Cracks in OEM brake pads

[MikenOH]

I recently replaced the OEM pads in our 06 Boxster with a poterfield pad. The OEM's had been through 5 track days where the ambient temps were in the 80's and 3 track days where we drove in the rain. The car has 8K mile son it with most of the non-track time on Interstates.

The fronts were around 4MM, the rears around 8MM. More importantly, there were hairline cracks on every pad; one rear was cracked through to the backing pad.

Is this typical? The pad had the brand name "Galfer" on it..FWIW.

My take away on this was anyone doing more than a few DE's on OEM needs to have them pulled out and inspects for more than wear.

Thanks for any help in advance.

[racer_d]

Track days abuse brake pads and brake fluid. I am not suprised that they look as bad as they do.

I wish I could recall, but it wouldn't suprise me to learn your brakes got to 5,6 hundred to 1000 degrees (maybe more?) under severe use. Something has to give, and that is the pad. This is why you would want a dedicated, high performance or race pad on your car for track days, especially if a two driver car.

I once tracked my bone stock Subaru WRX. The pads were abused. Smoke coming out and everything. When I went to the dealer for my 30K mile service, they were shocked to see I needed new pads. A few days at the track really wears out pads built for street duty.