Track Brake Pad longevity
 

I own a 1999 Boxster(stock power) that I use for PCA DE events. I pretty much only run at Mosport. I started with EBC yellow brake pads but destroyed them in 1 weekend. Then I went to Dynamic Friction Track pads and they were done after a weekend as well plus they weren't great(get what you pay for).
So then I went and got a set of Hawk DTC-60 pads, which were ok, but even with those the pedal would get a bit long after 3 or 4 laps and they have maybe 1 day left on them after 1 DE weekend. I have tried both Motul RBF660 and 600 fluid. I have Goodridge steel braided lines. GT3 brake ducts. Tires are Hankook RS4 on 17" twists. New Zimmerman rotors.
I do run the car VERY hard. I am in black run group and have startled more than a few much faster cars under braking and into corners.
The other issue is cost. Am I just fighting a losing battle trying to get a good brake pad that will last a few weekends for a decent price? I'd love to upgrade to "S" brakes but it's a cost and availability issue up here.
And yes I do understand that it's a Porsche and it's expensive and if I can't afford it I should sell it and so on and so on. :o

Just thought I'd ask if somebody has any recommendations other than slowing down or winning the lottery before I pack it in and take up crochet. :cheers:

You probably need real hose ducts

I have used Pagid with great results. Never any fade.

ebc are garbage imho, but even street pads should last longer than that. race cars run these pads in endurance events hey? i second the pagids - endurance pads with a lot of history in porsche racing. if they don't last you have an issue someplace. also try asking at rennlist.

PFC 08 are excellent pads for the 986 Boxster. No bed in required. Good braking until they are gone. Don't fade or crumble when hot.

Something is wrong if you have brake fad after just a few laps with DTC60's. I can run a 90-minute enduro on a hot day in my SPB and still have strong brakes at the end. Longevity with DTC60's on the front of my car are usually around 6-8 days on track. After that, I send them back to FCPEuro and only pay shipping (lifetime warranty).

When did you last rebuild your calipers? Are they sticking and overheating?

did your shop put the pads in - and are they a race shop? if they don't know better they might put the anti-squeal dampers in. race pads tend to be wider than street pads and with the anti-squeal dampers in place the pads can drag and heat stuff up pretty quick.

You don't need S brakes -- the stock ones are plenty good.
We endurance race a 99 Boxster (and I also race SPB).

We run PAGID RSL1 or RSL 29s -- We can run at least all weekend on a set of pads -- that usually in excess of 20 hours of track time.

I would see if you had a sticking caliper, it could be they are rubbing and either chewing through the pads -- or overheating and disintegrating them.

Thank you for all the replies.

The calipers do not seem to be sticking, the pistons are very free and smooth.
Pagid pads and PFC pads here in Canada are in the $550-$700 range. Not in my budget sadly. I wouldn't mind paying that if they lasted 4+ events but at 1 event per set, there's no way. I'm starting to wonder if it's just my driving style? Most people in DE are braking at the 250-100 foot mark and I brake at about 70-50 feet after the long back straight. I assume that anyone racing SPB would be braking in a similar way to me soooo....?

This next DE will probably be my last with the Boxster as I have acquired a 944 Track car and will most likely start to use that instead. The Boxster will become a dedicated street car. :)

I had a 944 track car and when I added hose ducts I nearly doubled my pad life

Late to the party, but I've run PFC 08 and Pagid RSL 29. Pagids were fantastic. I was fully ready to settle on using them forever. I must have gotten like 6 events on them. But... PFC 08 is on a different level. They barely wear. I've got maybe 4 events on my current set with maybe 30% wear.

Thanks for all of the input guys and/or gals.

I was with Darren (OP) at the last track event, and his Hawks just started to work. He drove 3 days of HPDE sessions and they barely wore and were working very well. He did say he changed his driving style a bit (he is an instructor now) and that may have played a factor. I was using Dynamic Friction Active Performance pads, and I have to say, so far I really like them. They dust like mad, but never faded (using RBF600 fluid) and they don't look like they have worn much at all.

^^^ This -- add the gt3 brake ducts for the Boxster -- its cheap -- maybe $30-50 a pair.

Both Darren and I have the GT3 air deflectors, unless you mean something else? I paid under $12 for the pair from Pelican, so yes, well worth the money.

and if you feel the need to get some cooling on the rear ...

http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/65879-rear-brake-ducts.html

Nope that was what i was referring to -- I couldn't remember the price -- so even cheaper than I remembered. Maybe the cheapest performance part Porsche sells :-)

I’ve run Mosport many times. It is a momentum track that usually does not require hard braking, especially on a low hp car. I’d lean more to driving style than pads. I use Hawk DT60 and get 8 days out of them. Mostly at Watkins Glen now, which has two hard braking zones.
You might want to run Track Addict or similar data and evaluate your turn in, apex and exit speeds. You are surely losing time if you’re braking that hard.

I don't think he's losing time, and at the last weekend he ran the Boxster, even though the pads were really worn down, the braking was excellent. It's like the thinner they got the better they worked. He has a super-charged 944 for the track now, so I don't think he's too concerned about the Boxster brakes now.

I have some parts for sale on the general classifieds that were on track dedicated 986 Boxster.

When I was tracking my 986, I went from EBC reds to ebc yellows and cooked them at Buttonwillow. Switched to dtc60'S and loved them . Got at least 8 heavy track days on a set and I brake hard.
+986 on FCP's replacement policy