Ghetto Civic HX

In the Oct issue of Grass Roots Motorsports they have a little article about prepping your car for track days. They recommend upgrading your brake fluid to DOT4 or 5.

Do you think this is necessary for someone with a basically stock civic HX at their first track day? I'll be replacing the rotors with Brembo blanks and Hawk pads.

FormulaIntegra

The Brembos are probably overkill. Most guys here will say that the Autozone blanks work just fine. That's what I use and don't have any complaints.

As for brake fluid, you will want something with a higher boiling point, as you will be working the brakes more than on the street.

I use Motul 600 Racing Brake Fluid and have not had any problems.

Good luck and have fun.

Knestis

Think about using the Ford heavy duty stuff from the dealer - PM1, they call it now. People get all googly about their sexy euro and jdm fluids but I've used NOTHING except this stuff for years, including the last two seasons with our GTI. This is including a couple of class wins in 12 and 13 hour endurance races.

The best part about it is that you can get it ANYWHERE, pretty much so you're never stuck someplace like Danville, VA without the stuff you need.

K

Nishant

I have been using ATE Super Blue...no complaints here

nonsense

I've had pretty good luck with Valvoline synthetic fluid. It can be found at most parts store and it's not too expensive.

Jeff_B

I've never had a problem using Valvoline Synpower for HPDE...

chrisw85

another vote for the valvoline syn, it has a higher wet boil point than the Ford stuff, so you could keep it in a bit longer. But the ford has a slighlty higher dry boil point. Both are readily availible.

SuzukaBlueAP2

Valvoline Syn or Super Blue for sure.


Or Motul RBF 600 If you're a sunna

Freeltec

i was using the ford 550 fluid with hawk blues, then i boiled my breakes at Mospert DDT, the ford 500 sucks ***** because it takes on mosture quicker then most fluids, i switched to motul 600.

bad-monkey

<<motul rbf600

Racerboy03

OT, but does anybody know where I can get some Motul RBF 600 in the Charlotte area? TIA.


-Mark

1GreyTeg

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Racerboy03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


OT, but does anybody know where I can get some Motul RBF 600 in the Charlotte area? TIA.


-Mark</TD></TR></TABLE>

I order it direct from Cobalt friction (link below in sig) and get a HT discount.

I tried sourcing it locally at Motorcycle shops recently but no one near me carried it. There was also a post here in the past to a link to a site that sold it a few dollars cheaper online than anywhere else I'd seen it.

Ghetto Civic HX

Wow, thanks for all the quick responses.

I already have the brembo blanks, that's why I'm using them. Otherwise I would go the auto zone route.

Knestis

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Freeltec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... the ford 500 sucks ***** because it takes on mosture quicker then most fluids, i switched to motul 600.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you are talking about the PM1, you're actually wrong.

It's designed for long change intervals in Grandma's Lincoln, so it is actually LESS hygroscopic than most "racing" fluids. The chemists assume that the performance stuff will be changed constantly anyway, so they can tailor them to be more ultimately heat-tolerant, at the price of allowing them to absorb water more readily.

The Ford fluid has a lower "wet" boiling point but it gets "wet" less quickly than the fancy stuff. It has a higher "dry" boiling temp than several other options suggested here, including the Synpower and Superblue...

Make whatever choice you want - there's no question that the Motul should be a LOT better - but it's not helpful to spread inaccurate information.

K

MaddMatt

The Ford stuff get the thumbsup from me Until I boil it, I am extremely happy to pay $3.09/bottle at the Ford dealer I pass twice daily....

Tyson

ill also give ford HD another vouch.

first track day? just make sure you flush it with any compatible fluid. any fresh fluid is going to be suitable and much better than the old stuff already in there.

George Knighton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ghetto Civic HX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you think this is necessary for someone with a basically stock civic HX at their first track day?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm afraid it is typical of somebody at his very first track day that he uses much longer braking zones that tend to cook the brakes almost regardless of what precautions you think you've taken ahead of time.

It's going to be hard, but listen to your instructor about where you need to be braking and how hard you need to be braking. Odds are he's going to want to shorten your braking distances, and odds are he's going to want you to apply the brakes harder than you're inclined.

Once you get used to what he's asking of you, your brakes will be much less a problem than you think they're going to be.

But...be prepared because most beginners really do over use and over cook their brakes. The last two Fridays that I was at Summit Point, at both events I was dealing with people with very expensive automobiles with very good brakes, expensive brake pads and high temp fluids, and they were still over using and cooking their brakes.

Chris F

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I tried sourcing it locally at Motorcycle shops recently but no one near me carried it. There was also a post here in the past to a link to a site that sold it a few dollars cheaper online than anywhere else I'd seen it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1086455

Still on sale, $7.95.

DavidR

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1086455

Still on sale, $7.95.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

It says 7.95 on the website, but I don't think the order will go through. I called the store directly and they have gone up to 10.95 I believe.

essex

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Freeltec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i was using the ford 550 fluid with hawk blues, then i boiled my breakes at Mospert DDT, the ford 500 sucks ***** because it takes on mosture quicker then most fluids, i switched to motul 600.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry to tell you it's Mosport DDT that sucks ***** not Ford HD

for ford HD

Kevedge

motul rbf600

Sijray21

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have been using ATE Super Blue...no complaints here</TD></TR></TABLE>

same here

Lo-Buck EF

ate superblue/type 200

GBRacing

I've used both Motul 600 and ATE Super Blue. I've stuck with the ATE Superblue because my local autoparts store keeps it in stock.

96 SOHC VTEC

My friend and I always used ATE Superblue when we did our HPDE's.