[L78toLT1]

I disagree with others who recommend changing the brake fluid. I cannot imagine a first time noob overheating the dot3 fluid. I wholeheartedly agree with swapping to dot4 sooner rather than later, but for your first time you will definitely be ok.

[Camfab]

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/attac...1&d=1684331324

2022 comes with DOT 4 per owners manual. I can verify that this is the case on my 2023 per the cap under the hood.

[Vigilante375]

Originally Posted by L78toLT1

I disagree with others who recommend changing the brake fluid. I cannot imagine a first time noob overheating the dot3 fluid. I wholeheartedly agree with swapping to dot4 sooner rather than later, but for your first time you will definitely be ok.

Only way a first time would not be able to overheat the brakes in by driving in a way where they could coast around the corners.

Brakes gets hotter than you think and it's cheap to replace the brake fluid vs having a brake failure.

What do you think an inexperienced driver would do with a brake failure on a track? Freak out and have a worst accident than an experienced driver. Even if they have a instructor in a car. It's not like these cars have a handle to pull the emergency brake anymore.

[synolimit]

Originally Posted by 1sickzl1

I finally pulled the trigger to attend my very first HPDE track event on 5/21/23 at Willow Springs raceway. I had to become a member with NASA and I'm starting off with the HPDE1 group. I'll have an instructor in the car with me as well as classroom sessions.

I picked up my car last August and it currently has 6,XXX miles. It is not tuned but has the regular RF intake, Soler TB, and ADM V2 coolant reservoir. I ordered a SNELL rated helmet, and 3 number decals. I'll wait on purchasing a tow hook and use the one GM provided if need be for now.

I'll be changing the oil and differential fluid this weekend. I already changed the transmission fluid a few months ago with Redline ATF. I'm kind of on the fence about flushing / bleeding the brake fluid since the car is fairly new and hasn't really taken any type of braking punishment. Plus since I'm a noob I'm sure I won't be pushing the car too hard and cooking the brake fluid.

Am I forgetting something? Any tips for a first timer? Am I making a mistake not flushing the brake fluid? Any and all input is appreciated!

It would also be sweet to see some fellow members there as well. Any Californians out there who track their car fairly frequently?

could use this?

https://youtu.be/w43JKJ3O2AA

[synolimit]

Originally Posted by L78toLT1

I disagree with others who recommend changing the brake fluid. I cannot imagine a first time noob overheating the dot3 fluid. I wholeheartedly agree with swapping to dot4 sooner rather than later, but for your first time you will definitely be ok.

its not dot3, its just lower temp fluid GM doesn't want you to use on the track because it boils to fast. and I disagree, noobs don't know how to manage brake control and i've seen many over heat and even damn near catch fire. my local track is very very light on braking and still and focus RS had his brakes smoking for about 5min after he came into the pits and he was in the novice group.

[Camfab]

I don’t get it, first everyone says swap to Dot 4, then when it comes with DOT 4 it’s suddenly not good enough! DOT 4 IS DOT 4, period. There is no such thing as lower temp GM DOT 4, let’s keep it real.

[1sickzl1]

I flushed out the OEM brake fluid today and swapped it out with Motul RBF 600. I'm going to be removing the vent covers as well. Aside from that I think I'll be good to go. I got my helmet in this morning and it fits well. Number decals are coming in Friday.

[cdb95z28]

It's utterly ridiculous to not swap in a high quality DOT4 fluid for the track.
Novices can certainly overheat brakes on track. How can anyone assume that all new first time drivers will be able to manage and recognize their car's braking limits?


Yeah, DOT4 is DOT4. It all has the same minimum temp rating, but some have higher temp ratings. And the wet temp rating is extremely important. Hence the high quality part of my comment. Who knows how long a particular vehicle sat on the lot? What was the environment like? Humid? Any idea if that factory installed fluid has degraded? Want to find out the hard way? Barreling down a straight at 130+, do you really want to leave those questions unanswered? I've seen those questions answered on track in the worst way. While it is known that some of our Camaros are coming from the factory with DOT4, for as relatively cheap high quality fluid is, it is an extra layer of insurance. Not to mention the confidence it creates.


https://thebuildjournal.com/tech-gui...s2iJ9OIfGxlKxs

[1sickzl1]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

It's utterly ridiculous to not swap in a high quality DOT4 fluid for the track.
Novices can certainly overheat brakes on track. How can anyone assume that all new first time drivers will be able to manage and recognize their car's braking limits?


