Can I use regular street brake pads at an Autocross?
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,362
Can I use regular street brake pads at an Autocross?
I am thinking of doing some autocross this year to see what my car can do and be able to throw it around in a safe place. I am not looking to set any recoeds or win anything.
Can I leave regular street pads on without ruining anything? If they fade I will just deal with it but I don't want to break anything. I don't even know what the pads I have are, they where on the car when I got it.
Can I leave regular street pads on without ruining anything? If they fade I will just deal with it but I don't want to break anything. I don't even know what the pads I have are, they where on the car when I got it.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 359
Re: Can I use regular street brake pads at an Autocross?
- Stock pads are fine. AutoCrossing is designed to simulate conditions that you might encounter on the street. This is why speeds rarely exceed 70mph.
- You will hardly use your brakes at all. Don't worry about a thing. AutoCrossers are typically very friendly people - just ask someone for help, if you need it.
- You'll probably want to check or do the following:
1. Verify that your battery is secure.
2. Make sure that your tires are at proper pressures - someone will have an air tank or a compressor for you to use for race pressures.
3. Clean out all the crap in your car (loose change, umbrellas, CD's, etc.)
4. Take your spare tire out once you get to the event site.
- Have fun!
- You will hardly use your brakes at all. Don't worry about a thing. AutoCrossers are typically very friendly people - just ask someone for help, if you need it.
- You'll probably want to check or do the following:
1. Verify that your battery is secure.
2. Make sure that your tires are at proper pressures - someone will have an air tank or a compressor for you to use for race pressures.
3. Clean out all the crap in your car (loose change, umbrellas, CD's, etc.)
4. Take your spare tire out once you get to the event site.
- Have fun!
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 82
OH NO
OH MAN Stock pads watch out. Make sure to bring a water bottle to cool them down between runs. Rumor has it they can CATCH FIRE. Stock class in dangerious cause they make you run stock size rotors. YOUR GONNA NEED 17 inch brake discs. Don't even think about 18 inch wheels cause way I hear DUBS are the way to go....
Alright no, Just KIDDING. Stock brakes are fine. Disconnect your front sway bar and go have fun. I'm still running stock pads on my S2000 and I've managed to run with most of the top guys, and even pulled off a national tour win. Pads don't actually help you stop any better unless your experienceing Brake FADE. The limiting factor to how well a car can stop is it's tires. All the brakes in the world will do nothing if your running 2 donut spares up front. So having nice tires will signifigantly reduce your braking distance as well as give other benefits like ummm aiding in cornering and acceleration. If your new to autox I'd suggest picking up some spare wheels and learn on R compound tires. Street tires do last longer but you just don't have as rapid a learning curve on street tires. Hoosiers are hands down the fastest R compounds but your lucky to see 40 laps out of them. some 245/45 16 Kumho victoracers or Toyo RA-1's (forgive me if that name is wrong someone else chip in) will set you back $500 but last a year and teach you a ton. After a year or so You'll be ready to make an intellegent decision about where you want to run the car. STS, STX, G-stock, DSP , or Street mod. I'm convinced the Maxima will never run with any of the STS, or STX cars but I think given the right stuff it could hold it's on in GS. Disconnect the front sway bar and run a set of Pensky's DA (REAR) and SA (front) with 245/45 16 hoosiers and the right driver and I think it can run a whole lot closer to the cooper S and the celica GT then it will ever run to modded 89 civic Hatches.
But to anwser your question, Your brakes will be fine. SleeperSE hit it on the number.
