Do the brake cooling 'ducts' work?

mbar · 07-28-2016, 07:57 PM

Next weekend is my first time on the track with my SS. Already switched to Carbotech pads, Motul 600 and Dexos2 oil. I was wondering if installing the brake ducts worth the 2 hours of garage work?
Did anybody try with and without the ducts to see the difference ?
Thanks

clanky · 07-29-2016, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbar

Next weekend is my first time on the track with my SS. Already switched to Carbotech pads, Motul 600 and Dexos2 oil. I was wondering if installing the brake ducts worth the 2 hours of garage work?
Did anybody try with and without the ducts to see the difference ?
Thanks

+1 Would like to hear back on this as well.

Camaroguy555 · 07-29-2016, 09:40 AM

Just finished my first track day yesterday with the ducts installed, and I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it. I never ran the car without but I didn't have an ounce of fade over any of my sessions. Also, it's not a terrible install. You do have to remove the calipers but they're very accessible. With doing an oil change it took me about 45 minutes.

jaysonstuart · 07-29-2016, 09:52 AM

They use them in NASCAR so I would say they're probably worth it when you're on the track.

Camaroguy555 · 07-29-2016, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysonstuart

They use them in NASCAR so I would say they're probably worth it when you're on the track.

Duralast is also the official brake pad of NASCAR! I'll definitely be getting a set!

mbar · 07-29-2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaroguy555

Just finished my first track day yesterday with the ducts installed, and I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it. I never ran the car without but I didn't have an ounce of fade over any of my sessions. Also, it's not a terrible install. You do have to remove the calipers but they're very accessible. With doing an oil change it took me about 45 minutes.

Thanks!
Did you use the screws that were holding the control arm cover and the large splash guard to bolt the deflector and small splash guard?

Did you remove the caliper bolts with a torque gun or a plain wrench?

PolynesianPowerhouse · 07-29-2016, 12:59 PM

If one needs a torque gun to remove calipers.... prob shouldn't be working on a car. Maybe a Abraham's tank...

Norm Peterson · 07-30-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbar

Next weekend is my first time on the track with my SS. Already switched to Carbotech pads, Motul 600 and Dexos2 oil. I was wondering if installing the brake ducts worth the 2 hours of garage work?
Did anybody try with and without the ducts to see the difference ?
Thanks

Your first time out, you won't be going as fast or using the brakes quite like you will later. If you have time to make it happen, it won't hurt. But you can probably postpone it out past this introductory event. One thing to be aware of . . . on your first or second session you might encounter "green fade" if you haven't been able to get them adequately bedded in. Pay attention to having to use more force on the pedal and back off for an easy cool-down lap with minimal braking before pitting if you notice this.

Don't even think of using the parking brake at the end of a session. Ever. Better yet, slowly drive around paddock roads for a couple of minutes immediately as you exit the track, and consider rolling the car a few feet after you do pull into your paddock space. All to cool your brakes and allow the cooling to be as uniform as reasonably achievable.

My thoughts are that once you're at or beyond XP10 (and using them hard) and using RBF600 fluid, you're definitely at the point where you need to be considering brake ducts. At the very least, some way of directing more air toward the brakes.

Plan on measuring caliper/rotor/wheel temperatures with an IR gun if at all possible. Just as an FYI for anybody reading this, even wheels will get more than a little warm to the touch after a session.

Norm

mbar · 07-30-2016, 05:28 PM

Update: installed the brake deflectors today. Took 1:45 min next time will take around 1:20.
The biggest pain is to torque the caliper bolt to ~150 ft/lb.

HumanWiki · 07-30-2016, 05:34 PM

They absolutely do work and are worth the effort to put on. Also make sure you put the under body screws back in as well. They hold the areo panels together. If I had known my golden ticket day at ACC was full speed, I'd have put them in. Just didn't think I'd be going fast enough.

mbar · 07-30-2016, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumanWiki

They absolutely do work and are worth the effort to put on. Also make sure you put the under body screws back in as well. They hold the areo panels together. If I had known my golden ticket day at ACC was full speed, I'd have put them in. Just didn't think I'd be going fast enough.

Which under body screws? When to put them back?

HumanWiki · 07-30-2016, 06:56 PM

The 4-5 each side that you remove to take the tire sweeps off with. Under the left and right side in front. You need to reinstall the screws as they hold the panels under the car together. They should be in whether the two pieces are in or not.

mbar · 07-30-2016, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumanWiki

The 4-5 each side that you remove to take the tire sweeps off with. Under the left and right side in front. You need to reinstall the screws as they hold the panels under the car together. They should be in whether the two pieces are in or not.

Good to know! You just saved the day

HumanWiki · 07-30-2016, 07:10 PM

Before you put them back in, you should be able to see where the panels will push up and separate without them on.

07-28-2016, 07:57 PM	#1
mbar Drives: 2016 1SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: DC Posts: 927	Do the brake cooling 'ducts' work? Next weekend is my first time on the track with my SS. Already switched to Carbotech pads, Motul 600 and Dexos2 oil. I was wondering if installing the brake ducts worth the 2 hours of garage work? Did anybody try with and without the ducts to see the difference ? Thanks __________________ 1SS, Black, Black Wheels, A8, MRC, NPP

07-29-2016, 12:59 PM	#7
PolynesianPowerhouse Big Samoan ina little car Drives: 2016 camaro Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tofiga Island Posts: 1,872	If one needs a torque gun to remove calipers.... prob shouldn't be working on a car. Maybe a Abraham's tank... __________________ Don't sit around and watch everyone else live YOUR dreams...DO SUMPT'N When I see posts asking "whats the best intake, exhaust, etc" .... the answer to that is like a grandfather telling his grandkids "if you put salt on a birds tail, it'll let you catch it" #ThinkAboutIt "Winning Tip: Don't take my (or anyone else's) word for it. GO TEST IT!" - Dennis Grant

07-30-2016, 05:28 PM	#9
mbar Drives: 2016 1SS Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: DC Posts: 927	Update: installed the brake deflectors today. Took 1:45 min next time will take around 1:20. The biggest pain is to torque the caliper bolt to ~150 ft/lb. Attached Images __________________ 1SS, Black, Black Wheels, A8, MRC, NPP Last edited by mbar; 07-30-2016 at 06:00 PM.

07-29-2016, 09:40 AM	#3
Camaroguy555 Drives: SUMMIT WHITE 2016 1SS NPP 6MT MRC Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Parker Posts: 206	Just finished my first track day yesterday with the ducts installed, and I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it. I never ran the car without but I didn't have an ounce of fade over any of my sessions. Also, it's not a terrible install. You do have to remove the calipers but they're very accessible. With doing an oil change it took me about 45 minutes.

07-29-2016, 09:52 AM	#4
jaysonstuart Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 684 View My Garage	They use them in NASCAR so I would say they're probably worth it when you're on the track.

07-30-2016, 05:34 PM	#10
HumanWiki Drives: Car Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Place Posts: 3,361	They absolutely do work and are worth the effort to put on. Also make sure you put the under body screws back in as well. They hold the areo panels together. If I had known my golden ticket day at ACC was full speed, I'd have put them in. Just didn't think I'd be going fast enough.

07-30-2016, 06:56 PM	#12
HumanWiki Drives: Car Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Place Posts: 3,361	The 4-5 each side that you remove to take the tire sweeps off with. Under the left and right side in front. You need to reinstall the screws as they hold the panels under the car together. They should be in whether the two pieces are in or not.

07-30-2016, 07:10 PM	#14
HumanWiki Drives: Car Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Place Posts: 3,361	Before you put them back in, you should be able to see where the panels will push up and separate without them on.

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