HPDE and rotor wear
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14
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From: SW Washington
HPDE and rotor wear
I went to my first track event at Portland Int'l Raceway today and had an incredible time. Drove a stock 2011 Prestige S4. Didn't do so hot during the first 2 sessions (mainly due to a complete lack of experience on my part).
But in the afternoon as I started to feel more comfortable around the track...it started to rain
Must have passed over 10 cars, including P-cars, BMW's, and Vettes. This car was a monster in the wet...actually made me look like a good driver!
In any case, I was cleaning my wheels after the event and noticed that the front rotors had significantly more wear than the rear. The car only has 2000 miles on it and honestly I can't say I've paid much attention to the rotors before, but the front rotors had circular rings of wear (like a record) that felt like ridges to the touch. The rear, however, was still completely smooth. Am I making too much out of nothing? Just seemed weird to me.
Thanks for the advice in advance.
But in the afternoon as I started to feel more comfortable around the track...it started to rain
Must have passed over 10 cars, including P-cars, BMW's, and Vettes. This car was a monster in the wet...actually made me look like a good driver!In any case, I was cleaning my wheels after the event and noticed that the front rotors had significantly more wear than the rear. The car only has 2000 miles on it and honestly I can't say I've paid much attention to the rotors before, but the front rotors had circular rings of wear (like a record) that felt like ridges to the touch. The rear, however, was still completely smooth. Am I making too much out of nothing? Just seemed weird to me.
Thanks for the advice in advance.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 438
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From: Redmond, WA
Did you have any material transfer? It is how mine is like.
It also depends on what pads you have. I am using stoptech street performance fronts and they "bite" harder than the stock pads. Using posi-quiet rears (they didn't have street perf for the rears at the time - not sure if they do now or not).
Here's how my rears looked like:
Fronts:
Interestingly, those were from my first track day ever and at Portland International Raceway (Quattrofest last year).
Some light material transfer (from the pads to the disc)/glazing (I think). On my last session of the day, I was braking at 100% (threshold braking) from the straight to the first chicane (usually between 120-130mph). Did my whole 15-20 minute session doing that each lap. After the cool down lap (which I took extra slow) and pulled into the paddocks, I could smell the brakes were still cooking...
I had reduced braking until I wore those off (took a few days of my short 20 minute commute) and then it was back to strong gripping. It seems like the discs changed color too (the unswept part at least - wonder if that was from all of the dust or not).
It also depends on what pads you have. I am using stoptech street performance fronts and they "bite" harder than the stock pads. Using posi-quiet rears (they didn't have street perf for the rears at the time - not sure if they do now or not).
Here's how my rears looked like:
Fronts:
Interestingly, those were from my first track day ever and at Portland International Raceway (Quattrofest last year).
Some light material transfer (from the pads to the disc)/glazing (I think).
On my last session of the day, I was braking at 100% (threshold braking) from the straight to the first chicane (usually between 120-130mph). Did my whole 15-20 minute session doing that each lap. After the cool down lap (which I took extra slow) and pulled into the paddocks, I could smell the brakes were still cooking...I had reduced braking until I wore those off (took a few days of my short 20 minute commute) and then it was back to strong gripping. It seems like the discs changed color too (the unswept part at least - wonder if that was from all of the dust or not).
Last edited by PsYkHoTiK; Jun 28, 2011 at 04:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: SW Washington
Well, here is my rear:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
and front:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
Not sure if the dimensions come across on pictures. But it's definitely ridged, while the back is smooth. And this is consistent on both passenger and driver side.
I just have the stock pads.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
and front:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
Not sure if the dimensions come across on pictures. But it's definitely ridged, while the back is smooth. And this is consistent on both passenger and driver side.
I just have the stock pads.
Did you have any material transfer? It is how mine is like.
It also depends on what pads you have. I am using stoptech street performance fronts and they "bite" harder than the stock pads. Using posi-quiet rears (they didn't have street perf for the rears at the time - not sure if they do now or not).
Here's how my rears looked like:
Fronts:
Interestingly, those were from my first track day ever and at Portland International Raceway (Quattrofest last year).
