Anyone using a budget break setup for autocross? Thinking slotted rotors ( front ) and really good pads on an 07 gt. I've been able to get faster on course with current setup up but i'm starting to feel as if my breaks are holding me back a little. i'm running in esp with newer mustangs with break packages. I wanna break a little late without blowing the hard turns. Trying to gain those small tens of a sec.

Any ideas?

 

Best bet is new brake lines, good brake fluid, good brakes pads, and OEM rotors for a budget setup. Could do some cheap brake-ducting.

If you want to step up from there the next logical step is larger rotors that are slotted.

 

More aggressive pads, as in more aggressive than Hawk's HPS or anybody else's similarly intended "performance street" pad. The initial bite will be much stronger, so you'll get more braking sooner - and you'll most likely have to "re-calibrate" your brake foot.

But there will be downsides - lots more dust, probably more brake squealing and poorer initial bite in cold weather, and noticeably faster rotor wear (so stick with plain rotors instead of chewing up something more expensive). Hawk's HP+ and Carbotech's XP8 pads fit in here as being streetable pads as long as you can live with the mentioned downsides.

For autocross, brake ducting is generally unnecessary. Better brake lines will provide a slightly firmer pedal, and a good DOT4 fluid is always a good idea. ATE amber seems to be pretty good stuff, but you can find DOT4 with good temperature rating off the shelf at most of the larger parts stores.


Norm

 

Norm is "The Man" when it comes to track knowledge! How about better or wider tires? What you running?

 

Right now I'm still on the 255/45-18 Goodyear Asymmetrics I bought toward the end of 2010. They're mounted on 18x9.5 GT500 wheels, and that's been a very good combination for "3-season" driving with a little autocrossing and a couple of track days thrown in. Two more track days coming up the end of the month and there's still plenty of tread left.

I'm currently looking at going wider for the track time, hopefully 285/35-18 Michelin PSS's on wider than 10" wide wheels.


Norm

 

No need to mess with rotors unless yours are shot. I have run Hawk HP+ and XP8s, and on a budget would go with HP+ for autox. Very good bite, and aren't going to fade at all in autox. Maybe switch to a DOT 4 fluid if your pedal is mushy or gets soft during runs (or the fluid has never been changed), but if you don't have any issues then your pads will be your biggest net gain in terms of brake performance. With the exception of tires, but we're talking brakes right now so we'll keep the focus there.

I have a very lightly used set of front HP+ that I used a few times on my 2010 but now can't use given I have Brembos; PM me if you are interested. Also have some brand new XP10s, but those probably wouldn't be optimal for autox.

 

I use the PFC "Z-Rated" pads (compound 10). About $70/axle. Comparable to the HP+ but less dust. Works very well. No fade. ATE 200 fluid. Slotted rotors will probably not help your cause.

You may want to move away from the staggered setup. Staggered tends to make the car understeer.

 

Thanx a lot for the info everyone. Yea i'm seeing the staggered setup creating some understeer and then rolling the tires a little with 42 psi on the 245/40 rivals . If i can hit my breaking spots right it doesn't understeer as much. But seeing a little fading in the breaks last event what kinda got me looking into the breaks. once these front tires are gone i'm going to put the 275's all the way around. should be able to get them on the 9 inch tires up front. Liked the 255 up front and the turn end from them but no 255 in rivals ;-(

 

I went to the Roush Ebay store and bought takeoff 2012 front and rear rotors and 2012 front calipers for $100, and I got almost an extra inch of rotor diameter. I know it doesn't make a lot of difference but I figured for that kind of money it was a win-win situation.

For pads I'm running EBC redstuff, but will be switching to the yellow ones after they are done and I'm using Motul RBF 600 brake fluid. I had absolutely no brake fade all day, even after 10+ laps going all-out.