This is a n00b question but... I'm thinking about taking my 03wrx to the track and i've heard upgrading the pads and fluid is a must. Is this really necessary or is it just to boost braking performance? Would I be able to survive a full track day on the oem pads/fluid?

 

no way you need upgraded lines and fluid your first day out... I heard this myth too and I took my car to the track with stock everything... and it was plenty...

I have an 05 STi and I've done 6 track days on stock lines/fluid/pads. Im thinking of doing a fluid flush and brake lines for my next day on the 1st. You won't really need the braking performance until you start going faster. It also depends on the track. Thunderhill is pretty hard on brakes in which case you might need to do it sooner rather than later, but certainly not your first track day. If you've had previous racing experience and driving at speed is no issue for you, then you might need upgraded pads and fluid your first day out. For someone whos never driven on a track before, the braking systems on a street car are plenty. Personally, I still dont notice any brake fade running 2:03 on Infineon, about 6-7 seconds off what Rob Asincough is running on Infineon with full race pads/brakes, coilovers, and race tires with 100 octane and Vishnu Stage 1. LOL. And my STi's stock except for an XEDE.

It isn't a surprise that I didn't need any upgrades for my first day out. I was thinkin man I will need brake lines fluid pads because I felt like I was fast just driving Calaveras rd. and palomeras, mines, etc. really often and pretty quickly, but it didnt prepare me for driving at the speeds you can acheive on track. What I mean is, people in Miatas and stock 3 series (non-M) BMWs were passing me. By the end of the day, I was keeping up and even passed a couple cars, but speed builds naturally. As your skill increases, the demands you place on your car will increase, and you will know when its time to do an upgrade.

If I could have changed anything about my first track day in September, it would have been getting more sleep the night before. Also, I would have practiced double-clutching and heel-toe more if I knew how useful it would be on track. But after 6 days, I think I'm getting a hang of it, and I'm finally beginning to contemplate upgrades to my brakes and suspension. I've learned that the best upgrades you can do to go faster and have more fun and be safer are driver upgrades. My friend in a stock turbo stock everything WRX except coilovers and tires runs circles around high HP porsches and muscle cars because he's a better driver. And he's on street tires. Haha.

Sean

 

Speaking of which, there's a track day on the 1st of january at Infineon (Sears Point). Would you be interested in coming? Its with the bay area miata club but I'm taking my STI out and there will be porsches, etc. PM me or Email me if you want.

Thanks,
Sean

 

depends on how hard you drive your car. for example a two day event, first day learn the track and your car, next day apply what you learn/know and drive the **** out of it, j/k. the stock setup can fade within the first session at high speed tracks such as big Willow.

 

[QUOTE=resident smurf]no way you need upgraded lines and fluid your first day out... I heard this myth too and I took my car to the track with stock everything... and it was plenty...

I don't know... You're driving a STi with Brembos. lllRedline is running stock Wrx brakes. If I were him, I would upgrade before hitting the track. Just my opinion.

 

[QUOTE=Jimpreza]hey,

have you ever tracked before? the first day on track is usually spent at really low speed, no where near fast enough to fade brakes unless you're on a very intense course and are already comfortable with braking at the limit.

So what that his WRX doesn't have Brembos? The STi carries more speed and thus needs to brake harder because of its different suspension and additional power. And the STi brembos come with street pads which fade just as quickly.

just my $0.02.

Sean

 

I drive a wrx my04 with Prodrive pack (273bhp on deltadash,268 on g-tech) on my first trackday on Spa-Franchorchamps ,i completly ruined my brakes!!!

After 9000 miles ,my brakes (front) are completly gone :-(

Now i have the stoptech's ... :-)

And do not too forget,i drive a european model so my rear brakes are better than usdm .

 

The sti brakes and the oem wrx brakes are worlds apart, not even comparable.

It is true for the first track day you are so nervous you probably won't build speed consistantly enough to really fade your brakes, but by the second or third day the wrx brakes flat out suck. Even with good pads (axis, carbotech whatever), fluids and ss lines they still cannot keep up. The pads will over heat the small calipers and rotors and boil any fluid.

Believe me, I began tracking my wrx 3 years ago and I went through all of the "stages" and finally ended up with 4 pots in the front and 2 pots in the rear using carbotech xp8 pads. In fact, I have a set of goodridge ss lines, old axis ultimate pads and a H6 upgrade all sitting in a cabinet gathering dust. Anyone want them?

I decided to go with the twr 4 pots up front and 2 pots in the rear using 290mm rotors that fit my oem 16" wheels. Why oem 16" wheels? Because toyo makes ra1's that fit great for that size wheel (the 17's are too skinny). The brand of caliper doesn't really matter as long as it is a quality set and you use a quality set of rotors.

One or two track days and you'll be fine, after that even a bone stock wrx with oem tires has enough power to smoke it's brakes at any track in just a few laps.

 

what rotors did you upgrade with?

 

When all was said and done I ended up with the twr rotors and calipers. I have had the setup for about 18 months and it works great on the track and street. After 20k miles and 12 track days there is very little wear on the rotors and the calipers are fine w/no leaks.

I switch pads when I go to the track bobcats for the street and xp8's for the track. Carbotech says since they are similar materials the bedding process is minimized.

Their website isn't the greatest http://www.twrracing.com/ but try calling Jack or Jerry and the can help you out.

 

Like I said, "If I were him" and "Just my opinion." It also depends a lot on the driver's braking habits.

 

i just got rotors and pads and brake fluids best 600 bucks for the track i've spent

 

nic, if you're gonna ***** the tech forums try a little harder. Care to tell us which pads, rotors, and fluid you just used? What did you have before? What exactly was better?

 

aww ban that hurt... yeah i was supposed to get stoptech stage 2 kit, but Soren @ MPJ said he never got them in, so i ended up getting Drilled/Slotted DBA (Austrailian), Axxis Ultimates, With motul fluid and stoptech stainless steel brake lines. wonderful investment, much better feel. and i also got S-03's which was by far the best lifesaver in the rain storms. i wore my stock brakes down to paper thing literally, i ran on them for about 50000 miles.

 

That's actually not a very good track setup. The Axxis Ultimates aren't able to cope with hard track use, and drilled rotors are for show purposes. The choice of lines, fluid, and tires are great for track use though.