Went through my NC brakes in under 10000k's

[eastla]

My NC has 9700 k's on the clock.
Noticed some grinding sound coming from front left.
Took to dealer, told me my brakes were gone on the front, 40 percent left on the back.

I did 1 Mazda drive day at Broadford.
1 very wet track day at Winton, probably did about 15 laps all up on that occasion.

Anyhow, 300 bucks later I have new stock pads on the front.

I have never gone through pads this quick in any of my previous cars, and had done more track days in some of those.

Are NC pads very soft?
Is this normal wear?
The dealer also told me to be very careful with the clutch; said a few have been going.

My discs were not machined; just replaced the pads.
Do I need to bed these new pads in?
Half dozen heavy brakes from 60kph or what ever?

[Charlie Brown]

Mine lasted 17K with a lot of track days.
Rears lasted 50K.

Second lot of fronts were replaced after 20K on them but could have gone 25K.

With no trackwork add 10K.

[JBT]

Our car has done 3 track days plus 11,000+km on it's factory pads.

[eastla]

Mine lasted 17K with a lot of track days.
Rears lasted 50K.

Second lot of fronts were replaced after 20K on them but could have gone 25K.

With no trackwork add 10K.

Hi CB, what have I done wrong, to go through them so quick?
I did not think I was abusing them or anything?
You still using the stock pads?

[Craig]

Are you a left foot braker by any chance?

[eastla]

Are you a left foot braker by any chance?

No, I dont left foot brake.

Ok, I had a thought about how I could prematurely go through my pads.

When I had the wet track day at Winton I left the VDC on the whole day.
I basically slowed down for the corneres and then planted my foot and let the VDC do the rest.
Obviously I did not think about the extra wear this would have on the brakes.
So, this may have been the reason for the short pad life?

[JBT]

Is your car an auto? DSC/TC ( I assume that's what you mean by VDC) won't wear out your brakes prematurely.

[eastla]

Is your car an auto? DSC/TC ( I assume that's what you mean by VDC) won't wear out your brakes prematurely.

Car is manual
Yes I mean VDC.

And if the brakes are constantly applied on a race track I think that there is a high chance that they will wear the pads.
Why do you say they wont?

Just something I found in regards to this
"Since VDC uses the ABS you'll see premature brake wear if you try to fight the system. I see it as a lifesaver but when the VDC light goes on it's a signal to cool my jets a bit."
http://ask.metafilter.com/28322/Winter-Driving-Tips

[JBT]

The DSC/TC also modulates power. You'd have to be really overworking/abusing the system over a long period for it to wear out your brakes........and the article you quote refers to winter driving (snowy conditions) in a 2001 Subaru Outback.

You won't wear out your MX-5 pads in less than 10,000km of normal driving plus one Mazda drive day and one track day of 15 laps at Winton. Did you actually inspect the brake pads? Maybe there was something caught between the pad and disc or the pads had glazed causing the noise but you got hit up for pads. Have you owned the car from new?

My car has done 11,500km and three track days. The last day was over 60+ laps (>150km) of track work - DSC/TC on. There is still stacks of meat on the pads - checked when I put the normal road wheels back on.

[eastla]

The DSC/TC also modulates power. You'd have to be really overworking/abusing the system over a long period for it to wear out your brakes........and the article you quote refers to winter driving (snowy conditions) in a 2001 Subaru Outback.

You won't wear out your MX-5 pads in less than 10,000km of normal driving plus one Mazda drive day and one track day of 15 laps at Winton. Did you actually inspect the brake pads? Maybe there was something caught between the pad and disc or the pads had glazed causing the noise but you got hit up for pads. Have you owned the car from new?

My car has done 11,500km and three track days. The last day was over 60+ laps (>150km) of track work - DSC/TC on. There is still stacks of meat on the pads - checked when I put the normal road wheels back on.

I was over working / abusing the DSC; as well as pushing the car to its braking limits while at Winton.

Saying I wont wear out the pads in 10000ks is incorrect.
I have the old pads to prove it ;)

I have owned the car from new, ran it in properly for 1000 k's, but have dríven it hard since then.
On the road I do not abuse the car.
Gentle through gears, respect the clutch etc.
But when I hit the corners I exploit the full potential of the car, and I like to brake late.
On road I always have TC/VSC switched off because it activates way too early for my liking.

JBT, how long have yourr tires lasted?
My Bridgestones are 50 percent gone already.

Also, if I read correctly, you said your VSC/TC was on for 3 track days?]
If they were dry track days would conclude that you are not pushing your car that hard.
With all aids enabled the car is severley limited, you would probably barely reach 70 percent of the cars full potential while cornering.
Therfore you entry speeds to straights would be fairly average, hence at theend of the straight you would be significantly slower than the cars potential; so you would obviously be kinder to the brakes.
Not saying that I am Shumacher or anything; but I drive my car to 9 tenths, and sommetimes a bit over.
Even with this driving I too am VERY surprised that I have gone through pads this quick.
I have had many cars prior to this and tracked them with out going through brakes so quick.
j.
My previous car for example was a 2001 200SX. First set of pads lasted about 20000 k's.
In 70000 ks I went through 3 sets of pads and one set of rotors front and back.

