brake pads- are they finished.

MD-370z · 09-28-2010, 07:05 PM

Hi guys,

Just came back from the track and boiled my brakes over, so I know i need new fluid. Checked my rotors with some sun light on them and noticed there are marks all over my rotors like someone put a crayon against the rotors while they were spinning. It is on both front rotors ( with different patterns) while the rear rotors are fine. My question is, it looks like without taking the wheel off that there is still some pad left? I have another track day coming soon ( this saturday) and I know i wont be able to get new pads before that, will a simple fluid flush be enough to get me on the track as I definitely lost braking power, felt it on the drive home.

ps. dont know how to add a picture can someone inform me how, so i can make this threat usefull. thanks in advance!

spearfish25 · 09-28-2010, 09:10 PM

If you boiled your fluid, you were likely pretty tough on your stock pads. However, I have a couple friends (site members as well) who have done numerous track and autox event on their stock pads, and they still have pad life remaining. Chances are that you just boiled the fluid and you're seeing some pad transfered onto the rotor. If you hold the brakes while stopped with very hot pads/rotors, you can even deposit enough brake pad onto the rotor to give yourself a nasty vibration.

Short story...bleed and/or change your fluid if you boiled it (brake pedal became mushy and went to the floor). If the car is still braking well and you're not hearing terrible screeching when you brake, you have SOME pad left. Best bet is to just pull a pad out while you bleed the brakes and have a look directly.

MD-370z · 09-28-2010, 09:13 PM

alright thanks a lot spearfish, i got a picture of the residue on my iphone not sure how to upload it to this site. there is still some braking left and no screeching, and yes the pedal did go to the floor and is still mushy, haven't had time to flush the fluid. I don't feel any vibrations they are just look like white crayon on the rotors.

import111 · 09-28-2010, 09:14 PM

Always be 100% sure on brakes before a track day...or any day for that matter. General rule of thumb I have heard for the track is if the pad is thicker than the backing plate, you are good to go. If the pad is thinner than the backing plate than no more track days. I have used that rule for years with 2 different cars and been good so far.

MD-370z · 09-28-2010, 10:08 PM

ok so I have made an album, and according to the faqs i just view it and press the button upload pictures, problem is i click on my album and i get taken to a page that shows the most recent albums from other users. I am not the most technically savvy, but I didn't think uploading a picture to a forum would require this much ingenuity, can anyone help me out?

cossie1600 · 09-28-2010, 11:30 PM

It's very easy to change pads and swap fluid on the 370, it's a 1.5 hour job that can save your life. You don't want to go into the corner without brakes, it took me 3 years to get my mojo back completely after my off due to brake failure.

If you already boiled your fluid, you need to flush that out no matter what. When you flush the fluids, peek inside the caliper to see how much pads you have left. It really only takes 1.5 hours to do.

09-28-2010, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
MD-370z Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: canada Posts: 137 Drives: 370z,MB, sport, m6, Rep Power: 16	brake pads- are they finished. Hi guys, Just came back from the track and boiled my brakes over, so I know i need new fluid. Checked my rotors with some sun light on them and noticed there are marks all over my rotors like someone put a crayon against the rotors while they were spinning. It is on both front rotors ( with different patterns) while the rear rotors are fine. My question is, it looks like without taking the wheel off that there is still some pad left? I have another track day coming soon ( this saturday) and I know i wont be able to get new pads before that, will a simple fluid flush be enough to get me on the track as I definitely lost braking power, felt it on the drive home. ps. dont know how to add a picture can someone inform me how, so i can make this threat usefull. thanks in advance!

09-28-2010, 09:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	If you boiled your fluid, you were likely pretty tough on your stock pads. However, I have a couple friends (site members as well) who have done numerous track and autox event on their stock pads, and they still have pad life remaining. Chances are that you just boiled the fluid and you're seeing some pad transfered onto the rotor. If you hold the brakes while stopped with very hot pads/rotors, you can even deposit enough brake pad onto the rotor to give yourself a nasty vibration. Short story...bleed and/or change your fluid if you boiled it (brake pedal became mushy and went to the floor). If the car is still braking well and you're not hearing terrible screeching when you brake, you have SOME pad left. Best bet is to just pull a pad out while you bleed the brakes and have a look directly. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

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09-28-2010, 09:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
MD-370z Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: canada Posts: 137 Drives: 370z,MB, sport, m6, Rep Power: 16	alright thanks a lot spearfish, i got a picture of the residue on my iphone not sure how to upload it to this site. there is still some braking left and no screeching, and yes the pedal did go to the floor and is still mushy, haven't had time to flush the fluid. I don't feel any vibrations they are just look like white crayon on the rotors.

09-28-2010, 09:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Always be 100% sure on brakes before a track day...or any day for that matter. General rule of thumb I have heard for the track is if the pad is thicker than the backing plate, you are good to go. If the pad is thinner than the backing plate than no more track days. I have used that rule for years with 2 different cars and been good so far.

09-28-2010, 10:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
MD-370z Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: canada Posts: 137 Drives: 370z,MB, sport, m6, Rep Power: 16	ok so I have made an album, and according to the faqs i just view it and press the button upload pictures, problem is i click on my album and i get taken to a page that shows the most recent albums from other users. I am not the most technically savvy, but I didn't think uploading a picture to a forum would require this much ingenuity, can anyone help me out?

09-28-2010, 11:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	It's very easy to change pads and swap fluid on the 370, it's a 1.5 hour job that can save your life. You don't want to go into the corner without brakes, it took me 3 years to get my mojo back completely after my off due to brake failure. If you already boiled your fluid, you need to flush that out no matter what. When you flush the fluids, peek inside the caliper to see how much pads you have left. It really only takes 1.5 hours to do.