Master track maintenance thread

[kiszl]

Hey everyone.

I'm new to tracking my car and want to get opinions of what everyone has done to be successful for their pre and past track days. I looked and couldn't find a thread like this so I figured I'd create one. Key Info below.

List the following:
1: Oil
2: Brake fluid
3: Transmission fluid
3.5: Diff Fluid
4: Brake pads
5: How often do you change each and why.

Make sure to list the reasons why you went with that brand over others whether it be price, quality etc

Let me know if I missed anything important :cheers:

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[raiderjatt02]

1) Engine Oil = I have a GT350 so I'm not sure what engine oil the Coyote's take but I use OEM Motorcraft 5W-50 in the Voodoo. I change every 4 track days, 6 months, or 3k miles whichever comes first. 5k miles if no track days during that span of time.

2) Brake Fluid = Castrol SRF. Never had a single issue and never experienced any fade. I had fade with the OEM DOT4 fluid but once I switched to SRF, it's felt perfect. I change every 4 track days.

3) Trans Fluid = Once again, different transmission than you but I use BG SynchroShift II from OP Mustang. I change every 8 track days.

3.5) Don't forget about Diff Fluid! = I use BG Ultra-Guard LS from OP Mustang too. Never had an issue. I change every 8 track days just like the transmission.

4) Brake Pads = GLoc R12 up front and R10 out back. Better initial bite than the OEM GT350 pads and longer life. GT350 OEM pads are fine but don't last long at all on track so it's more for durability. Just my personal preference. I believe the GT pads are less aggressive than the GT350 but someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I love the GLocs but they are pretty much strictly track and the drive to and from the track. They squeal a lot in normal everyday driving so I only put them on when I'm about to hit up a track day. Change when low. Mine lasted me 5 or 8 track days. I don't remember.

 

[kiszl]

Edited it to include diff fluid, great catch haha

 

[umarov]

Great tips.
So far I have done 1 HPDE and a TrackCross. Right before the HPDE, I flushed brake fluid. I switched to ATE 706202 Original TYP 200 DOT 4. It has been two years since that HPDE.
Before my next HPDE, I am going to flush the fluids again.
I also changed the engine oil after the track day.

That's what I have done for track. This year, I plan to do more track days. So some of those tips by [MENTION=17837]raiderjatt02[/MENTION] will come in handy.

1) Engine Oil = I have a GT350 so I'm not sure what engine oil the Coyote's take but I use OEM Motorcraft 5W-50 in the Voodoo. I change every 4 track days, 6 months, or 3k miles whichever comes first. 5k miles if no track days during that span of time.

2) Brake Fluid = Castrol SRF. Never had a single issue and never experienced any fade. I had fade with the OEM DOT4 fluid but once I switched to SRF, it's felt perfect. I change every 4 track days.

3) Trans Fluid = Once again, different transmission than you but I use BG SynchroShift II from OP Mustang. I change every 8 track days.

3.5) Don't forget about Diff Fluid! = I use BG Ultra-Guard LS from OP Mustang too. Never had an issue. I change every 8 track days just like the transmission.

4) Brake Pads = GLoc R12 up front and R10 out back. Better initial bite than the OEM GT350 pads and longer life. GT350 OEM pads are fine but don't last long at all on track so it's more for durability. Just my personal preference. I believe the GT pads are less aggressive than the GT350 but someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I love the GLocs but they are pretty much strictly track and the drive to and from the track. They squeal a lot in normal everyday driving so I only put them on when I'm about to hit up a track day. Change when low. Mine lasted me 5 or 8 track days. I don't remember.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Oil - Motorcraft full synthetic at intervals of about 5000 minus 1000 times the number of track days. The choice of viscosity for a Coyote or Voodoo is likely different from what I've found works in a 4.6L, which in turn isn't the OE recommendation for what is presumed to be street use.

Brake fluid - Motul RBF600. When you bleed about half a liter prior to each track day, the system essentially sees a full flush every three times.

Brake pads - Carbotechs or G-locs in the lowest number that will stand up to your track time (right now that's 10's, but remember I've only got a stockish 4.6L). I don't bother swapping pads between street and track, but I do change them when the friction thickness gets below the point where they might not pass tech. You might want to skip over the 12's once you get past 10's (the 12's seem to wear faster).


Norm

 

[ssyellow]

What's the consensus now days for the OEM PP rotors/pads? I ran these pretty hard on the track when I first got my car and had no complaints, but curious if there is an aftermarket rotor/pad that covers street/track duties in a similar way.