Since day one I have not been 100 percent happy with the brakes on the MX5; even on the road I was over cooking them.
Changed the brake fluid to rbf6000 before track thinking it would help.to Even in the wet I seemed to be over heat the brakes.

Lets hope I have better luck with this second set.

[Hellmun]

It depends on the brake pad material. I know the DS2500's and DS3000's I've used continue biting past the point where my rotors are cherry red.... I got about 7000km's out of my DS2500's and about...4000km out of DS3000's. That was probaly 8 trackdays on teh DS2500's and about 6 on the 3000's. The higher temperature you run the pad/rotor at consistently the faster it will run out. I actually couldn't run hawk hp+ at the track....I melted them. So me and my car are pretty brutal on pads.

[eastla]

It depends on the brake pad material. I know the DS2500's and DS3000's I've used continue biting past the point where my rotors are cherry red.... I got about 7000km's out of my DS2500's and about...4000km out of DS3000's. That was probaly 8 trackdays on teh DS2500's and about 6 on the 3000's. The higher temperature you run the pad/rotor at consistently the faster it will run out. I actually couldn't run hawk hp+ at the track....I melted them. So me and my car are pretty brutal on pads.

Damn, you are really going through those pads ;)

Any reccomendations for suitable track pads for an NC?
I asked this question several months ago, and I remember people said OEM's were the best over all; dont remember why though?

[DavidM]

DSC/TC ( I assume that's what you mean by VDC) won't wear out your brakes prematurely.

DSC uses the brakes, which in itself implies that it will waar the brakes. MX5 is not the only car that 'suffers' from brake-wear due to DSC/VDC ... all cars do if it's active (ie. working) all the time.

It's not much different to driving with your left foot constantly on the brake ... the brake pads will not last very long even if you're just on the freeway.

What Eastla is describing is:
1. Slowing the car via brakes before the corner.
2. Turning the car in, and then using the most/full throttle through the corner while letting the DCS/VDC make sure that the car gets around the corner. This uses all 4 brakes through the corner ... all the way until the car is pointing straight again (ie. on the straight).
3. Then repeat again at the next corner.

The above will use T/C as well, but the brakes are on for ~75% of the time while on the track like Winton while driving like this ... and considering that each session is ~15min, that's a lot of brake use.

The higher temperature you run the pad/rotor at consistently the faster it will run out.

Totally agree. Once the brake-pads are overheated, they wear out extremely quickly (unless they're allowed to cool down).

Not unsual for some people/cars to go through couple sets of pads at tracks like Calder. Some people plan on replacing the pads at lunch time and come arrive expecting (new) pads to be gone 1/2 way through the day.

I got about 7000km's out of my DS2500's and about...4000km out of DS3000's

Was this on the NC? Also how did you find these on the MX5?

[Hellmun]

I have a NB8B which is pretty much a track car. It's done...12,000km's since I got it a year + half ago. So far this year I've already done 8 Super sprint rounds, 6 Mx5 trackdays and 2 Circuit club events. So I'm on my 3rd set of tyres this year and 3rd set of pads as well.

I wouldn't get the ferodo's again, I only got them because they were the right price at the time. This was when the external packaging changed so the ferodo's were under half price which was $185 for the DS2500's, $220 for the DS3000's. Now that would be about $450 for the DS2500's and $480 for DS3000's. I really have liked the ferodo's as I've melted sumitomo and Hawk HP+ pads and the ferodo's just keep on going no matter what I've done to them (I've had my brakes literally on fire ).... I got fade quickly out of both the others. Next I'll be trying hawk blues as they're a lot cheaper and all the race guys say they're have awesome bite. Only problem is the ferodo's are usable to and from the track. I'm told the hawks are rotor destroyers....

For reference my car has DBA4000 front rotors, RDA rears, DS3000 pads on the front, Hawk HP+ on the rear and RBF600 fluid.

[JBT]

....On road I always have TC/VSC switched off because it activates way too early for my liking.

JBT, how long have yourr tires lasted?
My Bridgestones are 50 percent gone already.

Heaps of tread - I'm up to 12,000km as of today. The wheel alignment is correct (not the ex-factory shambles) but I use a separate set of wheels/tyres for track days.

Also, if I read correctly, you said your VSC/TC was on for 3 track days?

Nope, the DSC/TC was only used on the last one and it only activated in two areas.

Therfore you entry speeds to straights would be fairly average, hence at theend of the straight you would be significantly slower than the cars potential; so you would obviously be kinder to the brakes.

Nope, your assumption is incorrect. At our last timed sprint day - 42 cars present - only two standard (I think) non-forced induction cars (both NBs) set faster times than I did. I do admit to braking a bit early.

Since day one I have not been 100 percent happy with the brakes on the MX5; even on the road I was over cooking them..........Even in the wet I seemed to be over heat the brakes.

Jeebus

Lets hope I have better luck with this second set.

My fingers are crossed for you