Yeah, DOT4 is DOT4. It all has the same minimum temp rating, but some have higher temp ratings. And the wet temp rating is extremely important. Hence the high quality part of my comment. Who knows how long a particular vehicle sat on the lot? What was the environment like? Humid? Any idea if that factory installed fluid has degraded? Want to find out the hard way? Barreling down a straight at 130+, do you really want to leave those questions unanswered? If seen those questions answered on track in the worst way. While it is known that some of our Camaros are coming from the factory with DOT4, for as relatively cheap high quality fluid is, it is an extra layer of insurance. Not to mention the confidence it creates.


https://thebuildjournal.com/tech-gui...s2iJ9OIfGxlKxs

^ I completely agree, which is why I decided to do it. It's cheap insurance. I wouldn't want to gamble with my or anyone else's safety. Second on that list is you pay for the track day and drive all the way up there, last thing you want is for it to be over before it even began.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by 1sickzl1

^ I completely agree, which is why I decided to do it. It's cheap insurance. I wouldn't want to gamble with my or anyone else's safety. Second on that list is you pay for the track day and drive all the way up there, last thing you want is for it to be over before it even began.

Excellent! It's a blast out there on track!

[SFV1LE]

Originally Posted by Camfab

While what he is doing is not racing, and can be considered a clinic. Most insurance companies will no longer cover you. It’s always best to check, but most won’t. You can get track day insurance which isn’t cheap, but it’s pennies if you have a collision with an injury and any sort of track side damage. Fortunately Willow has lots of runoff areas.
I never considered track insurance while drag racing, but I can tell you accidents do happen and you’re not going to be covered. I had an 8 sec car next to me on a test and tune day just about take me out. At the 1/8 mile mark I couldn’t figure out where he was until I realized he was flipping over behind my car. I tried to get track day insurance subsequently but never found any company willing to insure the car. Haven’t been back to the strip since.

Actually, Big Willow is the most unforgiving track I've driven for off track excursions. That's compared to Streets of Willow, Buttonwillow, Auto Club Speedway, Laguna Seca and Sonoma. The trackside "dirt" in most places is actually very large gravel (fairly large rocks) that will kill your paint, ask me how I know, and the terrain is rough, hilly and irregular with lots of stuff that could cause major damage or trigger a rollover. People have been asking them to fix this for decades and they just don't care enough to spend the money for basic safety.

[Camfab]

No doubt, I was talking about going off track and causing track side damage, I didn’t make that clear. Kinda why I was inferring track insurance might be a smart call for any other potential issues. Hopefully he has a great and safe time this weekend.

[Riding Dirty]

I use Motul 600 and run it hard and never had any problems with it. That was a smart choice. I have seen several novices crash hard because they boiled the fluid. Novices tend to drag the brakes and not brake hard enough, which creates extra heat.

[SoCal Smith]

Originally Posted by 1sickzl1

I finally pulled the trigger to attend my very first HPDE track event on 5/21/23 at Willow Springs raceway. I had to become a member with NASA and I'm starting off with the HPDE1 group. I'll have an instructor in the car with me as well as classroom sessions.

I picked up my car last August and it currently has 6,XXX miles. It is not tuned but has the regular RF intake, Soler TB, and ADM V2 coolant reservoir. I ordered a SNELL rated helmet, and 3 number decals. I'll wait on purchasing a tow hook and use the one GM provided if need be for now.

I'll be changing the oil and differential fluid this weekend. I already changed the transmission fluid a few months ago with Redline ATF. I'm kind of on the fence about flushing / bleeding the brake fluid since the car is fairly new and hasn't really taken any type of braking punishment. Plus since I'm a noob I'm sure I won't be pushing the car too hard and cooking the brake fluid.

Am I forgetting something? Any tips for a first timer? Am I making a mistake not flushing the brake fluid? Any and all input is appreciated!

It would also be sweet to see some fellow members there as well. Any Californians out there who track their car fairly frequently?

Big willow or streets?
I would def change the brake fluid. Probably can get away with just doing it yearly after that. Watch a lot of videos of people on youtube of your car/track if you can. That way you can get a sense of race line/speeds/braking distance ect.



Next time you go out lmk! DM your contact info