[Biergut]

Originally Posted by Hooks112

BierGut -

Just to confirm, you only have 6 track days on these rotors? I was just watching some racing at Watkins on the boob tube tonight and it certainly looks fast. Any good video posts from the track? Kinda far from Colorado, but on the wish list of drives for sure.

How many sets of pads have you been thru during these rotors?

I've only tracked the Z about 1.5 days, trying to judge what I can expect for wear.

Hoping you weigh the old rotors and post your findings.

I run ST 45/43's in the other car. Pretty amazing once they are warmed up.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Yes, Watkins Glen is fast with a couple of real haul-down turns. High average speed track – I love it.

I went through 1.5 sets of pads. I did a couple of days on the OEMs and then switched to Pagid RSC-1 pads. (Their CCM pad) I learned that once the Pagids get to 6mm -- they are done. If you continue to run hard with them beyond that they just disappear and really beat the rotors. Lesson learned. I won’t be weighing the rotors – just moving on.

When I bought the car my fellow track mates and I discussed at great length whether I should try the ceramics or remove and just go to iron rotors before hitting the track. Hindsight is 20/20. If you really push the ceramics they will not last. I've had cars with the full AP Racing kit and those rotors lasted 6 days... I'm okay with that if the rotors are $300-400 per... not $1300.

My wife, who also drives on track, could most likely drive the ceramics for years and years... she just doesn't get them to that critical temp that starts to break them down. Again, my mistake was not changing out the pads in time. They got too thin and transferred too much heat to the rotors and did all the damage in short order. It's unfortunate that the OEM pad thickness is only 10mm thereby really only giving you 5mm of pad to play with. (if you brake aggressively) Knowing now what I know I would have thrown away the pads after three days, or about 5 or 6mm. I believe this would have allowed the rotors to last longer... how much I can't say. I don’t know what that critical temp is, but the folks at GiroDisc eluded to it even before I hit the track with the ceramics.

I am now considering different iron rotor options. I still need to decide on whether I keep the OEM Brembo calipers or change them as well. I also had more pad taper than I expected, so there is not super rigidity in the stock Brembo set up. (for really serious, prolonged hard track work)

If I had bags of money I might try the ceramics again and just keep fairly thick pads in them to see how long I could make them work. I absolutely loved the way the car stopped and never faded. It's just a cost thing and I went too far…

- BierGut