I'll be attending my first track even next weekend. I will do the usual maintenanence (oils, etc..). I am getting new brake pads but I don't know whether or not I should replace my rotors as well. I am on the original ones with about 23k miles on them. I'm going to go with either Axxis or Hawk pads with ATE Superblue brake fluid. Would it worthwhile to replace the rotors? Anything else I should do in preparation? Any help is appreciated, Thanks!

 

You'll be fine on the stock rotors, even with 23,000 miles on them.

 

Unless they are scored or worn at an unusually high rate .

It may be worthwhile to have someone that is familiar with braking systems check your rotors for thickness and scoring, if for no other reason than peace of mind.

 

I would get them checked for thickness at the very least. A thin rotor is way more likly to warp, remember that.

If it were me... I would replace them, and then keep the old ones in the new boxes and pack them with all the other stuff you take to the track. Then if you have a situation at the track you have extra rotors to drive home on. I do this with all my brake parts, I replace them before I absolutely have to, and then I have backup parts at the track.

Which Hawk, HT-10, Blue, HP+, HP?
The Blues are very aggressive on rotors, but I just love them, always have, although you do have to be careful of your wheels. If the brake dust from Blues gets wet and then dries on your wheels/car, there is virtually no way to clean the wheel. If you find youself in this situation be darn sure you wash that crap off after you come off track. I have yet to try the HT-10, but I hear they do not have this characteristic and I have used both HP+ and HP (Blacks) and they do not have this problem, they do dust a lot, but the dust will not destroy a pair of wheels if it gets wet and then dries.

Axxis I have not used in years. I used to use these all the time on the CRX-Si, but that is back in the day when they were called Repco Metal Masters.

Enjoy your school and be safe!

 

Thanks for the replies! I think I will get new rotors to be safe. I'm driving over 5hrs to get the to track. I don't want to have problems coming back home. For brake pads, I was going to call Andy at cobalt friction and take his recommendation.

 

As long as the current rotors are crack-free and groove-free now, I would keep them on for the track day. If they are good now, there is no point in switching them before the event. It's AFTER the track day is when they may need to be replaced. When your track session is over, take a close look at each rotor (especially the fronts) looking for small cracks due to all the heat and stress they will endure on the track. If you see hairline cracks then, that's the time to replace them.

Even if they do develop the hairline cracks after your session, they should be safe enough for street driving on the way home. Then put the new rotors on when you get home. If you already bought the new rotors, maybe just take them along as an insurance policy just in case some get extensively damaged.

Andrew

 

I've been very happy with Andie Lin's support. Go with what he recommends, but I've been very happy with the GT-Sport pads. They're a nice compromise pad - good for HPDEs, work well on the street, and will not leave nasty residue on your wheels, though they do dust more than OEM pads.

 

Andie's a great resource, remember you can get up to 10% off from the s2ki marketplace on on cobalt and hawk pads

 

I had hairline cracks for several track days with no problems. I was running Ferodo DS3000 Endurance pads. Rotor thickness was like new. Then one day I washed off my wheels after a track event and then the rotor cracked clean through!

Took 12 months and ~25 days at the N

 

I talked to Andy at cobalt. He recommened Cobalt GT Sport's so I am going with that. UNfortunately they are out of the rears and won't get any until next thursday. I leave friday morning for the event. He said I should be fine on rear OEM pad (like new) and with OEM rotors. I'll just swap the front pads. I'm gonna flush the brake fluid and put it ATE Superblue. It is my first time at a track so andy believes this should be more than enough braking power for me.