Let's talk Miata brakes

"Not a Sunburst Miata" (moezsayani)
09/13/2018 at 15:38 • Filed to: None

Impulse signed up for a track day in the Miata to force me to finish prepping it this weekend. I’m currently running OEM semi-metallic brakes/rotors that I replaced a couple months ago. They probably have ~1500 miles on them. Fluid is Motul RBF600.

Am I OK to track on these brakes or should I just spring for the Hawk HP+ (the only ones I can get before track day on Tuesday). If I stay with the OEM for this track day, I’ll order some GLoc pads for the next one.

Track is MSR Cresson 1.7 CCW. Pretty easy on brakes, only one heavy braking zone into Rattlesnake (turns 9-12).

UPDATE: gonna take the stock pads for now. I’d much rather get GLocs instead of Hawks anyways.

DISCUSSION (8)

Textured Soy Protein > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 15:51

Hawk HP+ are more of an autocross pad with high initial bite than something meant for extended high temps of lapping. But in a light car like a Miata they may hold up. I had a set on my NB many years ago and hated them because it was mostly a street car, and they were dusty and noisy as all hell.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 15:53

Track the stock brakes or you’ll never know if and when they will fade on you.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 15:55

Hawk HP+ are shit....but still less bad (note I didn’t say “better”) than stock Miata pads

daender > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 16:01

I’d recommend upgrading to later 1.8 NA/NB brakes and master cylinder whenever possible. Those are usually more than enough to slow down a stock Miata, especially since it’s what Spec Miata runs! You should be fine on stock pads. Get a good feel for them and their limits before upgrading!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 16:17

I've been tracking my Miata on completely stock pads. I've now done Streets of Willow, Autoclub Speedway, and Buttonwillow all on the same set of stock pads. I replaced and bled my brake fluid once in there but just with some standard dot 4 cheap stuff. Unless you are racing competitively you don't need anything beyond stock to track Miata. That's the beauty of using a Miata in the first place!

Driver_41 > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 16:18

You can get away with it, but they will fade towards the end of a session, they will wear quickly, and they generally won’t feel as good as a true high-temp pad.

Not a Sunburst Miata > daender
09/13/2018 at 16:39

That is the eventual plan!

WRXforScience > Not a Sunburst Miata
09/13/2018 at 18:18

Track pads for the track and street pads for the street, don’t confuse them.

The only street pads that work at the track are on cars that only drive slow enough that they don’t need to brake to begin with.

HP+ are not track pads. The newer Hawk Street/Race compound works at the track for light, low power cars on street tires but they’re the only “hybrid” pad that works at the track.

Dog House Performance is located at MSR Cresson and they might have pads in stock for your Miata. Check with them.

If it rains, avoid the dry line. The dry line is slicker than hell when it is wet, only cross it in straight lines and avoid it whenever possible in the wet.

If I get my sway bar bracket fixed on Saturday I might sign up for the Tuesday TNiA (if that’s when you’re going). I could give you a ride in my BRZ (I’ve given rides with them before since I run in the advanced group and am an instructor with multiple groups who run at MSR-C, but they seem to change their policies depending on who and how many show up).