VIR is pretty hard on brakes

[Chris B.]

My front Hawk HT-10 pads didn't take the abuse of VIR very well. They were new before the event. I bedded them in a week before I left for VIR. After two days at VIR, they were worn down to almost nothing. The wear indicator grove in the middle of the pad is barely visible. I called Hark Performance and spoke with one of their tech people about the wear at VIR compared to other tracks. I was able to get 4 to 5 track days out of a set of HT-10's at other tracks(Pocono, NJMP, Monticello) before I felt I needed to replace them. Hawk recommended I use DTC-60's at VIR when the track is dry and use the HT-10 pads at VIR when its raining. It looks like I'll need two more sets of brake pads this season, especially if I go back to VIR.

 

[STEVE_POE]

I run dt-60 front and rear and vir was /is not hard on my brakes at all

 

[Chris B.]

That's good to hear. Hawk recommended I don't run the DTC-60's in the rain with the stock calipers and any kind of high performance "street" tire. So I'll still need to bring my HT-10's next time I go to VIR just in case it rains.

I was amazed at how fast VIR wore down the pads considering I didn't go any faster on the straights than I do at Monticello, NJMP Lightning, or NJMP Thunderbolt. I even was able to hit 130 MPH before braking at Pocono when running the doube infield course. Yet those tracks didn't wear the pads nearly as much as VIR. I guess the elevation changes might have somehting to do with it too.

 

[foolio2k4]

hey i've got a set of ht-10s or dtc-70 up front for sale i need to get rid of. PM me and we can deal something out!

 

[95PreludeSi]

What course did you run? Some configurations are harder than others. I believe South course is the worst.

 

[Chris B.]

What course did you run? Some configurations are harder than others. I believe South course is the worst.

Full course one day and Grand East the next day.

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Chris, are you going to VIR in mid October with the SVT Cobra Mustang Club on the full course? Mike

 

[Chris B.]

Chris, are you going to VIR in mid October with the SVT Cobra Mustang Club on the full course? Mike

Unfortunately, I work that weekend and can't make it.

 

[Chris B.]

When I was at Watkins Glen last weekend, I had someone check my rotor temps with one of those infrared non contact thermometers when I pulled into the pits after 20 minutes on the track. My front rotors were 920 degrees F and my rear rotors were 790 degrees F.

That explain why my HT-10's wore down so fast. Under braking they probably were at least 100 degrees hotter. Also there was some time for them to cool down while I was pulling off the track and stopping in the pits. Optimal temp range for the HT-10's is in the 500-1000 degree range. I definitely was near the top of that or exceeding that.

 

[Sam Strano]

Time to step up.... With those temps I'm thinkin DTC-70 front, 60 rear--maybe 10 rears.

FWIW, there are some new DTC's coming out. Don't have much info, but supposed to be (of course) bigger and badder than the current stuff).

FYI: Max temp on a HT-10 = 1300, range of 300-1300*F. DTC-60 and 70 = 400-1600*F.

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Time to step up.... With those temps I'm thinkin DTC-70 front, 60 rear--maybe 10 rears.

FWIW, there are some new DTC's coming out. Don't have much info, but supposed to be (of course) bigger and badder than the current stuff).

FYI: Max temp on a HT-10 = 1300, range of 300-1300*F. DTC-60 and 70 = 400-1600*F.

+1 I run the Carbotech XP12 front and XP11 rear (similar to Hawk DTC-70 and DTC-60, but wear a little faster for a little more bite). The DTC pads are definitely worth it!

 

[Chris B.]

Time to step up.... With those temps I'm thinkin DTC-70 front, 60 rear--maybe 10 rears.

FWIW, there are some new DTC's coming out. Don't have much info, but supposed to be (of course) bigger and badder than the current stuff).

FYI: Max temp on a HT-10 = 1300, range of 300-1300*F. DTC-60 and 70 = 400-1600*F.

A file I downloaded from Hawk brakes web site a while ago says that the HT-10's have an operating range of 300-1200 degrees F, but their optimum range is 400-1050 degrees F. Since the last really had braking zone at Watkins Glen before the pits is

the Bust Stop on the back straight and I'm only on the brakes for a short time a few times after the bus stop, I wonder if my brake temperatures under braking are above the temperature range of the HT-10's.

When I called Hawk brakes a while ago, they said that if I'm usign street tires the DTC-60's will lock up too easily in the rain, so I'd need to bring both a set of HT-10's and DTC pads with me to the track in case it rains. Other Mustang owners I talked with said they can lock up their brakes and engage ABS at over 110 MPH on a dry track with the DTC-60 pads on the front of their car. That seems like it may be a little too much for a wet track and street tires, so I can see the need for a pad with a little less friction in the rain.

+1 I run the Carbotech XP12 front and XP11 rear (similar to Hawk DTC-70 and DTC-60, but wear a little faster for a little more bite). The DTC pads are definitely worth it!

I tried the XP-12's and XP-10's at Watkins Glen last weekend. They worked well when they were warmed up. I did notice they took a little longer to warm up than the HT-10's.

 

[ArizonaGT]

I run dt-60 front and rear and vir was /is not hard on my brakes at all

Run DTC60s on our clubracer front, HT10s rear, no issues.

What are all you guys using the brakes for anyways? All they do is slow you down!

 

[Sleeper_08]

Run DTC60s on our clubracer front, HT10s rear, no issues.

What are all you guys using the brakes for anyways? All they do is slow you down!

That is one of the things I learned in the last year as well. If you raise the turn in speeds you don't need the brakes as much.

Amazing what it does for brake pad wear.

 

[frank s]

That is one of the things I learned in the last year as well. If you raise the turn in speeds you don't need the brakes as much.

Amazing what it does for brake pad wear.

If you don't need the brakes so much, you need more speed on the straights...

 

[STACYSTANGZ]

I love that track!

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

If you don't need the brakes so much, you need more speed on the straights...

 

[Pony DNA]

My front Hawk HT-10 pads didn't take the abuse of VIR very well. They were new before the event. I bedded them in a week before I left for VIR. After two days at VIR, they were worn down to almost nothing. The wear indicator grove in the middle of the pad is barely visible. I called Hark Performance and spoke with one of their tech people about the wear at VIR compared to other tracks. I was able to get 4 to 5 track days out of a set of HT-10's at other tracks(Pocono, NJMP, Monticello) before I felt I needed to replace them. Hawk recommended I use DTC-60's at VIR when the track is dry and use the HT-10 pads at VIR when its raining. It looks like I'll need two more sets of brake pads this season, especially if I go back to VIR.

Is there any reason you are not running spindle ducts and 3" hose to the lower valance? This can make a big difference in temps, maybe 100F and your pad and rotor life on heavy cars (like stock S197) with stock brakes like you have. Wait until you go to 10" wheels in front and larger sticky tires, your brake temps will only get worse. I found that 2-piece rotors with spindle ducts improved pad life on my S197 20%-30% but you could also just use higher temp range pads.

HTH!

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

I just completed my 6th track day at VIR and about to do two more days with the SVT Cobra Mustang Club on the same set of Carbotech XP12 and XP10s - no problems. I'm using the Agent 47 brake cooling ducts with my Wilwood SL6 and SL4 calipers. Very good wear and excellent performance.

http://www.facebook.com/v/1597151001623

 

[ArizonaGT]

I definitely agree with running brake ducting, but an additional "risk" you have to contend with at that point is rapid thermal cycling of rotors. If you go from a hard braking zone to a long straight to another hard braking zone, you're going to put a lot of fast temperature change action into the rotors that could cause them to crack--so keep an eye on your hardware between sessions.