How many track days are you getting out of pads?
 

Just wondering because I was looking at my Hawk's and there is still a lot of meat left on em despite 2 track events, one at a track that has a rep for being "hell on brakes". Just wondering....
Thats a quarter for scale.

A little off topic, kinda, but do those pads squeal really bad when cold? I am in need of new pads, and am trying to do a little research. I know, search button, but testimonials are good! :)

Holy hell do they squeal when cold. I would not reccomend then for everyday driving due to the noise, they are great for track pads tho

[edit - I didn't notice that his sig said which Hawks he was using in my previous post]

I would expect HP+ pads to be gone by now. You might want to experiment with harder braking. Don't try to go deeper right away, instead just STAND on the brakes at your usual braking point and let the ABS work. Check your mirrors for less capable cars before you try this or you get your rear bumper scuffed. :D

These cars are very easy on brakes, and the ABS works very well. Since they push anyway I generally trail brake pretty deep into the corners and I can rely on the ABS to save me every time if I don't get the modulation just right.

I run Hawk Blues and they are good for about 6-8 hours of 10/10's driving with very minimal rotor wear. They are completely worthless and will eat rotors if used for street or autocross, probably overkill for track days.

Steven

Cool, so I should be braking a lot harder and a lot deeper? Have to try that next time I hit up the track

I just put the Hawk HP+ on my front and I have Hawk HPS on the rear. I had the HP+ on my former 325is and loved them. I've even come to love the horrendous sqeal! The initial bite of the HP+ is fantastic. I'll be able to report back after this coming weekend at Putnam Park on how they perform in this car and how they wear. I toasted my stock pads in one weekend at Watkins Glen (the rears were metal-to-metal).

2 yrs ownership, 6 track days @ 2 hrs on track use per day - barely noticeable wear so far on stock pads, breke response is as good as ever, which is pretty darn good as I can outbrake most at the track :)

Lol, you are a braver or more deaf man than I, I just got so sick of the squeal, it drove me nuts.

I have two track days on my Porterfield pads. Last track was 5 sessions with ~ 110 miles in 90 to 107 degree heat. The first event was max 80 degrees with 75 miles over 3 sessions.

Well, so far it seems like I'm just not braking hard enough from what you guys are telling me. I'll try standing on it next time at the track.

With a fresh set of OEM pads, I'll go through about 1/3 of the front pad material in two days at the track (1.75 hour of driving on the track each day). The more they are worn down, the quicker they wear so I could probably only get about four days at the track on the fronts.

For me, the rears lasted four days at the track and 6000 miles on the street. One of the track days was quite cold and raining and sleeting and a snowing a bit. I probably used less material that day.

I need to come watch how you do that one day :D You must be one sum-na-itch to see out there standing on them brakes :eek: Holy Catfish!

BTW What track(s) do you run?

Yeah, you braking gurus always amaze me. I'm scary to even try and just hammer the brakes going into a turn.

I've only done two tracks, Road America and Gingerman.

Road America has some heavy braking zones where you go from about 123 mph to about 45 mph over the breaking zone (say about 100 meters). I was there in the early spring and the temps weren't too high, in fact it snowed a little bit that weekend. On day 2 it was raining so I probably wasn't breaking as hard. Normally Road America isn't too bad on brakes because there are long straightaways to cool the brakes although I've heard many different opinions on this.

The other track was Gingerman in Michigan. It is a relatively curvy track and when I was there the air temp was 95 degrees and the track was 135 degrees.

I don't know if I'm that hard on the brakes although I have felt the back end get a little light at times going into turn 5 at Road America which has a downhill braking zone.

I do seem to brake more heavily than some of the BMWs that are on the track with me since I've done those events with a BMW club.

I cant wait to go tear it up next year with those windy city guys!

It'll be good to see you there. Hopefully it won't snow/sleet/rain next year when I go to Road America.

No kink with Windy City though...

that is kinda lame. I love the kink.

yep, that's what most people say. But I saw plenty of carnage at Road America without the kink...

Also, I'm not sure if I'd want to hit the kink in the rain/sleet/snow...

thats when you tiptoe thru there in bad weather

Do they have the new bridge finished over by the Carousel/Kink? Can you see a cool view from there?

I was at the Ferrari Challenge on Saturday but didn't make it past the paddock and turn 5...

I did Putnam Park 2 weeks ago (videos and pics at www.scottbarton.net/anthony/putnampark ) with the Porsche club. I went through less than half of my front pads. I haven't taken them off (YET!). The squeal that they produce on this car is 10 times worse than on my 325is. It is horrendous. I will be switching them out for the stock pads for the street.

i was supposed to go, but I went fishing with my dad instead. I didnt see the new bridge, but I'll have to check that our when I go up for the MRR

I'll be there Sunday for the Trans Am, Toyota Atlantic and ALMS races. Let's meet up. Are you touring at all? If so, can I have a ride?

I would go Saturday for the Star Mazda but there is an autocross that I have to attend if I want to stay in contention for some season long awards (in other words, I haven't been mathematically eliminated yet ;) ).

I was thinking about doing touring, I just dislike being on track with people that have even less of an idea of whats going on than I do. (which is not a whole lot)

Hmmm, only $100 for Saturday and Sunday.....so tempting.....