Alright no, Just KIDDING. Stock brakes are fine. Disconnect your front sway bar and go have fun. I'm still running stock pads on my S2000 and I've managed to run with most of the top guys, and even pulled off a national tour win. Pads don't actually help you stop any better unless your experienceing Brake FADE. The limiting factor to how well a car can stop is it's tires. All the brakes in the world will do nothing if your running 2 donut spares up front. So having nice tires will signifigantly reduce your braking distance as well as give other benefits like ummm aiding in cornering and acceleration. If your new to autox I'd suggest picking up some spare wheels and learn on R compound tires. Street tires do last longer but you just don't have as rapid a learning curve on street tires. Hoosiers are hands down the fastest R compounds but your lucky to see 40 laps out of them. some 245/45 16 Kumho victoracers or Toyo RA-1's (forgive me if that name is wrong someone else chip in) will set you back $500 but last a year and teach you a ton. After a year or so You'll be ready to make an intellegent decision about where you want to run the car. STS, STX, G-stock, DSP , or Street mod. I'm convinced the Maxima will never run with any of the STS, or STX cars but I think given the right stuff it could hold it's on in GS. Disconnect the front sway bar and run a set of Pensky's DA (REAR) and SA (front) with 245/45 16 hoosiers and the right driver and I think it can run a whole lot closer to the cooper S and the celica GT then it will ever run to modded 89 civic Hatches.
But to anwser your question, Your brakes will be fine. SleeperSE hit it on the number.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 469
Yup, listen to what's has already been said. I'm running street tires with stock brake pads...on top of that...I have an automatic! I'm just there to have fun with the car and the poeple there are friendly and don't have the attitude problem. I don't know how it is on other SCCA site but here in SFR SCCA everyone is cool.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 359
- Dude, dubs? No way. You need 24's!!! Dey won't rub, will dey?
- I don't know if the Max would be competitive in G-Stock. Interesting thought, though. Maybe we should take off my springs and sway bars and exhaust and intake and go try it out...
- On second thought, the Mini Cooper S is just about as powerful, has a shorter wheelbase, is lighter, and looks cooler. And I don't really feel like removing all that stuff. Oh well. Looks like I'll just have to get my butt kicked by those damn Civic hatches while I save for my S2000.
- I don't know if the Max would be competitive in G-Stock. Interesting thought, though. Maybe we should take off my springs and sway bars and exhaust and intake and go try it out...
- On second thought, the Mini Cooper S is just about as powerful, has a shorter wheelbase, is lighter, and looks cooler. And I don't really feel like removing all that stuff. Oh well. Looks like I'll just have to get my butt kicked by those damn Civic hatches while I save for my S2000.
Thread Starter
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,362
Re: OH NO
Originally posted by Mrsideways
OH MAN Stock pads watch out. Make sure to bring a water bottle to cool them down between runs. Rumor has it they can CATCH FIRE. Stock class in dangerious cause they make you run stock size rotors. YOUR GONNA NEED 17 inch brake discs. Don't even think about 18 inch wheels cause way I hear DUBS are the way to go....
Alright no, Just KIDDING. Stock brakes are fine. Disconnect your front sway bar and go have fun. I'm still running stock pads on my S2000 and I've managed to run with most of the top guys, and even pulled off a national tour win. Pads don't actually help you stop any better unless your experienceing Brake FADE. The limiting factor to how well a car can stop is it's tires. All the brakes in the world will do nothing if your running 2 donut spares up front. So having nice tires will signifigantly reduce your braking distance as well as give other benefits like ummm aiding in cornering and acceleration. If your new to autox I'd suggest picking up some spare wheels and learn on R compound tires. Street tires do last longer but you just don't have as rapid a learning curve on street tires. Hoosiers are hands down the fastest R compounds but your lucky to see 40 laps out of them. some 245/45 16 Kumho victoracers or Toyo RA-1's (forgive me if that name is wrong someone else chip in) will set you back $500 but last a year and teach you a ton. After a year or so You'll be ready to make an intellegent decision about where you want to run the car. STS, STX, G-stock, DSP , or Street mod. I'm convinced the Maxima will never run with any of the STS, or STX cars but I think given the right stuff it could hold it's on in GS. Disconnect the front sway bar and run a set of Pensky's DA (REAR) and SA (front) with 245/45 16 hoosiers and the right driver and I think it can run a whole lot closer to the cooper S and the celica GT then it will ever run to modded 89 civic Hatches.
But to anwser your question, Your brakes will be fine. SleeperSE hit it on the number.
OH MAN Stock pads watch out. Make sure to bring a water bottle to cool them down between runs. Rumor has it they can CATCH FIRE. Stock class in dangerious cause they make you run stock size rotors. YOUR GONNA NEED 17 inch brake discs. Don't even think about 18 inch wheels cause way I hear DUBS are the way to go....
