dedicated track pads

[SouthFL_Mk7.5]

I had the non spec Powerstop Track Day on my ILX for a track day. They held up for 20min then begged to come back in. I kept them on for daily and they dusted like crazy. I swapped them out for EBC yellow which were similar.

 

[tigeo]

I had the non spec Powerstop Track Day on my ILX for a track day. They held up for 20min then begged to come back in. I kept them on for daily and they dusted like crazy. I swapped them out for EBC yellow which were similar.

Yellows are 900 deg. Blue NDX are 1000.

 

[GoatAutomotive]

I’m excited. They’re either gonna be transformative or terrible…

 

[Jmitchell4873]

I’m excited. They’re either gonna be transformative or terrible…

For $125, if they give decent performance and last through a couple track days........I'd call it a win. I was surprised by how cheap/inexpensive they are. Looking forward to reading about your experience with them.

 

[GoatAutomotive]

For $125, if they give decent performance and last through a couple track days........I'd call it a win. I was surprised by how cheap/inexpensive they are. Looking forward to reading about your experience with them.

For $125, if they give decent performance and last through a couple track days........I'd call it a win. I was surprised by how cheap/inexpensive they are. Looking forward to reading about your experience with them.

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/inde...rd-how-will-it-end.444080/page-6#post-8053066

Post #83, full review on the pads so far. I’m a big fan!!!

 

[SD-GTI]

I bought the Porterfields (R4 in front and R4-S in the rear) per SouthFL’s recommendation and I was very happy with them. These eliminated all my issues and will work until I’m faster. My home track (Chuckwalla) is pretty easy on the brakes so maybe it will be a good longterm solution, thanks everyone for your input and saving me some money. Now I have a traction control issue I need to resolve but I’ll post a new thread.

 

[Scanner]

Making a leap of faith. I have "Powerstop Track Day Spec" pads coming to me this weekend. Install ~ Tuesday. Max rated operating temp ~982* F

https://www.powerstop.com/product/power-stop-track-day-spec-brake-pads/

NOTE: don't confuse these with the standard Track Day pads, which are geared more for novice drivers.


I suspect they'll be happiest up to ~800* F, but this is conjecture. Reviews on them in the heavier car community have been excellent. Good Mu (friction/bite) and heat tolerant.

They won't last as long as the Ferodo DS1.11 and 3.12, but they're 1/3 to 1/4 the price of admission.

EBC suppliers couldn't get me the RPX front/BS NDX rears in time, and the price was still up there ($350-400, I believe, for front & rear)

Meanwhile, HHR (our home track) is pretty easy on brakes. 1.82 miles, only 3 hard brake zones, evenly spaced apart for ~15 -20 seconds of cool-down between each corner. 1:30-1:35 second laps are optimal for a door slammer. v-Max 105mph on the longest straight going into turn 4.

If I can get all 4-5 track events (for my 2024 season) out of these pads, it will absolutely be worth the entry level cost ($200 with my shop discounts).

They won't be used on the street, except driving to and from track days. They might be "squealy", and will definitely be dusty.

View attachment 302373

I also bought dedicated high-carbon front rotors (340mm) for these pads, in case the PS TDS end up chewing into the rotors.

My street setup will remain unaffected this way. Track rotors have a 2-yr warranty on them through my supplier.

Hope it makes sense over text.

View attachment 302374 View attachment 302375

I have a 2018 TSI 1.8 Unitronic IS20 and extras with dyno 305 hp, 348 ft. lb, and have used the Powerstop Track Day Spec pads on Powerstop slotted and drilled rotors, Motul 660 fluid for track days in the last couple of years and have been very satisfied with the fading resistance, braking power, overall cost/benefit. Of course, they are noisy and dusty, so for daily driving, I have the Z26 Powerstop Warrior pads on the same rotors which are silent and clean.

