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Track use of KH disk brakes

Ponyboy66

Ponyboy66

Pole Position
I entered the world of track days this last summer. I have stock KH front disk with Hawk HPS pads. In the rear I have stock drums. They worked fairly well, but I quickly outgrew their braking power by the 3rd track day. My plan is to rebuild the back with all new parts and add Porterfield R-4S shoes. I am also going to drill the back plate to allow air venting (Shelby). Install all braided hoses and replace the front calipers with new SSBC calipers. I am also buying a duct kit from Cobra Automotive. I am a budget track day guy so putting on larger disks up front is not in the picture. What I need help with is deciding to stay with the stock rotors or upgrade to SSBC slotted rotors. I plan on keeping the HPS pads since they are street friendly. I want to upgrade the stock brakes as much as possible and see how they perform. What are your opinions??
 
It is very addictive isn't it?!

The enemy of brakes is heat, you need to find a way to dissipate it. Adding ducting will help.

Your rear plan sounds good, so does replacing the rubber hoses with braided. I would recommend Porterfirled R4 pads for the front and swap them out for track days - http://www.streetortrack.com/Disc-brake ... 24524.html.

Swapping your calipers for the SSBC ones will not provide any improvement in braking, they just look fancy. Same with slotted rotors. That will be money down the drain.

Look into a high temp fluid also. I use this stuff - http://www.streetortrack.com/Wilwood-Hi ... 23504.html

I see it many, many times so I'm going to put this out there... Many folks throw money at the stock based, small rotor systems trying to make them better. The problem is the rotor is radially too small and not thick enough to soak up and dissipate much heat. I'm sure that even with the mods you have planned with a few more track days under your belt you will start to exceed the modifications limits. The only sure fire fix is a better brake system. One with a larger, thicker rotor and bigger pad - http://www.streetortrack.com/Brake-Syst ... -p-11.html
 
Can you drive the R4's to and from the track? One track I want to run is a 2 hr drive from home.

I have also read about residual valves, 2 psi for the front disks and 10 psi for the rear drums. Are these a good upgrade for my braking system?

Friends of mine who are racers recommend Hawk pads, but most on the classic forums recommend Porterfield. Is the quality the same?
 
I wouldn't drive on the street with the R4 pads. Take some tools with you and change them when you get to the track. The HPS pads are an entry level dual purpose pad which sounds like you are exceeding. Eventually you will eclipse their heat range and they will fade/fall apart.

If you have a high/hard brake pedal you don't need any residual valves.
 
Ive driven the Porterfield R4 pads on the street. They make your car drive like a big truck with bad brakes. It can be done but you need to leave a lot more stopping distance. Our track is just 20min from our home so it wasn't a big deal. I wouldn't drive 2hrs to the track with them.

I totally agree with Shaun. Don't put a lot of money into what you have. Your KH calipers are fine. Get the R4 pads and shoes, put some air to the brakes and be done with it for now. Adding air helps a lot. When your driving gets to the point where you need more brakes, drop the coin for a better system.

That Cobra air kit is expensive for what you get. I would look around more and possibly make your own. Years ago, I made my own using some old dust shields with exhaust tube welded to it for the brake tubing. You want to make sure none of the air hits the braking surface of the rotor. It all needs to go inside the rotor and out through the vanes.
 
Yeah, what they said!

Not only have I driven on the street with the R4S pads and shoes, I'm currently driving the car on the street with R4 pads and shoes. You just need to heat them up a little. What the street driving will due to the longevity of the R4's on track, I do not know (probably not good). It is best to have a street setup and not use the track setup.
If you go to my cardomain site, I have more detail about my brakes setup. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/667160/1966-ford-mustang/page-2/
 
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