new brakes/brake pad?

[seahawkeye]

My 2007 C4S has been on the track 3 total days now and total of 24,000 miles but since the last track event I've noticed the brakes have been a little softer than before. I assume this is a brake pad issue? I'm bringing it in a local indy dealer to have checked out but next question is which brake pads to replace? I got it CPO but I think it's stock with red calipers. Few options I've heard of:

 

suncoast

performance friction

hawk

 

Anyone have experience or recommendations for these? About how much should I expect it to run for brake pad replacement including labor?

[seahawkeye]

btw--the local guy told me over the phone that ceramic would be the way to go, is this other people's suggestion? Anything else I need to be aware of that needs to be replaced when new pads are put in?

[JFP in PA]

For Porsche parts, consider Sunset, one of the board sponsors.

 

When was the last time your brake hydraulic system was flushed?  It is supposed to be done at least every two years, more if you track the car.  Old fluid can quickly make the brakes seem soft, and is an easy fix.

 

As for pad types, they are a matter of personal preferences, but any pad that gives you more hot bite is going to wear the rotors faster. 

[mxt_77]

Most likely, you either:
1) Boiled the brake fluid, or

2) Glazed the pads.

 

To resolve:

For #1) Bleed (or better yet, flush) the brake fluid to get any air out of the lines.  I recommend replacing with a high-temp fluid like Motul RBF600.  It'll hold up better to track temps.  If you're doing frequent track days, you should be flushing brake fluid regularly, anyway.

 

For #2) Replace the pads.  In theory, you could drive on them until eventually wearing off the glazing, but the one time that I glazed my pads, I observed that they also became brittle... so I'd recommend just replacing them.  A lot of people use the factory pads for track days, so you can just put in a new set of stock pads.  They'll generally hold up unless you're at a track that is hard on brakes, or unless your driving style is hard on brakes.  Personally, I have a separate set of Pagid track pads that I use only on track days, because they dust/squeal too much for around-town use.  I just swap them in & out for track days, which is a pretty easy task if you have a basic set of tools.

Edited September 23, 2014 by mxt_77

[seahawkeye]

ok thanks for the suggestions, will check both the brake fluid and pads!