Safe brake pad thickness remaining for track day?

Xyebo · 03-11-2021, 08:43 PM

Hey, all

I going to a track day at Buttonwillow soon.
Upon inspecting the brakes on the front axle, I noticed that the front left break pads are down to just over 5mm of material, while the front right - somewhere in-between 4.5mm and 5mm.
The brake pads in question are PowerStop Z26 (not the best, but are okay for a newbie like me).

Would such amount of friction material remaining be enough to run a single track day? (4 sessions x 20 minutes each).

Image of outside front right brake pad:

Front left:

Xyebo · 03-11-2021, 08:43 PM

Brakes in question are the single-pistons found in LS/LT trims.

MatthewAMEL · 03-11-2021, 09:48 PM

It's gonna be close. I don't know anything about how Buttonwillow treats brakes. The diabolical thing about pad life is as they thin, they wear faster when you track them. There is less material thickness to absorb heat.

If I was going to Sebring or Road Atlanta, I would change them...Daytona, I would run them.

Gunkk · 03-12-2021, 02:04 AM

Pretty sure Z26 pads are not for the track.

Bad_Things(TM) will happen.

Zl1+911 · 03-12-2021, 05:44 AM

Op - what run group / experiance level are you? If you are more on the novice side of things you should be fine. Just inspect them visually after each session and don’t go out if they get below 25%.

Personally - I would run with them - but then I carry a spare set - inspect my brakes after each session and have the tools and know how to change to a new set trackside.

Badmojo · 03-12-2021, 06:45 AM

I recommend replacing at < 5mm before a track day. The pads may not always wear evenly and they are difficult to check in place.

davidwarren · 03-12-2021, 07:36 AM

I always have a backup set of pads for a track weekend.

ZRacerLE · 03-12-2021, 08:02 AM

I bet you could get at least two more days out of those if you're in the V6. I just ran two days in my ZLE at MSRH starting with 4mm fronts. Time to replace now though.

How many track days have you had on those pads so far?

Xyebo · 03-12-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZRacerLE

I bet you could get at least two more days out of those if you're in the V6. I just ran two days in my ZLE at MSRH starting with 4mm fronts. Time to replace now though.

How many track days have you had on those pads so far?

I did 2 full track days, 1 autocross with ~10 runs, and countless canyon drives where I made the brakes work hard.
One of the track days was at Auto Club Speedway Roval, which basically cooks your brakes.

Xyebo · 03-12-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Pretty sure Z26 pads are not for the track.

Bad_Things(TM) will happen.

Z26 is not a designated track pad by any mean, but I made it work with a 3450 lbs. V6 Camaro at 2 track days. I don't expect to set the fastest lap times with my current experience level.

ZRacerLE · 03-12-2021, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyebo

Z26 is not a designated track pad by any mean, but I made it work with a 3450 lbs. V6 Camaro at 2 track days. I don't expect to set the fastest lap times with my current experience level.

My son tracks a Turbo 1LE and has 4 days on his pads with a ton of pad left. He's driving the hell out of the car too. Just a reference and a recommendation for the V6 1LE pads.

kropscamaro16 · 03-12-2021, 10:41 AM

do not do it you will burn those through in a session or two look into the powerstop track days pads

ZRacerLE · 03-12-2021, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyebo

Z26 is not a designated track pad by any mean, but I made it work with a 3450 lbs. V6 Camaro at 2 track days. I don't expect to set the fastest lap times with my current experience level.

I need to add, if you're down that thin after that low amount of activity, I probably wouldn't run them then. Must be because they're not track pads. I've lost my brakes before on track... I'll NEVER let than happen again!

kropscamaro16 · 03-12-2021, 11:03 AM

ive tracked my ss on stock brembo pads and on powerstop track day pads

did some auto x days on powerstop z26 pads and was fine but wouldnt do a big track like buttonwillow on them at all

03-11-2021, 08:43 PM	#1
Xyebo Drives: '23 1SS 1LE \| '18 1LS V6 [sold] Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 114	Safe brake pad thickness remaining for track day? Hey, all I going to a track day at Buttonwillow soon. Upon inspecting the brakes on the front axle, I noticed that the front left break pads are down to just over 5mm of material, while the front right - somewhere in-between 4.5mm and 5mm. The brake pads in question are PowerStop Z26 (not the best, but are okay for a newbie like me). Would such amount of friction material remaining be enough to run a single track day? (4 sessions x 20 minutes each). Image of outside front right brake pad: Front left:

03-11-2021, 09:48 PM	#3
MatthewAMEL Drives: 2023 CT5 Blackwing Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,617	It's gonna be close. I don't know anything about how Buttonwillow treats brakes. The diabolical thing about pad life is as they thin, they wear faster when you track them. There is less material thickness to absorb heat. If I was going to Sebring or Road Atlanta, I would change them...Daytona, I would run them. __________________ 2017 HBM SS 1LE Sold 2023 Wave Metallic CT5-V Blackwing M6

03-12-2021, 06:45 AM	#6
Badmojo aka BeastZL1 Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2004 Cobra Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: NC Posts: 1,103	I recommend replacing at < 5mm before a track day. The pads may not always wear evenly and they are difficult to check in place. __________________ 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Racing for ALS Youtube Link

03-12-2021, 10:41 AM	#12
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 9,812	do not do it you will burn those through in a session or two look into the powerstop track days pads __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

03-12-2021, 11:03 AM	#14
kropscamaro16 Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: 909 Posts: 9,812	ive tracked my ss on stock brembo pads and on powerstop track day pads did some auto x days on powerstop z26 pads and was fine but wouldnt do a big track like buttonwillow on them at all __________________ 16 1SS NIGHTFALL GRAY METALLIC WITH NPP #BECAUSERACECAR #SAVETHEMANUALS

03-12-2021, 02:04 AM	#4
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,973 View My Garage	Pretty sure Z26 pads are not for the track. Bad_Things(TM) will happen.

03-12-2021, 05:44 AM	#5
Zl1+911 Drives: 997 GTS, ZL1 A10, ZLEM6, ZLEA10 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: NYC/NJ Posts: 630	Op - what run group / experiance level are you? If you are more on the novice side of things you should be fine. Just inspect them visually after each session and don’t go out if they get below 25%. Personally - I would run with them - but then I carry a spare set - inspect my brakes after each session and have the tools and know how to change to a new set trackside.

03-12-2021, 07:36 AM	#7
davidwarren Drives: 2019 SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 95	I always have a backup set of pads for a track weekend.

03-12-2021, 08:02 AM	#8
ZRacerLE Drives: The DSSV Twins: ZR2 and ZLE A10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: TX Posts: 889	I bet you could get at least two more days out of those if you're in the V6. I just ran two days in my ZLE at MSRH starting with 4mm fronts. Time to replace now though. How many track days have you had on those pads so far?

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