Awesome!

[GOTTSPD]

Hi all.

Just wanted to give some positive feedback with regard to a few recent events. I recently went to Summit Point (track outside of the DC Metro area) for my first track event in the NSX and had a great time with DCNSX, EDGEMTS and VBNSX.

Unfortunately, while my car did great in most every way, it was not up to the job of braking track style. Had pretty significant brake fade and fluid spewed out of the ABS resevoir and more fluid was in the driver's side wheel well.

Clearly it was time for some sort of brake upgrade. Xavier (VBNSX) took me for a ride in his NSX and his brakes are amazing - stock setup (i.e., calipers and rotors), with track pads, braided lines and racing fluid. When he hit the brakes, it felt like someone throw an anchor out of the window. I was impressed that the stock setup is so capable with minor mods and without the necessity of a massive upgrade.

While I don't plan on tracking the car very often, it would be nice to be able to stop on a dime and to have brakes that are up to the challenge of a track day. So having no shame, I copied everything Xavier had!

Mike F. (EDGEMTS) installed the Carbotech Panther Plus pads, braided lines and ATE Super Blue fluid this weekend, while we chatted about everything under the sun. He was very careful with every part of the job and I had the pleasure of hearing some great racing stories and getting to spend time with a really nice fellow NSX'er.

I've got to tell you, these brakes are absolutely amazing. I've never driven a car that could stop so well. I had to remind myself not to hit the brakes too hard as I might cause a collision with the person behind me smacking my car because I stopped so fast!

I'd put these pads (or maybe a step down street version) if they were available for my CL and my wife's Saab!

So, I want to give a big thank you to Xavier for being a great instructor at the track and for recommending his setup, Mike F. for installing all this stuff and Carbotech for making great brake pads.

-Michael

 

[donwon]

Cool man! I was wondering what happened to your saab :smile:

 

[GOTTSPD]

Are you referring to my wife's Saab? If so, that's a different one..... We've had 5 Saabs over the last few years. She currently drives a 9'5 Aero......... The black one that I mod'd was set out to pasture late last year due to inoperable rust in the frame rails. Sad day...........

 

[VBNSX]

:biggrin:

Thanks so much for the kind words. I had a lot of fun that day. Can't wait to do it again.

So how did those pictures turn out? Are all things good to go for future daughter coming to the track? :smile:

Hope to see ya again in the near future!

cheers,
x

 

[cfra7]

What is meant by "race" brake fluid? How often does it need to be changed? Can these pads be driven on the street or do they need to be changed once you get home. The vrakes are my problem on the NSX as well. It seems that I'm able to over heat just about everything....

 

[GOTTSPD]

Race fluid has a much higher boiling point (both wet and dry) then DOT 3 and DOT 4 type brake fluids. The fluid should be flushed based on usage. I don't have the tool to do so, but there's a way to measure the boiling point of the fluid, which tells you how its doing. Probably can get a good year or two out of it, I would guess. The Carbotech pads are technically track pads, but I'm going to keep them on my car all the time (for the time being anyway).

 

[nsxtasy]

What is meant by "race" brake fluid?

GOTTSPD answered this question. Because the boiling temperatures are higher, the brake fluid is more resistant to boiling, and fade problems that can result. The wet and dry boiling points for most popular fluids can be found in this previous post.

How often does it need to be changed?

If you never take your car onto a racetrack, you can probably get by with Acura's recommendation of every 30K miles or 2 years, whichever comes first. If you take your car to the racetrack, it should be changed much more frequently. When I go to the track, I prefer to use brake fluid that has been flushed within the previous 6-8 months. I know some folks who do so more often than that. Most track folks would not use brake fluid that is more than a year old on the track.

Can these pads be driven on the street or do they need to be changed once you get home.

I tried the Carbotech Panther Plus pads (the ones that VBNSX) and while they perform well on the track, they squeal loudly on the street, and I stopped using them for this reason. (If the squealing doesn't bother you, then you could use them on the street.) Since then I have been using the GT Sport brake pads sold by Cobalt Friction. They are a terrific street-track pad, with performance good enough for HPDE track events, but without the downsides of pure track pads (squealing, need to warm up to be effective, etc). Cobalt also has some great track pads (their Spec VR is awesome) if you're willing to change your pads before and after your track events. Give them a call and they will help you choose the pads that best meet your needs. They are also very familiar with the NSX, because their president is a long-time NSX owner.

The vrakes are my problem on the NSX as well. It seems that I'm able to over heat just about everything....

It's a common beginner mistake to use the brakes more than is necessary. Try to concentrate on using the brakes hard but over a shorter distance. And, with experience, you won't have to slow down as much because your speeds will increase through the turns.

 

[VBNSX]

... It's a common beginner mistake to use the brakes more than is necessary. Try to concentrate on using the brakes hard but over a shorter distance. And, with experience, you won't have to slow down as much because your speeds will increase through the turns.

In regards to this part I can say, that was my thought also. Unfortunately, when we came into turn 1, we came in at a good speed that track pads would've definitely helped... it was interesting approaching the turn b/c when we came in w/ that speed, I knew we weren't going to have enough stopping power w/ the stock stuff.. Fortunately, Michael didn't try to do the whole 'save the turn' and turn in while braking hard. Just calmly kept on the brakes deep into the turn and just wrote it off as one turn lost. Definitely a sigh of relief being the passenger... :smile: Still gotta love that fresh smell of cooked pads.. :tongue:

Michael has had much experience in the past regarding track time... just new to the nsx.... something I know will change.. :wink:

x

 

[nsxtasy]

Michael has had much experience in the past regarding track time... just new to the nsx....

Some of the previous posts made it sound otherwise; thanks for the clarification!