prakhash

I need some help with picking the right parts for my daily driven Integra GSR that I plan on taking to the track on weekends. I have searched, and couldn't find anything specific to my situation, so if you already know of a thread(s), please link it below. I have put all of my questions in one thread to make it easier.


Brakes
-I need rotors and pads this year. Need advice on whether I should invest in a bigger name rotor like Stoptech or if I should buy Partsource brand (Autozone for the Americans) rotors, which have a warranty. Should I get slotted, drilled, or just blanks?

-For pads I am planning on buying some Hawk pads. Are these good, and what specific model is recommended?


Tires
-Looking to buy some 15x8 wheels dedicated for the track, and I would like to run a 225/45/15 tire. There are a lot of threads and posts about tires which are outdated, so I'm wondering what brand tires everyone else runs, and what you would suggest that is current in the market, keeping in mind most classes are based on what tires you run. I am a complete beginner so I don't plan on running race slicks lol.


Radiator
-My rad has a leak, and I have inquired about what's out there at a local shop. Need suggestions whether I need to buy the top of the line rad or if I can settle for a stock replacement.

- Mishimoto Dual Core Aluminum ($260)
- Koyo Dual Core Aluminum ($340)
- Koyo Stock Replacement ($160)


Need your advice, or please point me to the right threads/articles. Thank you!

Kingbuiltscca

For brakes I would invest in stop tech rotors, I run them on my race car and they are awesome! For brakes I would run hawk blue pads. Very consistent braking with a good inital bite. Also make sure you have high temp fluid in there as well. If you buy crap rotors the hawk pads will EAT them and you'll be SOL. Don't cheap out.

For Tires if they are dedicated track tires and you want to run something VERY good for track days I would suggest Hoosier r7. If you don't want to go with a full out race tire and more of a casual track tire I would suggest ra1 toyo. Nitto is trash don't waste your money

For a radiator in my race car I run a Mishimoto full aluminum rad. It says very cool. I don't even run fans on mine but of course it's only a track car. I wouldnt suggest that, but the radiator is very high quality. But a stock rad would get you by just fine

gramkrackers

Brakes
I run NAPA premium rotors all around and they held up for 2/3rds of the year last year after I warped a set of OEM Acura rotors. I will still be using them to start this year off as well. Just get blanks, no need to bother with the more expensive stuff especially when you are just starting out.

The same thing goes for pads. I ran HP+ pads on my old Civic and started the year off on them this year with the Type R just to get by and they hold up fine to track use. When its time to switch to a dedicated track pad I recommend DTC 60's. The dust wont destroy your wheels and paint like Hawk Blue's will and they are an all around better pad then the Blue's are in terms of feel and longevity in my opinion.

Tires
I switched to 225/45/15 RS3's half way through this year and was very happy with them in comparison to the BFG Rivals. Although either are a good tire to get started with. Same with the Z2 Star Specs. Any of those three will be good to get started with. If your going to spend the money on rims, buy some 15x8's right away if you can, its worth it. Something simple like 15x8 Rota Slipstreams. I have two sets, and have had more in the past and they are just fine.

Rad
I run a stock rad in my car and its perfectly fine. Get the stock replacement Koyo and use the extra money elsewhere.

boost ben

For brakes I run Hawk DTC-60's and Centric high carbon rotors. Rock-Auto has the rotors and they're very cheap. I find the Centric's are very true from the factory and the high carbon makes them stand up well to the aggressive pad. DTC-60's aren't ideal for the street however they'll work just fine. You won't have maximum braking until they're hot but you'll have more than enough power to make any type of stop on the street. The best thing about the DTC-60's is they'll last you a long long time.

For the rad, I'd go with the Koyo race rad. The only reason I'm recommending a rad replacement is that yours is already leaking and needs to be replaced. In general, you won't have the engine over heat if everything is working properly and in good maintenance but if your upgrading then I'd get a quality piece like the Koyo and skip the Mishimoto.

Get the FFD wheels. We have about 10 sets of them right now and all our chump cars/race cars/track cars/street cars run them. They look great, fit awesome, really light, cheap, and very very strong (wheel to wheel contact without cracking). The only street tire (for track use) I'll recommend from now on is the RS-3, truly shocking how well it works on track.

donut.

Are you kidding me?

prakhash

When I made this thread I was expecting to get a lot of "don't you know how to search". But thank you all for the quality input, I highly appreciate it.

Currently I have Enkei RPF1 wheels in 15x7 and I am running 205/50/15 Dunlop Direzza Z2 tires which are great. I haven't taken them to the track yet, but I was just wondering what else is out there. It looks like RS3s are a popular choice.

I was thinking of getting Rota Slipstreams like mentioned above because more than one person who heavily tracks their car have suggested them to me. I will keep the RPF1s as my street/daily wheels. I will also look into FFD wheels.