Alright no, Just KIDDING. Stock brakes are fine. Disconnect your front sway bar and go have fun. I'm still running stock pads on my S2000 and I've managed to run with most of the top guys, and even pulled off a national tour win. Pads don't actually help you stop any better unless your experienceing Brake FADE. The limiting factor to how well a car can stop is it's tires. All the brakes in the world will do nothing if your running 2 donut spares up front. So having nice tires will signifigantly reduce your braking distance as well as give other benefits like ummm aiding in cornering and acceleration. If your new to autox I'd suggest picking up some spare wheels and learn on R compound tires. Street tires do last longer but you just don't have as rapid a learning curve on street tires. Hoosiers are hands down the fastest R compounds but your lucky to see 40 laps out of them. some 245/45 16 Kumho victoracers or Toyo RA-1's (forgive me if that name is wrong someone else chip in) will set you back $500 but last a year and teach you a ton. After a year or so You'll be ready to make an intellegent decision about where you want to run the car. STS, STX, G-stock, DSP , or Street mod. I'm convinced the Maxima will never run with any of the STS, or STX cars but I think given the right stuff it could hold it's on in GS. Disconnect the front sway bar and run a set of Pensky's DA (REAR) and SA (front) with 245/45 16 hoosiers and the right driver and I think it can run a whole lot closer to the cooper S and the celica GT then it will ever run to modded 89 civic Hatches.
But to anwser your question, Your brakes will be fine. SleeperSE hit it on the number.
Thanks for all the info but I just want to go out there and have a little fun and see what my car is capable of. I would actually rather leave it as close to my everyday setup as possible so I would know what the handling limits are with my normal setup. I was worried that the brake pads might overheat and be damaged or damage the rotors but it looks like that will not be a problem.Are normal street tire pressures (~30 PSI) to low for the track?
I read your posts about disconecting the front swaybar and it sounds very interesting but I am not ready to do that yet. Somebody else did it and complained about loss of traction --
Originally posted by 2KxSEx
Hey all,
Just killed two birds w/one stone
The problem was in my front sway bar. When I did my suspension I left the front sway bar disconnected to get more oversteer. Well, I found out that that's what caused me to have less traction and made the ride harsher/gave me a lot of bump steer. Now that I tightened it, it's a whole different ball game. I've got the idea of the disconnected FSB in the autox forum. It seemed to make the car more neutral in hard turns, but not enought to justify the added body lean, bumpsteer, less traction, more harshness. So now I have my traction back. Before, when I went into a turn and got on it I would spin my inside tire, which never happened before I messed w/the FSB. I'm a happy camper
I guess everything has a reason for being the way it is huh?
Thanks for all the input fellas.
Hey all,
Just killed two birds w/one stone
The problem was in my front sway bar. When I did my suspension I left the front sway bar disconnected to get more oversteer. Well, I found out that that's what caused me to have less traction and made the ride harsher/gave me a lot of bump steer. Now that I tightened it, it's a whole different ball game. I've got the idea of the disconnected FSB in the autox forum. It seemed to make the car more neutral in hard turns, but not enought to justify the added body lean, bumpsteer, less traction, more harshness. So now I have my traction back. Before, when I went into a turn and got on it I would spin my inside tire, which never happened before I messed w/the FSB. I'm a happy camper I guess everything has a reason for being the way it is huh?Thanks for all the input fellas.
Re: Re: OH NO
Originally posted by Anachronism
Are normal street tire pressures (~30 PSI) to low for the track?
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=192274
Are normal street tire pressures (~30 PSI) to low for the track?
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=192274
Check out the various pressures posted at...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=171690
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 469
Re: Re: Re: OH NO
Originally posted by BEJAY1
30 is probably too low. 40-50 fronts are more inline for starting out.
Check out the various pressures posted at...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=171690
30 is probably too low. 40-50 fronts are more inline for starting out.
Check out the various pressures posted at...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=171690
yupI run 40's in the front and 36's in the back (depending on how much gas I have in the tank)
You should also check what your tires can handle, but a good starting point is 40's all around.