 

[GoatAutomotive]

This is the way! *

I have a 2018 TSI 1.8 Unitronic IS20 and extras with dyno 305 hp, 348 ft. lb, and have used the Powerstop Track Day Spec pads on Powerstop slotted and drilled rotors, Motul 660 fluid for track days in the last couple of years and have been very satisfied with the fading resistance, braking power, overall cost/benefit. Of course, they are noisy and dusty, so for daily driving, I have the Z26 Powerstop Warrior pads on the same rotors which are silent and clean.

This is the way! ^

Love the Z23/Z26 pad compounds for street use.

I’ve been running the TD Specs on the street for almost two weeks now. Dustier than a coal mine, BUT it’s easy to clean using normal simple green and a wheel brush with soft bristles.

Thicker than ceramic dust by a good margin, but not at all unmanageable. For the price I paid I’m loving them.

The available grab beyond 40-50% pedal input is (right now) worth the dust. It’s like the car has a parachute on the back when you ask for it.

I just wanted to let folks know that the dust hasn’t harmed my wheel finish yet the way Hawk and some other aggressive pads are known to.

(Fingers crossed as he types this)

 

[SierraCarrera]

Happy to report that my iSweep 3500s (on Neuspeed BBK) held up really, really well at Mid-Ohio, they only got better the hotter it got. Going from ~130 to ~55 was eye watering haha

 

[Jmitchell4873]

Happy to report that my iSweep 3500s (on Neuspeed BBK) held up really, really well at Mid-Ohio, they only got better the hotter it got. Going from ~130 to ~55 was eye watering haha

Love to hear that!!

I’ve got my iSweeps in reserve for trmw at NCM. I’m running EBC blue up front with iSweep 3000 on the rear. I’ll throw the 3500 on the front if the EBC’s can’t hang. I get free replacement on them through FCP so I’m gonna give em hell.

 

[2LEEGIT]

Happy to report that my iSweep 3500s (on Neuspeed BBK) held up really, really well at Mid-Ohio, they only got better the hotter it got. Going from ~130 to ~55 was eye watering haha

Do you run these on the street and swap them at the track?

 

[SierraCarrera]

Do you run these on the street and swap them at the track?

I swapped, drove, and bedded them in for a few days before the track days. Not horribly squeaky surprisingly. I still have them in because I'm lazy haha

 

[daujin_mk7]

Picked up a front set of R4 pads for the ST40s based on @SouthFL_Mk7.5 recommendation for my next track day. Been running Stoptech 309 pads.

@SouthFL_Mk7.5 & @SD-GTI are the R4 shims sufficient? or have you upgraded to titanium?

 

[SouthFL_Mk7.5]

Picked up a front set of R4 pads for the ST40s based on @SouthFL_Mk7.5 recommendation for my next track day. Been running Stoptech 309 pads.

@SouthFL_Mk7.5 & @SD-GTI are the R4 shims sufficient? or have you upgraded to titanium?

Picked up a front set of R4 pads for the ST40s based on @SouthFL_Mk7.5 recommendation for my next track day. Been running Stoptech 309 pads.

@SouthFL_Mk7.5 & @SD-GTI are the R4 shims sufficient? or have you upgraded to titanium?

I never used titanium shims on the GTi. Used to use them when I had a 135i.

 

[Jargon]

Ooof. That definitely won't last long for me then.

VIR isn't particularly hard on brakes - but there are 2 very heavy ~ 135-45mph brake zones, with one of those immediately after another ~ 105-45mph zone.

I get 12-14 days out of a set of Ferodo DS3.12s and they're still 13mm thick overall. They generate a ton of heat so I replace while they're still "good" because as they get below 1/2 depth they put a lot more heat into the fluid.

Details on setup etc here, plus some photos of my melted ABS sensors due to the heat.
https://www.datadrivenmqb.com/brakes/ppbrakeprep

I would love to upgrade to from the DS2500's to a more aggressive track pad but man that Lifetime replacement at FCP is hard to walk away from.