I have a new F-Type V6S AWD. I'm planning on taking it to the track. As heavy as the car is, I don't think the OEM Pads will hold up well (and I'm concerned about brake fade). So I was thinking of just changing the pads but leaving the OEM Rotors.

Any issues with doing this? If I go to a track pad, will it chew up the OEM rotor faster than OEM Pads?

Second part to the question... In my last car (BMW M3) I did a brake pad swap before track weekends... put on track pads for the weekend and then swapped back the street pads after the weekend. That worked well on the BMW. Anyone ever do that in the F-Types?

Thanks!

 

The OEM rotors are quite soft and get chewed up by the OEM pads (which are semi-metallic) plenty quick, so probably not much difference with track pads.

 

You will do just fine with OEM pads and OEM rotors. If you insist on changing pads for track only, EBC Yellow Stuff will do well but don't try to drive them on the road or the noise will drive you nuts. Alternatively Porterfield R4 (not R4S) will be a good alternative for track use.

 

Pretty sure Porterfield don't (yet) do R4 for the F-Type, well they didn't last time I checked a month or two ago!

 

I agree with you and when I called Porterfield (as a wholesale buyer) they told me no but the God of this forum, Stuart Dickinson from VAP wote to me that they make them for him when he wants them. I can send you a screenshot if you want. Perhaps you can ask him....

 

A lot of guys on this forum talk about Porterfield pads - I've never heard of them before this forum. What's the deal with them? Are they a track-only pads? Or can you use them for daily driving as well?

They only show an R4-S for my year/make/model - what's the difference between the two?

 

R4S is a street pad (that's what the S stands for), R4 is a track pad.

 

So I take it the Porterfield's is a nice upgrade over OEM? Are these preferable over EBC Yellow Stuff?

 

Yes, the R4S is a very nice upgrade over the OEM pad. Less noise, more progressive, and waaaaay less dust. If you want a street pad they are better (less noise, less dust, better when cold) than the EBC Yellow Stuffs which are much more of a track pad.
I am yet to see a comparison on the track between R4S and Yellow Stuffs, although I suspect the Yellow Stuffs would win out.

 

The OEM pads are better all around pads than the R4S. Has anyone really taken the R4S on a track? While they are NOT track pads, you get to the fade point rather easy. Drive very hard on the road... fades. I agree on the much less brake dust part but I stick with OEM and Yellow stuff as needed.

Porterfield has been around for a while, I remember changing my 1997/98 C5 Vette pads to them as they were the #1 choice back then and they were indeed much better... but then again that is compared to Chevy crap.

 

I wouldn't use RS4 on the track, although some have apparently. The M3 forums guys have tested lots of pads, they have mentioned that the R4S on tight technical tracks can overheat quickly and once above its operating temp range it wears incredibly fast (like in 1 track day). Great for the street, just a tad less initial bite than stock, but the tradeoff is 70% less dust. R4 would be better for the track, but then there are some streetability issues. Can't always get what you want...

 

So back to my original question then... any issues with using R4 pads on track days and swapping back to the OEM pads right after? Keeping the OEM rotors?

That's what I used to do with my E93 M3. 90 min in the garage before and after - But the OEM rotors seemed much better on the M3

 

Wanted to bump this as I'll be swapping to R4 pads for an upcoming track day. I take it no one else has experience with these pads on stock rotors? Any pointers for the install?

Thanks.

 

New rotors too?

 

No, leaving the factory ones.

 

Heaps of threads and posts around here about changing brake pads, search and ye shall find!
It's a relatively easy job both front and rear with only a couple of tricks and traps.

 

Also note that one of the main differences in street vs track pads is bite when cold. Track pads need to be hot to work their best, whereas street pads generally work really well when cold, but less solid once they get too hot... This is the biggest trade-off when casually tracking your car vs. doing it frequently.