Akebonos not up to heavy track use!

**2003z** · 10-13-2009, 10:04 PM

At least not on a short track like Little Talladega. I mentioned before I boiled the fluid and toasted the stock rear pads in one session at the East Coast Z Nationals when running HP+ up front. I then replaced the rears with HP+, so I was running both on the front and back with valvoline synthetic. I did 1 day at Road Atlanta then one more day at Little Talladega at a time attack, where they boiled again, and today when I pulled them this is what I found on every caliper. Fortunately, I have 4 good dust boots out of the 12, and the seals are all still fine. They should get me through this weekend for the rears, although I will have to have a set of rear brake pads overnited tomorrow for a back up, and then a rebuild kit for the rears before Road Atlanta the following weekend.

Anyways, This is a picture of one front caliper upon removal today:

and the pads, 11 20 minute sessions on the fronts, 10 on the rears

and this is my solution, the bolt on front Brembo Gran Turismo!!!!! This is the only Brembo kit I know of that uses stock rotors, so its price friendly, especially at wholesale. Unfortunately, they didn't quite clear my 18" wheels and I had to slightly grind the outer ends of them for clearance, so they are being repowdercoated a satin black tomorrow.

Hopefully these and some Motul fluid will do the trick. We will know next week.

The funny thing is, I've never been real hard on brakes and never had a problem with my 350Z brembos, Stock Corvette brakes or C6 Z06 corvette brakes on the same track. I guess the akebono's are more show than go.

**ATL_Red_G35** · 10-13-2009, 10:47 PM

ouch....but congrats on the new brakes...:) awesome Mike.

**w0ady** · 10-13-2009, 11:58 PM

rough to hear about the akebonos. i guess we'll see how my project mu pads and motul fluid hold up this weekend. good thing roebling has more straights like you said. cant wait to see the brembos after pc.

**Motowipeout** · 10-14-2009, 02:27 AM

Glad you got it fixed, be safe out there.

Southgachik · 10-14-2009, 02:43 AM

Wow Mike that's crazy. Glad you got some new brakes on. Good Luck with the track day this weekend!

**Gilley** · 10-14-2009, 08:20 AM

Amazing pics. You might think the Akebonos, with their larger mass compared to the 350Z Brembos, would absorb the heat better. Brembos GTs FTW.

**chicklet** · 10-14-2009, 10:08 AM

but I likey the new Brembos!

Jamaica2G · 10-14-2009, 08:44 PM

wow, I am SO glad I didn't buy the Akebonos. I intend to do some hard tracking in the spring.

laze1 · 10-15-2009, 08:02 AM

Akebonos ARE NOT TRACK PADS...DO NOT USE FOR THAT PURPOSE

**ATL_Red_G35** · 10-15-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laze1

Akebonos ARE NOT TRACK PADS...DO NOT USE FOR THAT PURPOSE

Mike used HP+ pads. He was talking about Akebono calipers off the new Z and G.

**w0ady** · 10-15-2009, 10:15 AM

you have to remember though - mike tracking and normal people tracking are 2 different things.

**2003z** · 10-15-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATL_Red_G35

Mike used HP+ pads. He was talking about Akebono calipers off the new Z and G.

Actually, the first track day, the one session day, I used HP+ Front and the stock Akebonos (not the tire rack ceramic ones) in the rear, but still boiled the fluid and wore the rears down to backing plates in 20 minutes. (the rear hawks were on backorder).

This weekend, I am using Ferodo FM1000 (supposed to be the same as the DS2500) on the front and DS2500 rear.

**AuburnZ** · 10-15-2009, 02:25 PM

Have fun at the track this weekend!

**Greatwars** · 10-16-2009, 06:26 AM

good info mike :)

**2003z** · 10-16-2009, 11:19 PM

Akebonos might not be, but Brembo GTs sure as heck are!!!!!!!! These things are awesome!