I have been using the common XP10f XP8r setup with pleasure and confidence for several years now. In the last few sessions I have noticed that I am using up pads at a much more frequent pace. How do I know when it is time to switch to XP12f XP10r? Is this even the right question? If I switch am I likely to get longer life or just different braking feel/dynamics?
I have:
Front 2.5" ducts to dust shield. Rears little scoops fabbed up to the dust shields to help(?) Stock calipers replaced every couple seasons. SS lines. Throwaway Napa blanks as needed...
Any advice or comments appreciated. $2500 BBK not in the cards at the moment even though I am pretty sure that's the right answer!
TIA

 

I run a very similar car setup with 12/10's and have noticed that as I get faster, brakes wear exponentially quicker...though i don't run r-comps. I get 2 weekends from the 12s and 3.5 from the rears, at best.

 

That's a good question, but I'm afraid it's completely normal on stock brakes. It seems like the only "fix" to allow the brakes to last longer is a BBK. The stoptech kit can be had for significantly less than $2500 if you look around. I couldn't justify the extra cost for the urge over stoptech.

 

Are you guys constantly threshold braking? That's pad annihilation lol

 

Evasive has the ST kit for $2K (Here)... I'm sure if you check the sponsor forums, you'll find even better deals.

I've been on my ST kit for roughly four years. I swap the street pads for Carbotechs when I get to the track, and back again after. The street pads I use for autocrossing as well, but they still have 90% of life left. I bought my Carbotechs used, so they had about 95% life when I got them. I got just around 20 track days out of them before they finally got to the rivets. Rotors, still going strong, although I bought rings recently as a backup, just in case.

So, I bought the kit at $1700.
carbotech pads at $220 x 2
rotor rings at $396/pair

I'm at $2536 over the course of four years. Or roughly $126/track day. They haven't paid for themselves yet, but, it's getting closer... plus, the aggravation of having to swap out rotors because I cracked one every 4-5 events was annoying.

 

Good to hear. Question for you regarding the pads. Do you have a problem swapping back and forth from Carbotechs to the street pads? I have a ST kit I'll be installing, and my biggest concern was swapping pads for events and swapping back. I thought the carbotechs were VERY anal about having a proper transfer layer, which is why I was thinking of running Hawk DTC30's or 60's for the track..? If that isn't the case then maybe I'll consider Carbotechs with the ST kit at the track. Any thoughts/advice?

 

Pad life will vary between drivers and tracks. i.e. some tracks are very light on brakes and some aren't (just like drivers ). The main reason to switch pads is for heat capabilities and/or balance concerns (i.e. you want more bite in a pad). If you don't have issues with either of those, there is no real reason to switch pads other than to try something different.

 

Wait, there's another way to brake???

 

What tires?

 

^Haha, beat me to it.