BRAKE PADS

Tom_Stinson

Tom_Stinson

Member
Hello,

I have done 4 track days this season 2 at Pitt and 2 at Summit. How often are you guys changing brake pads and what pads are you using?


I’m on a Ducati Panigale V4S. Brake has been fine at all 4 TD’s but don’t want to have issues and want to have a set on deck at track.

Tom Stinson
 
MK3Brent

MK3Brent

Treebeard
Hey Tom,
It’s not a number of days, miles, or laps. It’s a thickness measurement and overall visual inspection of anything suspicious. (Cracks, flakes, chips, etc.)
Check the owners manual for your bike to see their recommended minimum thickness for pads if you’re on stock pads.
Other aftermarket pads may advertise 1mm as the limit.
Good luck, ride safe!
 
HondaGalToo

HondaGalToo

Control Rider
I also like the Vesrah RJL-XX. The Vesrah RJL are fine, too, and less expensive. I get mine from Kurveygirl.com
As mentioned, there are wear grooves in them, but I change them well before they are worn even with those grooves. Once they get that thin, they don't disperse heat as well. Definitely clean the calipers/pistons each time you change them. I push the pistons out and clean with diluted simple green, rinse with distilled water, then dry with a compressor.
Hard to say how many days. I usually get a season out of a set, about 15 days. But I always keep a spare set in the trailer. I check them each time.
 
Motofun352

Motofun352

Control Rider
The pads seem to wear exponentially faster the thinner they get. Once they start to go away they are toast shortly thereafter. I got caught (again) this past weekend at Pitt. Three day affair and I thought I'd be good for all three....nope....after just one day coaching in Novice the brakes just seemed to disappear. They were cooked! Judy's spot on, keep a spare set in your travel kit. That reminds me....I need to call Kurvy gurl.
 
domarena33

domarena33

Track Day Superstar
IMHO... 1mm is asking for trouble. I do not mess around with brakes, as they are our lifeline out there. Im not saying to throw away a good set of pads, but I toss my pads before they get to any sort of limit. If they look questionable, they go. I have 0 issues spending $40 - $100 to know im not going to meet Jesus at a tire wall somewhere. Also, it's worth popping your caliper off if you can't get a GOOD look at both pads. Just because one is wearing ok, doesn't mean the other one is. I just did this on my Vulcan and found out my inner pad is much thinner than my outside and it takes two seconds to do. It may also be worth checking your rotor thickness as well. I'm not duly familiar with rotor thicknesses but i've heard they can thin over time. Im using EBC and trying out Galfer pads here in a little bit. My EBC track day pads can out brake me still and i've had no issues with fade or overly quick wear. Change outs will depend on your pace. Toprak razgatlioglu's mechanics are probably constantly changing his pads whereas a novice track day rider can go well over 15 track days on one set.
 
bmart

bmart

Control Rider
I love my Vesrah RJLs, also from Kurveygirl. I clean my pads with a brass brush whenever they're out. Also clean pistons with toothbrush and SimpleGreen (almost always the reason for squishy brake lever feel). Do this at every brake pad change...but also every tire change or two to keep them working properly and to get your eyes on them.

I run mine until they're gone (I monitor closely and am not suggesting that you run yours this low) and never notice any brake fade, but think that the limit is ~1mm on most . Anything with life in it goes in the spares bin for emergency use for me or another track rider to get them through a day/weekend. Wear indicators vary by make/model of pad. Some have a groove or more. Other are cut at an angle, so when the angle is gone, it is time.

Recent VFR pad replacement, old and new:

20231004_222009sm.jpg

20231004_222049sm.jpg
 
domarena33

domarena33

Track Day Superstar
bmart said:
I love my Vesrah RJLs, also from Kurveygirl. I clean my pads with a brass brush whenever they're out. Also clean pistons with toothbrush and SimpleGreen (almost always the reason for squishy brake lever feel). Do this at every brake pad change...but also every tire change or two to keep them working properly and to get your eyes on them.

I run mine until they're gone (I monitor closely and am not suggesting that you run yours this low) and never notice any brake fade, but think that the limit is ~1mm on most . Anything with life in it goes in the spares bin for emergency use for me or another track rider to get them through a day/weekend. Wear indicators vary by make/model of pad. Some have a groove or more. Other are cut at an angle, so when the angle is gone, it is time.

Recent VFR pad replacement, old and new:

View attachment 10677

View attachment 10678
Click to expand...
These pictures with measurements are cool. :like:
 
tdelegram

tdelegram

Control Rider
On bigger bikes as pads wear down they start transferring more heat into the caliper and fluid which then requires more brake pressure and more heat this brake fade occurs. I usually change the. Between 1/2 and 1/3 of material left to minimize fade and have a consistent lever.
 
CaseyAlbert

CaseyAlbert

Member
tdelegram said:
On bigger bikes as pads wear down they start transferring more heat into the caliper and fluid which then requires more brake pressure and more heat this brake fade occurs. I usually change the. Between 1/2 and 1/3 of material left to minimize fade and have a consistent lever.
Click to expand...
Boom! Just what I was looking for. I was starting to think about just the things in your post this past weekend at Pitt.
Thanks!
 
CaseyAlbert

CaseyAlbert

Member
I do use my brakes, but sometimes think I may be using the engine more than I should. I have learned over the years that it sometimes takes more time to make adjustments in timing than we personally would like. I know I will never be as fast as some of our fantastic coaches, however I am still trying to get better.
I have a problem of turning in too early, then correcting, then re-correctting. I’m working on it.
 
tdelegram

tdelegram

Control Rider
CaseyAlbert said:
I do use my brakes, but sometimes think I may be using the engine more than I should. I have learned over the years that it sometimes takes more time to make adjustments in timing than we personally would like. I know I will never be as fast as some of our fantastic coaches, however I am still trying to get better.
I have a problem of turning in too early, then correcting, then re-correctting. I’m working on it.
Click to expand...
Grab me next time I am there and I can help you fix this easily.
 
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