[kenneth]

So I got myself those beautiful rotors at all 4 corners with Porterfield R4 S pads. I just had a track day with 7 x 20 min sessions at LCMT. Much more consistent braking than the OEM rotors + Cool Carbon pads.

Only thing, I have used over 50% of the front pads. The rears roughly 1/3. I also noticed metal filings sticking to the calipers. Looks like the slots are chumping off the pads. Any thoughts? Maybe harder pad compound for longer track life? Otherwise 2-day events will require a new set of pads each time.

Is track only pads the solution for track and changing to softer material for street?

[yandy]

Originally Posted by kenneth

So I got myself those beautiful rotors at all 4 corners with Porterfield R4 S pads. I just had a track day with 7 x 20 min sessions at LCMT. Much more consistent braking than the OEM rotors + Cool Carbon pads.

Only thing, I have used over 50% of the front pads. The rears roughly 1/3. I also noticed metal filings sticking to the calipers. Looks like the slots are chumping off the pads. Any thoughts? Maybe harder pad compound for longer track life? Otherwise 2-day events will require a new set of pads each time.

Is track only pads the solution for track and changing to softer material for street?

If you're serious about tracking the car, which it seems you are by getting the RB rotors. Get some real track compound, PFCs, Hawk DTC 70 or 60s, Carbotechs, Pagids, Endless to name a few. You'll notice a huge difference in stopping power and consistency/performance.

Carbotechs are easier on rotors, but wear faster, it's a trade off on what's more expensive to replace.

Hawk DTC are very aggressive on rotors, also last a bit longer pad wise, but performance decreases as the pad gets thinner.

PFC01 are great, or the 08s for their endurance compound, which lasts a long time.

The Pagids and Endless are also endurance based compounds but very expensive as well.

I've used Hawks, and are now using Carbotech XP16/12 Front/Rear, they perform really well. May try the Pagid RS29s after the Carbotechs are done just to compare.

EDIT:

I keep a set of front floating rotors just for the track, and always switch out pads street/track for the events on all four corners.

[The HACK]

My Cobalt XR3s lasted 1.5 seasons (about 15 days) on RB rotors, and the DTC-60s are looking like they'll last at least 2 full seasons (20 days). It's not the rotors. It's the pad. The R4 S is far closer to the Cool Carbon than it is to a full track pad.

Granted my car is about 300 lbs lighter.

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by The HACK

My Cobalt XR3s lasted 1.5 seasons (about 15 days) on RB rotors, and the DTC-60s are looking like they'll last at least 2 full seasons (20 days). It's not the rotors. It's the pad. The R4 S is far closer to the Cool Carbon than it is to a full track pad.

Granted my car is about 300 lbs lighter.

Looking like I have no choice but to change to track pads trackside. Thanks for your input. Any idea how PFC 97 or 08 fare on track and on street?

[BRO]

I found out the hard way Carbotech pads (XP-10) are not compatible with RB rotors. Uneven deposits on rotor. See RB's forum for details.

I have all 4 corners PFC-08 pads new in the box. Should be compatible with RB according to my research. PM me if interested.

[chad29]

I have no association with RB but I thought it important to provide technical information regarding Bro's comments above. Based on his conclusion that the rotors were the issue - which would be extremely unusual in my extensive track experience, I went to the RB website to review the "comments in the forums".

I was not surprised to find exactly what I suspected - some folks did not understand that pad transfer is the result of the pads being operated outside the proper temp range for the pad and thus the pad smears and adheres to the rotor. Additional brake cooling and or changing to a proper heat range pad can prevent the over-heating of the pad material and transfer to the rotor.

This has also been the case with OEM BMW and aftermarket rotors when the incorrect pads for the conditions are used. In Pro racing many teams change pad compounds, rotors and brake duct cooling for each track and ambient temps.

http://forums.racingbrake.com/showthread.php?t=73

[bjf66]

Bump, was hoping more owners could chime in and share which pads work best on the RB rotors

[kenneth]

Update: Both HP+ and PFC 08 seem to work well with the rotors, with minimal pad wear. The Porterfield R4 S was just too soft for track driving.

[will.c]

Not sure about XP16, but XP12 was definitely not enough for our heavy cars from my exp.

[bjf66]

Originally Posted by kenneth

Update: Both HP+ and PFC 08 seem to work well with the rotors, with minimal pad wear. The Porterfield R4 S was just too soft for track driving.

I'm glad to hear that the PFC 08s work well. Did you have to order the rotors/PFC pads from the states, or is there a Canadian vendor?

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by Karura

I'm glad to hear that the PFC 08s work well. Did you have to order the rotors/PFC pads from the states, or is there a Canadian vendor?

For the pads I am sure you can check local vendors for the PFC orders. I think the PFC takes time to get, so order early and keep some spare. The rotors are from Racing Brake in the US. Either directly from RB or US vendors such as HP Autowerks.

For the PFC 08, those do not come with metal brackets behind the pad. So the pad is loose and may be very noisy for city driving. My mechanic fabbed me a little metal wedge to eliminate the pad play and hence got rid of the noise...

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by kenneth

For the pads I am sure you can check local vendors for the PFC orders. I think the PFC takes time to get, so order early and keep some spare. The rotors are from Racing Brake in the US. Either directly from RB or US vendors such as HP Autowerks.

For the PFC 08, those do not come with metal brackets behind the pad. So the pad is loose and may be very noisy for city driving. My mechanic fabbed me a little metal wedge to eliminate the pad play and hence got rid of the noise...

PFC08's now come with the metal springs, at least for the front pads!

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

PFC08's now come with the metal springs, at least for the front pads!

Great! I'll order some eventually, my current ones haven't been used that much.

How are you Harold? You remember I got the RB rotors from you, did you sell a few of those RB aluminum calipers? I think the only issue I had with them was pad choices, do you get PFC 08 in that pad shape, I think 1149 or something?

Thanks

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by kenneth

Great! I'll order some eventually, my current ones haven't been used that much.

How are you Harold? You remember I got the RB rotors from you, did you sell a few of those RB aluminum calipers? I think the only issue I had with them was pad choices, do you get PFC 08 in that pad shape, I think 1149 or something?

Thanks

No, I didn't. The problem I have is with pad choice as well, very limited.

Harold