So am I right in assuming DT-60 > Hawk HP+ > Hawk Blues? My car is mostly stock (for now teeheehee) and I will mostly be daily driving it and occasionally tracking it, so would HP+ be the best bet?

gramkrackers

I was thinking the same thing lol

Both Hawk Blue's and DTC-60's are a track/race oriented pad, I just prefer what the DTC-60 has to offer. For casual track day attendees, or people just starting to get into lapping the HP+ does get the job done though, it is more than adequate in my experience. The HP+ is almost half the cost (from the dealer I use anyway) compared to the DTC-60, which helps when first starting and some of the costs can be a bit overwhelming.

boost ben

DTC-60>Blues>HP+

For most everything, it depends how much you'll see the track. For me it was very addictive and I was spending many many hours there before I knew it. The only issue I've had with HP+ was one time I was braking late and very hard and they just went out on me. It wasn't from a ton of laps or being totally heat soaked it was from one very aggressive long stop from the back straight. I used to think the HP+'s were the bees knees but after the switch to DTC-60's...no looking back. I'm now looking at even upgrading from DTC-60's to some of the Raybestos pads from recommendations on this forum section.

solorex

Since you are planning on taking the car to the track, you already have a nice lightweight wheel and decent tires. Use these for now. No point going to 15x8 at the moment, get some seat time first.

Don't run Hawk Blues, these are old technology, I am surprised Hawk still sells them. Hawk DTC series is where it is at.

prakhash

Interesting. It looks like for my purpose I might start out with HP+ then, and might look into the DTC-60s once I start going to the track more often.

It is pretty overwhelming. I need to look into getting a helmet as well lol. I haven't even started doing heavy mods on my car. Eventually it's going to come down to built B series, B series + turbo, or K swap. Might do the latter downnn the road, couple years from now.

This season, yes. Going to use my RPF1 + Direzza Z2 combo, and when I have some money to spare, will buy a dedicated set of wheel/tire.

It's winter right now and I'm super bored. My car is away so I just like to plan ahead and do research and hoard parts while I wait for spring to come around.

Kaan

iTrader: (3)

CX racing radiator has held up really well, it just doesn't fit the factory accessory (AC) fan ... But I don't have that installed anyway

redlinetuning

HP+ with good fluid will be fine. I'm using HP+ pads with Brembo blank rotors and Motul RBF600 fluid. I didn't have any issues over the summer. I have 205-50-16 RS3 tires on my ITR wheels and 225 45 15 Hoosier A6 on my TE37s.

i also have a 15/16" mc, stainless steel brake lines, so nothing fancy out of the box. It works well, for now until I get better and faster.

I'm guessing it should be fine for you for the time being as well. Save your money for seat time like many have said already.

prakhash

Nice! Do you track a lot? I know gramkrackers does.

Would you suggest stainless steel fuel lines and brake lines? I might keep my motor for a while, no money for a K, and I would rather learn the ropes with the B before heavy modding. What brand is popular for stainless steel lines?

redlinetuning

Earls or Goodrich ss brake lines are fine. You can get a set for about 100$. I just started autocross a few years ago and 2014 was my first year at a few hpde events.

Stock fuel lines are fine unless you have leaks and are looking to replace.

Don't forget about your safety gear. Helmet first. At least sa2010 as sa2005 are on their way out.

prakhash

Do Earls or Goodrich also make fuel lines?

Yeah, that's yet another thing I was thinking about. Helmets. Don't know if I should get an HJC-CL17 which is the cheapest Snell rated helmet, or shell out the big dollars all at once. I should go to a store and test fit. Probably the best way to decide.

Kingbuiltscca

Why not? I gave 2 suggestions one extreme and one moderate. Ra1 is a moderate track tire. Defiantly suited for open track days. If money is not an issue than why not spend it on some great tires only used for open track days? Sure you can run rs3 but that's more of a summer street tire. If it was ME I would put some money into my track day tires if I was only going to the track a handful of times a year.

Dallasb84

I use Hoosier rubber they are bad to the bone. For all day grip events rain or shine I use nitto invo. Thinking of giving the new maxxis r compound a try.

I use cx racing eBay aluminum mini rad and fal super slim fan.

Brakes are dura last pad and rotors. Thinking about switching to napa. The duralast rotors warp quickly and the pads freaking stink. I take them in on warranty often.

Calif_Kid

I think that the point that he was making is that the OP is a beginner at tracking his car, so running a Hoosier R7 doesn't make a lot of sense. For beginners, I've heard it recommended to stay on a good high performance street tire as it will release less abruptly that an R compound tire plus have less ultimate grip, so will help to teach controlling the car in slides at somewhat lower speeds. After the OP has more experience, then he can go to a Toyo RA1, and eventually a Hoosier R7/A7 etc... - Jim

prakhash

All great advice. Yeah, currently I'm a beginner but I have noted all the suggested tires, and will look further into them once I want to move up in class. So far considering autocross and open lap days to feel it out, then I will move up.

prakhash

Which brake lines are best:

Goodridge, Techna Fit, Stoptech, or Russell's?

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Never heard of techna fit. The others flip a coin.
None are better than the other imo