Track day prep , new owner

[DonJuan]

Long time lurker , new owner MY11 . I'm interested in participating with track day/HPDE . What's a good track pad with low dust. Also what else should I do to prep.

I looked at old threads but answers wasn't a clear.

[justr0]

I suggest Stainless steal brake lines and some better brake fluid (Motul RBF600). Akebonos are good low dust street pads that'll work on the track as well.

Of course this is all assuming you won't be touching stock suspension for now...otherwise the list can be quite long

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[Tanner]

Long time lurker , new owner MY11 . I'm interested in participating with track day/HPDE . What's a good track pad with low dust. Also what else should I do to prep.

First time at the track or experienced?

[pfft]

Low dust track pads don't exist. You will burn through street pads or track pads and there will be dust.

You're gonna get a lot of "you gotta do this" or you "gotta do that". The order of importance is as follows...

0) Do nothing. Run stock brake fluid and stock pads. If this is you first time, then the car will be fine.

1) Racing brake fluid (Motul RBF600)

- You can stop right there if you want and run the stock S4 brake pads (they're actually pretty good).

2) Dedicated track pads. I've had success with Carbotech pads, but any track pad will be better.

- Again, you can stop here if you want.

3) Stainless steel brake lines. These help a lot with maintaining pedal feel.

4) BBK (6 piston calipers, big rotors)

Etc, etc.

Just do #1 if it's your first time for added enjoyment and safety. And proceed from there. Have fun!

[SR7D1]

I guess it's how much you want to:
Track (how many events)
Spend $$$$

Last year it was :rotors/pads
This year: rotors, pads, SS brake lines and Motul 600.

Read ALL of this: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Drivers-Thread

[DonJuan]

Inexperienced driver I only wish to do a few track day events per year. Stainless steel brake lines and synthetic fluid goes without saying I was interested in the things to do beyond that. I was trying to be economical the first time around just enough to have fun

[Tanner]

Inexperienced driver I only wish to do a few track day events per year. Stainless steel brake lines and synthetic fluid goes without saying I was interested in the things to do beyond that. I was trying to be economical the first time around just enough to have fun

Get a proper instructor would be the best thing (learning where the braking points are, the corners, etc.). Learn the car's capability or more so your own skills/abilities before you start modding the car IMO. And most importantly, have fun!!!

[DonJuan]

Track pads aren't good in cold weather,right? Which Akebono would be good?

Mike, you're right in that was my plan to learn to drive the car to its present capabilities but I was aware that there are few things necessary to get started

[SR7D1]

Track pads aren't good in cold weather,right? Which Akebono would be good?

Mike, you're right in that was my plan to learn to drive the car to its present capabilities but I was aware that there are few things necessary to get started

Juan, I know you didn't read that whole thread in 20 minutes! LOL. If you did, you would see many guys are running stock lines, stock pads and stock fluid, the first time out?

ECS has a nice offering for Novice drivers like yourself. Check out the rotor/pad kits they offer. Plus they carry Motul and SS lines if you go that route. (see my sig for what I am running)

All the events I have been to, have Instructors available for Novice drivers. Use them to learn the course and your car and it's limits. As you progress, you can add the performance parts. Mike and Pfft are spot on.

[Tanner]

2nd to what SR7D1 mentioned. Leave the car stock, learn what the car can do (chances are you might not even reach the car's potential).

Other things to consider if this is your first track event.... make sure the car's in good mechanical condition, fluids in good condition/topped up, all wheel bolts torqued correctly. Having good brake fluid would be a recommend but the stock brakes are fine if this is your first time out. You probably won't be driving the car at it's potential. And if you get an instructor that doesn't say much, get a different instructor.

The best thing that I did was to take a proper track day school. Portion of the day in the classroom that covers the theory on car control and other things related to track driving and time behind the wheel. May be a bit more expensive but it's completely worth it.

[DonJuan]

I've been out ...not very consistent . Every car I've had I put a few laps on it stock ...usually brakes start to go especially on hot days

I just wanted to be one step up from first timer. I plan to get instructor also.

Thanks for all advice it gives me a direction .

I will keep pads stock and upgrade lines and fluids and see .

[SR7D1]

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...nes/ES1899278/

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5.../Tools/ES3474/

https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S5...otul/ES261392/

[DonJuan]

Thanks

[SportVier]

0) Do nothing. Run stock brake fluid and stock pads. If this is you first time, then the car will be fine.

