think they will go back on till winter.
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Cool. I like blindingly simple things. I need to change my pads & fluid, so I will be 7/8ths of the way there.
I was at the parts store today, and they had some duct scoops & hoses which I may rig to direct more air to the area. It is a pretty cheap setup, and will hopefully fix the incredible fade I get half way through a 20 minute track session.
Michael
I was at the parts store today, and they had some duct scoops & hoses which I may rig to direct more air to the area. It is a pretty cheap setup, and will hopefully fix the incredible fade I get half way through a 20 minute track session.
Michael
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Removing the dust shields was indeed blindingly simple. I will probably reinstall them before winter (you being in California don't need to worry about snow and road salt).
As far as oil, my car is actually consuming a little bit under normal (well, my normal driving), which the dealership says is normal. I wasn't happy with that answer, but am keeping a close eye on the levels.
As far as oil, my car is actually consuming a little bit under normal (well, my normal driving), which the dealership says is normal. I wasn't happy with that answer, but am keeping a close eye on the levels.
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