More brake pad qustions

[yamaha731]

At the BMW autocross last weekend I cooked my front pads to the point that there was smoke billowing form the wheel wells so I'm thinkin I might need to upgrade my pads. It's a 1990 mustang that I only autocross and possibly a track day soon. I'm leaning towards the Hawk HP plus manly because I'm not concerned with noise or brake dust (if you have seen my mustang you would know I'm not worried about dust) I just want the best performing brake pad I can get for less then $100.

bye the way stock calipers and rotors

[Loren]

That BMW course was particularly hard on brakes, especially in a car with really quick acceleration such as yours. (but even in my Yaris... I was smelling brakes at the end of every run, and was glad I had EBC's on there!) You were probably braking from 70 to 50, 70 to 50, 70 to 35, 80 to 50, 70 to 30 and then 60 to 0. (and I'm being conservative with your speeds, I was topping out at 66 in the Yaris... your car is WAY faster!)

HP Plus might be a good "multi-purpose" pad for something like a Miata. Light, and not really fast. I don't think they'd be up to the task on your car. You need a real track pad for the kind of abuse you put them through.

If you go to Sebring, keep in mind that a SLOW car reaches 90-110 mph in 5 places on the track in each 3-minute lap. In your car, I'd expect 150 on the back straight (braking down to 70ish for T-17), at least 120 on the front straight (slowing to 80ish for T1), 110+ coming into the hairpin (slowing to 50ish), 110+ coming into T10 (slowing to 50ish) and probably 120ish coming into T14 (slowing to 60ish by the time you reach T16). Don't take chances with your brakes if you're taking a fast car to Sebring!

Hawk makes some good track pads, as does EBC and Carbotech and a few others. Brand isn't important. Specs are important.

Get some brake cooling ducts in there, too. Airflow is good.

There's also something to be said for learning a little bit of brake moderation. Some tracks (and autox courses) are really hard on brakes, but you can help by not using the brakes as much. Lift early and brake less or not at all where possible. Brake hard only where absolutely necessary. A lot of times, learning such techniques will smooth out your driving and actually give you faster lap times. Less brake wear and faster times... win-win!

[AScoda]

Keep in mind---No anti-lock brakes. A grabbier pad may mean more flat spotted tires.

[Loren]

Keep in mind---No anti-lock brakes. A grabbier pad may mean more flat spotted tires.

Race pad doesn't necessarily mean grabbier (though it is a factor to consider), the big thing is higher heat capacity.

Most people adapt pretty quickly to a grippier pad and learn to apply less brake pressure. With the tires he's running, I don't think he'll have any trouble at all.

[AScoda]

It's quite easy to wreck even sticky tires. I corded a 3 month old V710 locking up a front wheel. A $180.00 goof.
Perhaps you underestimate the destructive power of the Mustang! Yellow_Colorz_PDT_08

[Loren]

Well, really... it's a lesson everyone learns. I trashed a brand new set of Pirellis at an autocross once by flat spotting them. Did it on one single turn, and it was completely avoidable. Absolutely no need for me to stand on the brakes and scrub those tires for 50 feet. Since then, I'm more cognizant of locking up tires. I bet you are, too!

It was an expensive lesson, about at $400 set of tires. But, I think what drove the point home more than that was the fact that I spent the next 8 months thump-thump-thumping around on square tires. (it was particularly annoying when the two flat-spotted front tires got in synch with each other!)

[yamaha731]

installed a set of Hawk hp plus on the front will I was doing that I noticed 1 of my header tubes had a pinch in it like it got hit then I noticed one of the welds on the exhaust hangers was broke of leaving a nice hole in the pipe then I realized this was all caused bye the bolt's on my transmission being lose.

So what I'm saying is tighten up your lose bolts

[Native]

Dang Chris. Maybe you ought check the lugnuts!