1) Racing brake fluid (Motul RBF600)

- You can stop right there if you want and run the stock S4 brake pads (they're actually pretty good).

Just do #1 if it's your first time for added enjoyment and safety. And proceed from there. Have fun!

Totally agree. No need to upgrade your lines.

[DonJuan]

That surprise me that lines doesn't need changed

[SportVier]

That surprise me that lines doesn't need changed

Depends on your definition of "need".

[bhvrdr]

That surprise me that lines doesn't need changed

It is pretty rare that stock lines "need" to be changed. OEM lines manufactured during the past 10 years are generally pretty high quality. Some resist expansion just as well or better than OEM lines (not all) but you're not likely to have a brake failure due to OEM lines (actually more likely on aftermarket lines). Put in a good fluid like SRF or RBF660 as others have suggested.

Mike

[DonJuan]

Will do. Can street/track be low dust ? Akenebono ceramics is low dust but I thought wouldn't be good on track

[bhvrdr]

Will do. Can street/track be low dust ? Akenebono ceramics is low dust but I thought wouldn't be good on track

Generally, the more a pad is geared to high heat/track type use the more dust it will generate (and noise too). You need to go with your priorities. If it is very very occasional tracking and you're not competing for time, there no reason an Akebono Ceramic wont work well for you giving you no noise and low dust. If you start to get more serious, you can always look at a more track oriented pad. The fluid is the money maker. Get some SRF in there.

Mike

[SR7D1]

Or you could get matte black rims and run any pad you want? LOL.

[100Daily]

I didn't notice much if any change going with stainless steel brake lines. But racing brake fluid (Castrol SRF) made a HUGE difference. A newb track driver could easily boil fluid, I know I did. Check out the sticky on track driving. Its 2900 posts but has answers to everything.

[xuandatou]

1. Make sure the car has proper alignment (avoid too much aggressive spec), here's the lesson that I've learnt:
It's a set of brand new Pirrelli Corsa System (due to too much negative camber)

[IMG]IMG_5120 by Da Tou, on Flickr[/IMG]



2. Check the thickness of pads and rotors, and tire thread.

3. Release some tire pressure before the first session, and keep an eye on it during the event

4. Make sure you leave the ESP to the Sport Mode

5. Cover the front end with paint tape if you don't have the clear bra




The total cost for one track event is roughly averaged @ $600-$1400 depending on modification of the car, track spec, weather, how hard you drive and how many sessions you would attend in total...

The cost including:
1. The registration fee of the event ($150-$525)

2. Hotel (most track event organizers would require mandatory early morning meeting, therefore you would probably have to stay in the nearby hotel the night before)

3. Gas, timing transponder rental, event photo

4. Consumption on tires, brake pads, rotors, brake fluid flush, oil change, etc

5. Fully detail after the event

6. Unexpected damage (rock chips, car run off the track)

[PSUGOLD]

I did a track day a few weeks ago at Pocono. I had my brake fluid replaced, stock pads checked to make sure they were over 50% left (they were 85%) and had the mandatory car check by my mechanic. That was it. It was a rainy day though so the brake pads did heat up, but maybe not as much as they would have normally. Car ran fine, no issues except some traction on the damn soaked track. Nothing I can do there though.

[DonJuan]

Yuk! I hate matte colors. When I was in high school in the 80s we ran matte(primer) until we saved enough to get it painted

[DonJuan]

I will take the advice given here . I have Continental DWS will they suffice for first track day?

[bhvrdr]

i would go easy on them. if you overdrive them they will be destroyed. just take it easy on them and you may not mess them up too bad. in the future you may want to go with a more track friendly tire.

mike

[GeoJoe]

I will take the advice given here . I have Continental DWS will they suffice for first track day?

Please be very careful running DWS on a track. Unless you're in the rain, these tires can get really slippery when they heat up. Watch your PSI and keep it around 36-37ish when hot.

Just go out and have fun, and don't push your car too hard.

Here's my quarterly warning with a video reminder on how things can go south quickly with DWS on the track. Rain was off and on this day, but during this session the track and tires were heating up. Messed up my mind for the rest of the day, but not a scratch on the S4.

[RhythmAddict]

Yikes!! I had some scares on the contis but nothing that bad. They get very greasy feeling, watch out for tar lines when that happens, they will unsettle the car a little.

OP what track are you going to?

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[xuandatou]

Took my S5 to Buttonwillow Racewaypark to celebrate my graduation, achieved my new personal best of 2:05.608