Some light material transfer (from the pads to the disc)/glazing (I think). On my last session of the day, I was braking at 100% (threshold braking) from the straight to the first chicane (usually between 120-130mph). Did my whole 15-20 minute session doing that each lap. After the cool down lap (which I took extra slow) and pulled into the paddocks, I could smell the brakes were still cooking...
I had reduced braking until I wore those off (took a few days of my short 20 minute commute) and then it was back to strong gripping. It seems like the discs changed color too (the unswept part at least - wonder if that was from all of the dust or not).
It also depends on what pads you have. I am using stoptech street performance fronts and they "bite" harder than the stock pads. Using posi-quiet rears (they didn't have street perf for the rears at the time - not sure if they do now or not).
Here's how my rears looked like:
Fronts:
Interestingly, those were from my first track day ever and at Portland International Raceway (Quattrofest last year).
Some light material transfer (from the pads to the disc)/glazing (I think).
On my last session of the day, I was braking at 100% (threshold braking) from the straight to the first chicane (usually between 120-130mph). Did my whole 15-20 minute session doing that each lap. After the cool down lap (which I took extra slow) and pulled into the paddocks, I could smell the brakes were still cooking...I had reduced braking until I wore those off (took a few days of my short 20 minute commute) and then it was back to strong gripping. It seems like the discs changed color too (the unswept part at least - wonder if that was from all of the dust or not).
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 438
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From: Redmond, WA
I can click on the link no problem.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but how deep are the "rings". Specifically the two "bold" rings closer to the center of the disc. If they all are the same depth with the rest of the disc, I wouldn't worry too much about it. The dark stuff will come off in a week or so of normal driving.
It's hard to tell from the pic, but how deep are the "rings". Specifically the two "bold" rings closer to the center of the disc. If they all are the same depth with the rest of the disc, I wouldn't worry too much about it. The dark stuff will come off in a week or so of normal driving.
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I went to my first track event at Portland Int'l Raceway today and had an incredible time...But in the afternoon as I started to feel more comfortable around the track...it started to rain Must have passed over 10 cars, including P-cars, BMW's, and Vettes. This car was a monster in the wet...actually made me look like a good driver!
In any case, I was cleaning my wheels after the event and noticed that the front rotors had significantly more wear than the rear....but the front rotors had circular rings of wear (like a record) that felt like ridges to the touch. The rear, however, was still completely smooth. Am I making too much out of nothing? Just seemed weird to me.
Must have passed over 10 cars, including P-cars, BMW's, and Vettes. This car was a monster in the wet...actually made me look like a good driver!In any case, I was cleaning my wheels after the event and noticed that the front rotors had significantly more wear than the rear....but the front rotors had circular rings of wear (like a record) that felt like ridges to the touch. The rear, however, was still completely smooth. Am I making too much out of nothing? Just seemed weird to me.
To answer your question, as was indicated that's just pad material transfer to the rotor, and is normal with track use. It will wear off after a few weeks of street driving.
I was on track this past weekend, too, and my rotors look exactly like yours. That said, I was surprised how well the stock pads worked on the track. Typically, street pads give up after only a few hard laps, but the S4's pads did well overall. Naturally they wore pretty fast, but they felt good and stopped the car well.
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Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 82
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From: Denver, CO
I did about 10 high speed laps and experienced moderate brake fade and some material transfer to the front rotors. Also, a few chunks/globs of worn pad on the hub/wheel.
After a complete cooldown the brakes felt a bit soft and there wasn't much bite, I thought I was going to have to bleed them until I washed my car the other day. The water must've helped get some of the pad material off the rotor because the nice bite they had before the track day is back.
After a complete cooldown the brakes felt a bit soft and there wasn't much bite, I thought I was going to have to bleed them until I washed my car the other day. The water must've helped get some of the pad material off the rotor because the nice bite they had before the track day is back.
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Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: SW Washington
Thanks for all the advice! They helped put
my mind at ease. Didn't want to mess up the car
on my first track day...'cause now I'm hooked...
and I'm planning on going back for more!
Got a lot of praises out on the track. People just
couldn't believe how planted the car was in the wet.
my mind at ease. Didn't want to mess up the car
on my first track day...'cause now I'm hooked...
and I'm planning on going back for more!
Got a lot of praises out on the track. People just
couldn't believe how planted the car was in the wet.