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 82
Re: Re: OH NO
Originally posted by BEJAY1
STX on the other hand the max has a better chance in but the WRX is just STRONG. And the Type R is also very strong. I love driving matts car and I take home Pax FTD everytime I drive it but I've never run it aginst those old civics.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 359
FSB = No Traction!?
- In regards to the unknown person who had disconnected their FSB and then complained about lack of traction... ummm.. that don't make no sense. Sway bars have almost absolutely nothing to do with straightline traction. The guy must've been a stupid piece of rice or something.
- I've been getting a few inquiries about the FSB removal, so I'm just going to do a big, extensive write-up and post it when I get a chance. It will be extremely thorough - my hope is that we can archive it for later reference. I'll try to get it up this weekend.
- I've been getting a few inquiries about the FSB removal, so I'm just going to do a big, extensive write-up and post it when I get a chance. It will be extremely thorough - my hope is that we can archive it for later reference. I'll try to get it up this weekend.
Howdy, cool thread, heres my .02
The FSB disconnection sounds interesting and I sure would like to read it , SleeperSE.
Im competitive in G-stock Novice... I just got the Stillen Catback and Koni shocks and noticed a nice performance gain even though the last event was rainy. I will say this, I am having stock equipment problems.
I pretty much have to go to STS cause I need an aftermarket clutch and rotors. Brakes are fading at times and I have either had bad luck/bad work done on the clutch(es) and the 2nd clutch thats in there (after the 1st disintegrated at Infineon) does not feel grabby, in fact I can overwork it and get it to start slipping for a period of time... and I think I smell it burning a bit. So my experience is if you are really going to push for an autocross season or more, you might want to mod up to STS for clutch in particular. At least, from my experience its seems the way to go. Again, might just be bad mechanics tho. Has stock clutch been fine for anyone?
Looks like the Koni shocks raised up the ride around a full inch! Any suggestions for ways to lower it (next season) with non-stock springs/coilovers?
Cheers
The FSB disconnection sounds interesting and I sure would like to read it , SleeperSE.
Im competitive in G-stock Novice... I just got the Stillen Catback and Koni shocks and noticed a nice performance gain even though the last event was rainy. I will say this, I am having stock equipment problems.
I pretty much have to go to STS cause I need an aftermarket clutch and rotors. Brakes are fading at times and I have either had bad luck/bad work done on the clutch(es) and the 2nd clutch thats in there (after the 1st disintegrated at Infineon) does not feel grabby, in fact I can overwork it and get it to start slipping for a period of time... and I think I smell it burning a bit. So my experience is if you are really going to push for an autocross season or more, you might want to mod up to STS for clutch in particular. At least, from my experience its seems the way to go. Again, might just be bad mechanics tho. Has stock clutch been fine for anyone?
Looks like the Koni shocks raised up the ride around a full inch! Any suggestions for ways to lower it (next season) with non-stock springs/coilovers?
Cheers
Originally posted by Spaniard
Howdy, cool thread, heres my .02
I pretty much have to go to STS cause I need an aftermarket clutch
Cheers
Howdy, cool thread, heres my .02
I pretty much have to go to STS cause I need an aftermarket clutch
Cheers
Any pads and stock size rotors are acceptable though.
wow, thats news to me. really bad news, in fact. What class does it bump me to?
I can get a clutch that is not marketed as a "performance" replacement product, if I am not mistaken, then...
I can get a clutch that is not marketed as a "performance" replacement product, if I am not mistaken, then...
thread change brakes -> clutch
Ian, you have a good point about SP rules. There was much discussion about aftermarket clutches on the ST yahoo site earlier this year as the stock WRX's are grinding theirs to nothing.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/streettouring/
They picked apart ACT style, OEM type but not, OEM with certain aftermarket parts, etc. Consensus (as I read it) was because the rules don't say you can, you cannot. Search clutch and please correct me if I'm wrong.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/streettouring/
They picked apart ACT style, OEM type but not, OEM with certain aftermarket parts, etc. Consensus (as I read it) was because the rules don't say you can, you cannot. Search clutch and please correct me if I'm wrong.
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