Related, anyone happen to know the OEM Ford PNs? I think what I have so far below is accurate, but let me know if I'm mistaken.

Front GT PP pad: FR3Z-2001-C
Front GT PP rotor: FR3Z-1125-D

Rear GT pad:
Rear GT rotor:

 

[rob_s]

Haven't needed rotors yet, but the rear pad for mine is FR3Z-2200-C

 

[BmacIL]

What's the consensus now days for the OEM PP rotors/pads? I ran these pretty hard on the track when I first got my car and had no complaints, but curious if there is an aftermarket rotor/pad that covers street/track duties in a similar way.

Related, anyone happen to know the OEM Ford PNs? I think what I have so far below is accurate, but let me know if I'm mistaken.

Front GT PP pad: FR3Z-2001-C
Front GT PP rotor: FR3Z-1125-D

Rear GT pad:
Rear GT rotor:

Unless you're a solidly intermediate or more advanced driver, the stock pads should be good for all but the toughest tracks or if you have power adders. I've so far been really impressed with Powerstop's Track Day pads. They have many great reviews here for on track performance and have decent road manners like the stock GT PP pads. I'd stick with OE rotors unless you're going to drop the money for a much lighter two piece.

 

[DarkestHour]

What's the consensus now days for the OEM PP rotors/pads? I ran these pretty hard on the track when I first got my car and had no complaints, but curious if there is an aftermarket rotor/pad that covers street/track duties in a similar way.

Related, anyone happen to know the OEM Ford PNs? I think what I have so far below is accurate, but let me know if I'm mistaken.

Front GT PP pad: FR3Z-2001-C
Front GT PP rotor: FR3Z-1125-D

Rear GT pad:
Rear GT rotor:

I was pretty happy with the stock PP pads myself, but then again I'm just a noob still. I saw Timothy Hilliard suggests the G-LOC G10/G8 combo so I may go with that, not sure though. GS-1 seems like a good idea too for mostly a DD, but then G-Loc says DO NOT USE FOR TRACK DAYS so I'm a bit confused.

https://www.opmustang.com/blog/what-g-loc-brake-compound-do-you-recommend

 

[Norm Peterson]

G-loc as a brake pad company can't get into trying to separate individual track day braking requirements, so if anything they're going to err on the side of [track day] caution.

Personally, I'd be uneasy about pads with fade temperatures much below about 1200°F. Not so much because I know for sure I'm going to put them up that far, mainly because I don't want to suddenly wish (at 100+ mph with a 50 mph corner fast approaching) that I'd chosen a higher temperature pad instead.


Norm

 

[ssyellow]

Thanks for the information.

So, looks like sticking with OEM rotors for now and pads up for debate.

Does anyone have a link to the Powerstop track day pads? Looks like American Muscle used to sell them, but no longer.

Someone has GS-1s for sale locally but I looked into them and also saw that note advising not to be used for track days.

 

[BmacIL]

Thanks for the information.

So, looks like sticking with OEM rotors for now and pads up for debate.

Does anyone have a link to the Powerstop track day pads? Looks like American Muscle used to sell them, but no longer.

Someone has GS-1s for sale locally but I looked into them and also saw that note advising not to be used for track days.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7596240&cc=3307633
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7596244&cc=3307633

 

[DarkestHour]

G-loc as a brake pad company can't get into trying to separate individual track day braking requirements, so if anything they're going to err on the side of [track day] caution.

Personally, I'd be uneasy about pads with fade temperatures much below about 1200°F. Not so much because I know for sure I'm going to put them up that far, mainly because I don't want to suddenly wish (at 100+ mph with a 50 mph corner fast approaching) that I'd chosen a higher temperature pad instead.


Norm

Good point.

 

[ssyellow]

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7596240&cc=3307633
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7596244&cc=3307633

Thank you very much. I'll do a little more research on these guys and probably give them a try.

 

[johnson.ba]

I swapped my front pads to Hawk HP+, which is there top trim street or bottom trim track pad, it's actually on both sections of their site. I'm thoroughly happy with them so far. I've got 3 track days and one night on a kart course and a couple thousand street miles so far and am at ~50-70% left. They were awesome on road course with 75 mph stops on the straights and don't make too much noise on the street everyday. They were around $150 on amazon(thru Hawk) so I'll probably buy these again when that time comes.

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