[Randi820]

Hi all,

Looking for some help with my brakes. I plan on doing about 5 track day/weekends and I drive my car on the street, the car is stock. I didn't like how my OEM pads did last season so I am thinking of starting by getting new pads, stainless lines, and better brake fluid. My two questions-
1. do you think stainless lines are worth doing?

2. which pads?? I've read most of the brake pad thread and am still slightly lost. Two shops recommended Hawk pads, I called Hawk and he said go elsewhere because they don't make ones for the front on my car. I called Stoptech, he made it sound like they would need to be bedded often which worries me because I don't drive it that often. Lastly, I called EBC and she recommend the blue stuff.

Any thoughts/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!

[K8_M235i]

Originally Posted by Randi820

Hi all,

Looking for some help with my brakes. I plan on doing about 5 track day/weekends and I drive my car on the street, the car is stock. I didn't like how my OEM pads did last season so I am thinking of starting by getting new pads, stainless lines, and better brake fluid. My two questions-
1. do you think stainless lines are worth doing?

2. which pads?? I've read most of the brake pad thread and am still slightly lost. Two shops recommended Hawk pads, I called Hawk and he said go elsewhere because they don't make ones for the front on my car. I called Stoptech, he made it sound like they would need to be bedded often which worries me because I don't drive it that often. Lastly, I called EBC and she recommend the blue stuff.

Any thoughts/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!

A few things: Rubber lines are not as bad as they used to be. With that being said, I have stainless lines on my cars.

Our brake pads are the exact same as f8x brake pads, so if you don't see "m235i pads", search for f8x pads. They are the same and will fit.

I have used a few different brands. My most recent couple sets have been hawk DTC-60s. I think I liked my pagid rsl29s more, but the cost isn't worth it to me.

You also mention 5 events and you will still drive you car on the street. Will you swap back and forth between pads? Track oriented compounds are extremely loud and dusty.

[Randi820]

Originally Posted by K8_M235i

A few things: Rubber lines are not as bad as they used to be. With that being said, I have stainless lines on my cars.

Our brake pads are the exact same as f8x brake pads, so if you don't see "m235i pads", search for f8x pads. They are the same and will fit.

I have used a few different brands. My most recent couple sets have been hawk DTC-60s. I think I liked my pagid rsl29s more, but the cost isn't worth it to me.

You also mention 5 events and you will still drive you car on the street. Will you swap back and forth between pads? Track oriented compounds are extremely loud and dusty.

Thank you! I don't plan on swapping them back and forth. I don't care as much about brake dust, but I can't stand the loud ones.

[K8_M235i]

Originally Posted by Randi820

Thank you! I don't plan on swapping them back and forth. I don't care as much about brake dust, but I can't stand the loud ones.

Every dedicated track pad is going to be very loud.

There are some "sport" pads which offer a small improvement over stock pads. These won't be loud, but they also aren't really made for the track.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Randi820

Thank you! I don't plan on swapping them back and forth. I don't care as much about brake dust, but I can't stand the loud ones.

Unfortunately, it's the loud ones that rapidly slow the car on the track.

I ran Hawk DTC-70s front and rear on my M240i. I left them on between events. The dust was an issue for me, and I managed it by regularly cleaning the wheels and calipers. It took a while to find a cleaner, sealer, and brushes that made the job something I could live with. I removed the wheels to clean them and so I could get to the calipers.

For the noise, I learned how to manage it on the street. Pedal modulation was key; e.g., noise starts up, release just enough pressure so it stops, then start pressing harder again, rinse-and-repeat until the car is stopped. The technique wasn't as bad as it might sound. If I'd stopped the car normally the screeching would have been intolerable.

[Randi820]

Thank you both!

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Randi820

Thank you both!

You're welcome!

The performance vs. convenience/livability issue is always there. In the end, we all figure out for ourselves where we want to be along that continuum.

For me, on a 0-10 scale with 0 = perfect comfort and 10 = all-out performance, I think my sweet spot is around 6.5. That explains why I was willing to live with DTC-70 pads on the street, but not front TC Kline double-adjustable coilovers (even though the double-adjustables in the rear have been fine on the street). NVH was the deciding factor in that case, and I was led to my decision by TC Kline, who told me that his double-adjustables in the front were not going to be pleasant to live with on the street.

The comfort/performance balance for street-driven cars is very much a personal thing. If you ask me, the trick is to figure out that balance for yourself without spending a large sum of money trying out different combinations. I think this forum is a good place to help you in that regard.

[Randi820]

Originally Posted by dradernh

You're welcome!

The performance vs. convenience/livability issue is always there. In the end, we all figure out for ourselves where we want to be along that continuum.

For me, on a 0-10 scale with 0 = perfect comfort and 10 = all-out performance, I think my sweet spot is around 6.5. That explains why I was willing to live with DTC-70 pads on the street, but not front TC Kline double-adjustable coilovers (even though the double-adjustables in the rear have been fine on the street). NVH was the deciding factor in that case, and I was led to my decision by TC Kline, who told me that his double-adjustables in the front were not going to be pleasant to live with on the street.

The comfort/performance balance for street-driven cars is very much a personal thing. If you ask me, the trick is to figure out that balance for yourself without spending a large sum of money trying out different combinations. I think this forum is a good place to help you in that regard.

For sure!! Thanks again! I see you're in Ohio, I'm hoping to get down to Mid Ohio this year. I've heard it's an awesome track.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Randi820

I'm hoping to get down to Mid Ohio this year. I've heard it's an awesome track.

Here's what it looks like from inside an M240i: https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1769652.

[Randi820]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Here's what it looks like from inside an M240i: https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1769652.

Awesome!!!