blipblip

Hi guys,
I am trying to make a decision on which car to get. My usage for this particular car will be of daily driving and track/autocross use. RX-8 has the right combo of price, performance and handling, thus it is at the top of my list.

However, one question remains. How will the stock brake perform on track?

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

The stock brakes are hard to beat, many people spend a lot with no better real-world results.

The stockers may squeek, squeal and make tons of dust, but they have pretty good performance right out of the box.

S

blipblip

So, is it safe to assume that for a non dedicated track car, there is no need to upgrade to BBK?

I am fine with dust and noise (coming from E36 and E46 M3s'...). Is the stock brake pad up to par on track or an upgraded pad (Porterfield, EBC, Hawk, etc) is necessary?

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

yup, no BBK necessary unless you just have all that money to burn

to be safe, I'd recommend upgrading the pads and fluids before going onto the track. Stock pads do get a bit soft after a few hard laps

blipblip

Wonderful!

I think 8 it is then. Thank y'all for the info.

SouthFL

Great stock brakes are a HUGE reason why I purchased the RX8 (coming from a Stage II WRX which would get fade after about 20 minutes of track time on OEM brake calipers/rotors).... the RX8 stays on track as long as I can hold up physically/mentally or until I run out of gas. Trackable brake pad and fluid is all you need for fade free performance. The rotor diameter is large enough for good heat dissipation and the large caliper works well as a heat sink. Even though the brakes aren't a fixed caliper design they are excellent.

RX8SpdDmn

Agreed with above. You'll love the car on the track. I ran straight OEM brakes at Watkins Glen, which is notoriously brutal on brakes, due to all the braking zones being downhill. They held up fine and did not overheat on stock tires.

I later upgraded to Ate SuperBlue fluid and Hawk HP+ pads. I love those pads sooooooooo much!!! I even keep them on for the street and deal with the squealing! I also put on Brembo slotted rotors. I got everything from www.rx7store.net and the guy (I can't remember his name...) was aweseome and hooked me up. I got slotted rotors (Brembo blanks, then slotted) because they were cheaper than OEM replacements. I would never use cross drilled on the track (unless a true racing rotor). These slotted rotors have seen some 10 days at the track, with HP+ pads, and R-compound Dunlop 255/35/18s and they look like new, with no warping. I always properly torque my wheels, though.

RX8SpdDmn

at barber motorsports park...

SouthFL

^ I use the same fluid/pad setup full time as well. ATE and HAWK HP Plus all the time- both track and street.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

the people talking that trash don't have a BBK though, plus they're not all created equal,

the OE brakes are pretty decent, but come drive mine and your opinion will change

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I had an instructor who drives a heavily modded E36 M3 almost have a coronary on my choice of braking location.....I watched him try and put his foot through the floorboards...yelling " brake brake" like a little girl

Needless to say...he had nothing but good things to say about the brakes He told me if he would have waited that late...he would have been off the track....

I have some new pads to try out this year.......I can't complain about the 6 sets I went through last year ....other than they melted like butter on a few tracks.

Oh..I didn't have any problems with the stock calipers and rotors...but my RB setup kicks ***

TrackAddict

+1 except I am on stock rotors

tony_673

In your guys' opinion, what would be the best pads to go with?

(I'm not hijacking the thread, just....ummmm..."borrowing" it!)

SouthFL

Depends on your needs and preference for initial bite.

I simply need a pad that is trackable, yet I like to keep pad swaps to a minimum- I just like to do a visual inspection of pad thickness and brake bleed before an event with no post event brake pad swap to resume street duty, so HAWK HP Plus is the pad for me. It holds up very well at the track.

Track specific pads also range in compound to suit your braking preferences.

tony_673

I mainly do autocross, so quick, hard braking would be my driving style. Also, I'm looking for something that doesn't spit so much damn dust!

SouthFL

For autocross, HP Plus is more than fine (it will dust plenty though), yet its high initial bite frustrates guys who like to transition smoothly from what I've been told from an autocrosser I spoke with at a recent track day (I don't autocross, so the following suggestions are just my opinion.....).

Hawk HPS is supposed to work well without much heat put into them.
Carbotech Bobcat will do as well (perhaps a Panther Plus front/ Bobcat rear combo to be abit more aggressive).
Also, Porterfield R4S.

tony_673

Excellent. Thanks for the info!




You may now have your thread back.....

GULAMAN

I recently purchased a set of Axxis Ultimate pads after doing a search on this website; comments were generally that it was an excellent hybrid street/trackable pad.
anyway, I've only had one track day on them, and I feel they are every bit the performance pad that users and the mfr have claimed. maintains good feel and bite anywhere from dead-cold to hot.
OTOH, imo they aren't up to livable street-pad standards; considerably more dust and noise than OEM (post-TSB dealer mod). so while I am gonna continue to use up the Axxis for future HPDEs, I have put my OEMs back on for day-to-day use. but the price on the Axxis was very fair, so I don't really feel short-changed. that being said, when my pads wear out I'll be looking to try something new.

RevURGT3

I have not done an auto-x with my car but the stock brakes are VERY good on the track. I would just change the pads for something a little more aggressive...

Having said that and as TeamRX8 mentions, not all brakes are equal... the stock calipers are only one piston so the pad's torque distribution on the rotors is no the ideal one. Also the stock calipers and rotors are very heavy and unsprung weight coud make a difference on handling/steering. Depending on the track, I could see the stock brakes overheating a little... maybe...

Is that worth to go to another brakes? It depends on how much $$ you want to spend... before doing anything crazy, go to the track and see how it feels and how it adapts to your driving style...

tony_673

Does anyone have any experience with the "Red Stuff" or "Green Stuff" pads by EBC?

TX91MX5

I am in the same boat as you are, looking for another track car. This Friday spent some time a MER racing at MSR Cresson TX. I have known Shannon and Jason for awhile and Shannon is racing a RX-8 in stock room stock.

His comment on the RX-8 brakes, was he out brakes most folks.

His other comment was not a strong transmission. But they are developing a fix.

Hope this helps. It did me.

tony_673

Confucius Say:

"Your lack of skills in the English language confuses most everyone."



jk!

blipblip

Thank you for the info TX91MX5.

What sort of failure are they getting?

blipblip

Currently on my car (not an RX-8), I am using Yellow Stuff R front and Green stuff back. I like how they feel, smooth initial bite (wouldn't mind more bite, actually). It does not have a lot of dust, but definitely not a quiet pad. I use them for street driving as well, and have no issues, even in cold mornings.

tony_673

Cool, blip, thanks.