Brakes Question

[RockyTop]

I have a 97 GTS (18,500 mi.) with after-market Baer/ALCON Pro front calipers (4 piston) and braided lines. They have at least 15 hours of track time (perhaps more)plus about 5,000 or so street miles I have stock rear calipers with braided lines and the O-ring removed. The rears have at least 50 + hours of track time and 18,500 street miles on them.

What things should I have inspected on my brakes and how often ? I am religious about changing brake pads and brake fluid before track events, but I have not done anything to seals, pistons or other components of the brakes. What should I be watching/asking my mechanic to check in terms of track prep for my brakes ? I intend to replace ny front rotors shortly with Colemans made to my spec. with floating hats. The cost for those is probably going to be less than $250/rotor vs the $850/ rotor that Baer wants for the Alcon replacement rotor. The rear rotors are fine.

My concern arises because the brake pads (PFC 90 compound) I recently had installed seemed to be rubbing slightly on one or perhaps both sides in front. Before installing I warned my mechanic that my prior mechanic had to grind a little pad material off the last pads installed to acheive the proper clearance. However, this time the mechanic said the clearance was close, but acceptable. He is a former rally car racer so I figured he would know. How harmful is this (as I continued to drive it at nornal street speeds for about 7-8 days (200 miles or so) ? I initially just figured that since the rubbing seemed so slight, a little wear of the pads would right this situation. I am now going back to have him inspect whatever to insure I haven't cooked anything. The rubbing seems to have stopped or become minimal that I cannot detect it.

 

[Jim Hodel]

I have the 4 piston Alcon system on my Z28 (Stoptech on the Viper). Bt 'rubbing' do you mean the pads are thick enough that even with the caliper pistons pushed back in the cylinder bore, that the pads brush the rotors?

I have not had that happen on the Z28.

I have over 20 track days, and 5000 miles on the Z28, and have gone through two sets of rotors. The first set I warped (my fault), and the second set also developed a slight warp. I replaced these totors because they were also quite grooved. They are one piece rotors that cost $100 each so replacing them isn't that bad.

I bleed the brakes every couple of track days and have changed the fluid several times (ATE SuperBlue). Other then that, the performance of the Alcon system has been excellent.

Jim