Quote:
Originally Posted by Mountain
For point of reference, I was at the same event as Ryephile, in my SS 1LE that is completely stock. Brake fluid was switched to Castrol SRF and I had the SS track deflectors installed. Zero issues with the brakes and I was definitely giving them a workout going into turn 1 and turn 10, and pretty well into them turn 2 and turn 5. Stock brake pads do just fine, but I can see where an aftermarket pad would help - the stock pads lack some initial bite; they are a bit non-confident-inspiring when you initially really start loading them up, but they do come in and lock the car down. Eventually I either 1. got used to them or they bed in better because this notion stopped and the brakes felt more consistent from initial apply to release in later sessions. My gut feeling is that I didn't bed in the pads well enough before the track day.
Looking at Ryephile's brakes after a few sessions, you could tell that heat was not an issue with them. Rotors looked like they just had street miles on them, lol.
The only issue I had with my car is that my front sway bar link lower nuts came loose. The passenger side was just flopping around. The driver side was just a tad loose. Mind that I did check them before the track day to make sure they were tight. I never had this happen with my SS at Grattan, but that car's nuts were tightened down with Loc-Tite applied (I had the FE4 front sway bar on the car).
Ryephile knows Grattan WELL. Great driver and he helped me with a few pointers that netted me a second on my lap time. I still have some work to do, though, as I am a bit off what this car can do.
One thing is solidified with me though: The SS 1LE is hands down one of the very best performance cars and performance car bargains you can buy. On a track like Grattan and on a day like this past weekend (sunny, no clouds, 90F+), really trying to push the car lap after lap... man, great car. GREAT car...
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Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad that the pointers helped you out, soon enough you'll be wringing the maximum out of the car.
It does seem the drop-link nuts are easy to under-torque. Their book torque is really high for the nut size, making it rather nerve-wracking to actually crank them that hard. It's important to just do it though; I've had no problems with mine even with the new anti-roll bars.
I definitely agree, the SS 1LE is an astonishing value for the performance. There were three ZL1 1LE's there this weekend and if anything it proved that it takes a ton of skill to get the most out of that package, whereas the SS 1LE is more approachable.
For sure on my car the ZL1 brakes were cool, as if they were out there doing parade laps. I took a second look at the temp stickers, and the front was just starting to darken the 280°F square, and the rear had the 250°F square pretty dark. This is cool like a cucumber; they should last a really long time.
See you out there next time!
