SoundGuyDave
This Space For Rent
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2007
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also what is the difference in pad life of the DTC-60/HT-10 or DTC-70/DTC-60 compared to each other and how long is that actual length if i only use them at the event
Well, your mileage may vary, literally, depending on driving style, how good your technique is, if you pay attention to brake management on track, how heavy the car is, how sticky the rubber is, the layout of the track(s) in question, and probably what phase the moon is in, as well...
I used to run Carbotech XP12/XP10 and switched over to Hawk at the beginning of last year, looking for more durability. The Carbotech pads are absolutely AWESOME, believe me, with killer initial bite, modulation and release, and they're VERY rotor-friendly. They don't last very long, though. Two to three track weekends, and the pads are GONE. After I switched to Hawk, I ran ELEVEN track days before the most brake-deadly track on the planet finally did them in, along with the calipers. The Hawks are quite hard on the rotors, but the pads themselves last forever. With the cost of a set of rotors from NTO being so low, I would rather change out $40 worth of rotors every couple-three weekends, than change out $200 worth of pads over the same time.
If you brake like I do, VERY late, VERY hard, and trailbrake through the corners, you will wear them significantly faster than a basic, straight-line, plenty-of-reserve braking technique will. Since I was transitioning from the Carbotechs, I skipped the HT-10/HP+ setup altogether, but I have recommended that for many of my students, and results seem to be comparable to the DTC line, but that also varies based on braking technique.
In general, how long they'll last will really depend on the type of track, as well. For me, Road America presents three REALLY hard braking zones, turns 1, 5, and 12; four medium corners, turns 3, 6, 8, and 14, and one solid tap at turn 11, the kink. Given that it's a tick over 4 miles long, though, and the straights are HUGE (3025', 2736', and 2636'!) there is plenty of time to bleed off the heat developed in the brakes. Not all that much wear. Now, contrast that to Blackhawk Farms, where it's a tick under two miles, seven turns, and the main straight (1800-ish feet) is short. Five hard braking zones, and one medium/tap, all condensed into that short of a track simply generates more heat than you would believe. There just isn't anywhere on the track to let the brakes cool off, they just get hot, hotter, still hotter, etc. I had an off there with a momentary excursion across the grass partially sideways, and the turf that got shoved into the wheels not only caught fire, but carbonized...
In general, if you're not F'n nuts like Asshole or me with them, the Hawk pads will last a decent number of track days.
Vapor Trails: Yes, the expenses add up, but they are completely controllable. If you go out and drive at 70-80% of your ability on track, tires, brakes, fuel all last almost FOREVER. It's when you start to push that you start burning/tearing stuff up. It would be like looking at Chevykiller's trials and tribulations and saying that you don't want to go drag racing, because a SEVEN SECOND STREET CAR went through fourteen different power adders and seventy bajilion dollars to get there...
Seriously, you can have an absolute BLAST out on track with minimal consumable expense if you don't constantly try to push the envelope. With a blown motor (based on your avatar) and a heavy car, I would step up to HT-10/HP+ pads on a fresh set of OE rotors and good fluid, and just go have fun. Out of pocket, less than $400, and it should last you 10 track days if you're not trying to win the HPDE Intergalactic Championship. At $40 a day, the fun/$ ratio is just huge.