Brake Pad Thickness

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Jul 8, 2011 | 02:45 PM
  #1  
I've got one track day coming up and my front pads (just from visual inspection) appear to be getting close to needing replacement. They are bigger than the black backing plates, but not by much. What is the mm thickness before the pad sensors get hit? I am debating on doing a pad replace & fluid flush before or after the track runs.
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Jul 11, 2011 | 12:30 AM
  #2  
Do it. Pads are cheap..
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Jul 11, 2011 | 03:40 AM
  #3  
agreed. I remember waaayyy back when I was in high school. My afternoon job was at a gas station and I still remember the people that would come in to get their oil checked and not get oil when it was low. One guy was a couple of quarts down and said ok, thanks...getting an oil change next week....he was in for the oil change and the oil pan was full of metal...

Replacing the pads is a lot cheaper than doing the pads and sensors!
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Jul 11, 2011 | 07:21 PM
  #4  
Quote: agreed. I remember waaayyy back when I was in high school. My afternoon job was at a gas station and I still remember the people that would come in to get their oil checked and not get oil when it was low. One guy was a couple of quarts down and said ok, thanks...getting an oil change next week....he was in for the oil change and the oil pan was full of metal...

Replacing the pads is a lot cheaper than doing the pads and sensors!
Ditto, but I was wondering if there was a recommended thickness for changing pads. I don't want to wait until the sensors get triggered.
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Jul 13, 2011 | 07:44 PM
  #5  
Do NOT show up to a track day with questionable brake pads; you will almost certainly regret it!
Get new pads, have them bleed the brakes, go bed them in - and have an AWESOME day
And don't forget to post some pics
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Jul 13, 2011 | 07:45 PM
  #6  
BTW, I assume you are going to Road Atlanta?
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Jul 13, 2011 | 09:14 PM
  #7  
I'd say 2 or 3mm for sensors. I changed mine at ~4mm with a lot of meat left and sensors were fine.
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Jul 22, 2011 | 03:11 PM
  #8  
Here's a quick phone pic of the pads. They are basically the same size as the backing plate.

I think I am going to change them this week.

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Jul 29, 2011 | 11:06 PM
  #9  
Scott when are you running
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Jul 30, 2011 | 03:51 PM
  #10  
Quote: Scott when are you running
In a week.

I took it by my MB dealer this week and they said there's about 45% left. I am tracking it without replacing the pads. It will probably need 'em afterwards.
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Aug 5, 2011 | 11:19 AM
  #11  
Pics here...

http://www.chinmotorsports.com/galle...anta/index.asp

Looks like there were some pretty awesome cars.
Did you make it???????
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Aug 5, 2011 | 01:48 PM
  #12  
I'm due for another set. My dealership service manager cites 3mm as minimal thickness. AS
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Aug 5, 2011 | 01:58 PM
  #13  
AS, how many miles are you at now? Also, how long did your first set of pads last?
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Aug 5, 2011 | 07:07 PM
  #14  
Speaking of pads any one know of a better ( than the oem ) compound available for the black ?
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Aug 8, 2011 | 11:17 AM
  #15  
Quote: Pics here...

http://www.chinmotorsports.com/galle...anta/index.asp

Looks like there were some pretty awesome cars.
Did you make it???????
Would have been nice to hear that LFA screaming around the track.

No, I did not do Chin at RA. I did Roebling Road on Saturday with PCA. It was my first time with the BS out on track, and first time at RRR... I was pretty impressed with the car. The problem was not with the car, it was with the driver. I need more seat time to get my nerves up to push the car harder on street tires. I was also learning RRR for the first time.

Next time out will be RA.
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Aug 8, 2011 | 11:42 AM
  #16  
Quote: Would have been nice to hear that LFA screaming around the track.

No, I did not do Chin at RA. I did Roebling Road on Saturday with PCA. It was my first time with the BS out on track, and first time at RRR... I was pretty impressed with the car. The problem was not with the car, it was with the driver. I need more seat time to get my nerves up to push the car harder on street tires. I was also learning RRR for the first time.

Next time out will be RA.
How were your lap times?
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Aug 8, 2011 | 12:39 PM
  #17  
[QUOTE=mellowyellow;4785937 The problem was not with the car, it was with the driver. I need more seat time to get my nerves up to push the car

[/QUOTE]

OK, you are already ahead of the curve!!!!!
Most people fixate on what the car can or cannot do. The truth is that, no matter what you drive, the driver is almost always the "weakest link".
And BTW, welcome to a potentially VERY addictive sport
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Aug 8, 2011 | 05:56 PM
  #18  
Quote: How were your lap times?
Don't know, I had my G-Timer with me but didn't use it, and I did not use the built-in lap timer either. Was too focused on learning the track and doing the right line. I wasn't fast, except down the long front straight where I was leaving everyone.
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Aug 8, 2011 | 07:29 PM
  #19  
Quote: AS, how many miles are you at now? Also, how long did your first set of pads last?
Now at 40,000 miles. This is my second set. Almost all street use, as I have a number of track cars. AS
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