Changing Pads at the Track

[firestarter2]

I have bought a set of pads for track use.

I have the caliper studs installed.

Any tricks to install them quickly at the track?

How are people compressing the pistons? I normally use a C clamp on my other cars.

Do people use any brake grease? If so where?

Should I just install before the track and remove when I get home? The track is about 100 miles away.

Thanks in advance.

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[Spacebird]

A related question if I may: Is anybody sanding/scrubbing the rotors to remove the OEM compound before adding track pads?

OP, I'm in the same boat. I'm doing an HPDE at COTA which is 170 miles away. While it's mostly highway, there's still ample stop-and-go on both ends.

 

[MustangCollector]

curious can a pad change be done without unbolting the caliper itself due to the cast cross bridge design? My old CTSV was a breeze to change pads at the track took about 10 min per side only tool i needed was a small punch and tiny plastic mallet.

 

[firestarter2]

curious can a pad change be done without unbolting the caliper itself due to the cast cross bridge design? My old CTSV was a breeze to change pads at the track took about 10 min per side only tool i needed was a small punch and tiny plastic mallet.

On the front no. The caliper needs to be removed

 

[wildcatgoal]

Buy this or find something similar. This one is the best: https://www.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=82_1174&products_id=474

I use this with a set of worn pads in place or something that'll cover all of the pistons (or fight the pistons with my fingers, which hurts when rotors are hot):
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...ese1-_-lisle&gclid=CLrJipfk09MCFVA6gQodOzUPMQ

 

[wildcatgoal]

curious can a pad change be done without unbolting the caliper itself due to the cast cross bridge design? My old CTSV was a breeze to change pads at the track took about 10 min per side only tool i needed was a small punch and tiny plastic mallet.

You don't have to remove the caliper on the S550 Brembo design (GT or GT350). You will need a 13mm socket, at least on the GTs, to remove the cross bar thingy.

 

[firestarter2]

You don't have to remove the caliper on the S550 Brembo design (GT or GT350). You will need a 13mm socket, at least on the GTs, to remove the cross bar thingy.

On the GT350 you do on the front.

 

[car crazy]

I've not changed pads yet but why do the calipers need to come off? With past big brakes, I've simply removed the bridge from the top of the caliper, opened the bleed valves, and rocked the pads back and forth to slightly retract the pistons. This way I can slide the pads out the top of the caliper without removal. Is this not possible with these Brembos?

 

[car crazy]

Just went out to the garage and answered my own question. There is metal bridge which connects both sides of the caliper across the top and it cannot be removed. I can't believe we have to remove the entire caliper to swap pads. Not a big deal but likely requires a big wrench and breaker bar.

 

[firestarter2]

Just went out to the garage and answered my own question. There is metal bridge which connects both sides of the caliper across the top and it cannot be removed. I can't believe we have to remove the entire caliper to swap pads. Not a big deal but likely requires a big wrench and breaker bar.

Its not TQ that high I broke with the a long 1/4 inch wrench

 

[tdzee]

A related question if I may: Is anybody sanding/scrubbing the rotors to remove the OEM compound before adding track pads?

I usually just flush it off with brake cleaner.

 

[car crazy]

Should I just install before the track and remove when I get home? The track is about 100 miles away.

Thanks in advance.

In the past (different car), I've always installed at home in the comfort of my own garage and removed the track pads after the HPDE weekend. The track pads always make your car sound like a garbage truck on the way to the track. I always figured the track pads at low temp would scrub away the street pad on the rotors. When I'm close to the track, I bed the track pads on the empty bad roads. When going back to street pads after the track event, removing the track pad from the rotor surface was never something I figured out. Since you need to remove the caliper for this car to change the pads, it may make sense to buy a second set of rotors for the track.

 

[torque124]

I have tracked the car with stock pads... Never felt any brake fade. Maybe I haven't pushed that hard ?

Why would you consider track pads, other than OEM?
Thanks

 

[firestarter2]

I have tracked the car with stock pads... Never felt any brake fade. Maybe I haven't pushed that hard ?

Why would you consider track pads, other than OEM?
Thanks

I needed new pads. These should last longer making them overall cheaper then the stock. But that remains to be seen.

 

[honeybadger]

I have tracked the car with stock pads... Never felt any brake fade. Maybe I haven't pushed that hard ?

Why would you consider track pads, other than OEM?
Thanks

I found fade on a track with a lot of elevation changes. Nothing bad, but a bit that required extending the braking zones. I think it depends on the track and driver.

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