03-18-2018, 11:33 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 83
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Pad thickness, when do you replace them for tracking?
I'm fairly new to tracking my ZL1, did 4 sessions last year and drive pretty aggressively in general. I'm taking it in to have it serviced and the brakes checked.
How low do you go on your pad thickness before replacing them? Anyone happen to know the stock thickness when new? Thanks!
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2017 ZL1 Black, A10
Build: Magnuson 2650R, 103NW Throttle Body, Rotofab Big Gulp, Kooks 2" headers, Catless, AWE Touring exhaust, JRE Smooth Idle Cam, Katech Oil Pump, Elite Catch Can, JMS Fuel Booster |
03-19-2018, 04:39 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2017 1LE - Blue Join Date: May 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 220
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I let my pads get pretty close to the wear bar and then swapped them. It all depends on which track you’re at and driving style but I wouldn’t let them get too low. I use a digital caliper to measure my pads before and after to get a baseline of how much pad I use so I have a good estimate of how much life is left in them. It’s been a while since I’ve pulled my pads but I believe the stock pads are .780”.
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03-19-2018, 08:53 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2016 1SS Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DC
Posts: 927
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My rule of thumb - replace the pads when the the material is less than the backing plate's thickness.
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03-19-2018, 09:41 AM | #4 |
corner barstool sitter
Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Eastern Time Zone
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At least some track day organizations want you to start the day out with at least 50% friction material thickness remaining. Not sure what your pads start out at, but I'd bet that under that guideline 1/4" = pass, 3/16" = iffy, and 1/8" = fail.
I've let mine get down to just under 0.20" at the end of an event (against about the same thickness backing plate). Just measured an old set I had laying around. Norm
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'08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy)
'19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously) |
03-19-2018, 10:11 AM | #5 |
Drives: E46 S54 race car, 964C2 Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Southern Indiana
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I'm definitley in the minority here. I use pads until there is VERY little material remaining. That being said, I keep a very close eye on them and always have replacement pads ready anytime I'm planning on tracking the car and pads are less than 50%.
Brake pads for our cars cost big $, so I want to get the most out of them. The answer to the OP's question is also very dependent on if you are comfortable switching out pads yourself (especially at the track). If I wasn't doing the pad swap myself, I also would swap them out early. |
03-19-2018, 09:59 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 83
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Thanks for the replies.
I'd like to learn how to swap my own pads at some point as I assume I'll be changing them often with this new addiction. Not sure how to learn it, sounds and looks easy enough but I also need to trust I did it right at these life or death speeds.
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2017 ZL1 Black, A10
Build: Magnuson 2650R, 103NW Throttle Body, Rotofab Big Gulp, Kooks 2" headers, Catless, AWE Touring exhaust, JRE Smooth Idle Cam, Katech Oil Pump, Elite Catch Can, JMS Fuel Booster |
03-20-2018, 07:19 AM | #7 | |
Drives: '16 2SS Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Saukville, WI
Posts: 197
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Quote:
https://youtu.be/43YbNX_RqL0 |
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03-20-2018, 08:58 PM | #8 | |
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Here's a video on the 6 pot Brembo which has an extra bolt. Not necessarily the best methods are used in this one. Lots of goods video on Brembo pad change on youtube. Looks so easy I think I can even do it.
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03-20-2018, 11:53 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Washington State
Posts: 83
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Thanks for the videos, it does look pretty easy. Worth a shot.
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2017 ZL1 Black, A10
Build: Magnuson 2650R, 103NW Throttle Body, Rotofab Big Gulp, Kooks 2" headers, Catless, AWE Touring exhaust, JRE Smooth Idle Cam, Katech Oil Pump, Elite Catch Can, JMS Fuel Booster |
03-25-2018, 03:13 AM | #10 |
Drives: 2017 2ss, m6 Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Iowa
Posts: 231
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It also depends upon the pad compound that you are using and temperature range you are using them in. When combined with low temperature street operation and 26 track hours my big brake kit with full on endurance race pads lost nearly as much rotor thickness as pad thickness. That's due in part to the low temperature operation but a serious race pad will likely bite into the rotor nearly as much as the rotor bites into them lol.
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04-19-2018, 11:11 AM | #11 |
Drives: '17 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Fairmont, WV
Posts: 1,558
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6th Gen ZL1 stock brake pads are between 9mm and 10mm when new (front and rear are approximately the same thickness).
Once the pads are 5mm or below, I replace them.
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04-19-2018, 11:17 AM | #12 |
Drives: '17 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Fairmont, WV
Posts: 1,558
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Front:
Rear:
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04-20-2018, 07:24 PM | #13 |
Drives: 2013 Cayenne GTS Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Scottsdale AZ
Posts: 338
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When the light goes off change them
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04-20-2018, 08:40 PM | #14 |
Drives: 2017 1SS/1LE Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: FL Panhandle
Posts: 1,559
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That's not a good idea. The light is based on fluid level in the reservoir, which has no direct relation to pad thickness... Sure, if you're not tracking your car and you never top off the fluid level, it's a decent indicator for normal break use. However, when we start tracking and changing fluid, topping it off, etc., everything is different.
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