Brake Pads Fluid and Alignment setup advice please

[8400cc]

Hey guys, I have a 14 GTS Stryker with the Stoptech rotors, about to do my fluids, brake pads and lowering caps. I have a few to things yet to confirm but wanted a quick double check. I have read multiple other threads to try get a feel for what direction to take. Keep in mind I want to start doing some track days with the car, maybe 5 a season. Car has 14000km currently.

Brake Pads - Going Raybestos, trying to determine what is best for my application, from what i read most guys stagger with the more aggressive going up front, was considering ST47 up front and ST43 out back, please advise.
Brake Fluid - Going with Castrol SRF, despite high cost, seems like the best overall performance.
Engine oil - Amsoil Signature Series 0W-40, if anyone would advise against this please let me know.
Diff oil - Was gonna go Royal Purple with the friction modifier already in, however I have read a few things to make me have doubts, not sure whats best here.
Tranny Oil - Amsoil Signature Series Multi vehicle Auto tranny fluid, please let me know if this is ill advised.

Lowering caps - After the lowering caps are in, wheel alignment is neccessary, should I consider the setup specs from the TA or just leave stock ?

I know all these answers are lurking within the depths of these forums and I have likely read them at some point, however I just need this one last check to be certain. Thanks alot !!!!!!!!

[ViperGeorge]

I use Raybestos 45s in the front and 43s in the rear. I leave them in all the time. They are easy on rotors, lower dust than most race pads, and they aren't too noisy. I use Motul 600 instead of the Castrol as I change it often enough and as you say the Castrol is bloody expensive.

For the track I use Mobil 1 15w/50 oil. For the diff I use the Mopar stuff recommended for the Viper (Mopar fluid part number 68197927AA. This fluid is specified for the Viper's Visco Lock differential. The fluid is actually Castrol SAF-XJ 75W-140 Synthetic.)

[8400cc]

Ok thanks George.

[speedtactics]

That pad set up may be ok for the track. They are pretty good pads but if you use them for street use I would say they are not the best choice. If your a fast driver you will like this pad set up. However if your a beginner to intermediate driver IMO you don't need these pads. You could go with something like the brakeman #3 or Brembo stock pads. Unless your already burning those up fast or having problems.

[8400cc]

I am certainly a beginner, should i potentially run 43's in the front also so the bite isnt so bad. Im not worried about the street unless they are really squeaky but i have heard they arent bad.

[sharmut]

Brakes:
Tried several brake combo's on my TA, which is used mostly on the track. Started with the Brembo OE Rotors with OE pads. It didn't last long, cooked the pads mid-way through my 2nd track day. Switch pads to ST47(F) & ST43(R) with OE Brembo rotors. This was good combo, but decided I wanted to try something else. Switched to AP-Racing Rotors with ST47 & ST43, decent combo on the track but terribly noisy on the street. Use of the AP-Racing rotors required a different pad size(R780) instead of R1001 or D1001. The R780 Raybestos pads is not only smaller pad surface compared to the R1001, they also do not sit well in the OE Brembo Calipers and tend to rock back-n-forth.
Finally moved to the VE BBK Stoptech package with ST47 all around. Best combo I tried so far, the increase in brake torque with the 380mm disc and 6-piston caliper up front is noticeable and not bad on the noise level on the street. The Stoptech calipers have springs on the side of the caliper to insure the pads do not rock. The car wiggles a little under really hard braking, but it's nothing new and have gotten use to the behavior. I leave a little room on the edges of the track to account for the movement. Moving to ST43 might change this and may try it down the road. At this point, the small amount noise hasn't bothered me enough to swap to street pads and leave the ST47 in all the time.
If your Stoptech rotor is setup with the Brembo calipers, it may require the R780 pad, which likely means you encounter the scenario I experience with AP-Racing setup with the pads walking and increase noise in the street.
In my opinion you should just run the ST47 and ST43 setup and Motul or Castrol SRF on track and swap to the OE pads for the street if the noise level is intolerable. Speaking for myself I was much harder on the brakes when I started tracking than now.

Engine Oil: Switch from 0w-40 to 15w-50. I'm in California and don't drive the car in the winter months.
Diff oil: Castrol SAF-XJ 75W-140 Synthetic.
Trans oil: Mopar ATF-4.

I change the Engine Oil every 4 track days, this seems to be when the color change is noticeable. The rear diff fluid is changed every 3k miles. Trans-fluid change yearly.

[ViperGeorge]

That pad set up may be ok for the track. They are pretty good pads but if you use them for street use I would say they are not the best choice. If your a fast driver you will like this pad set up. However if your a beginner to intermediate driver IMO you don't need these pads. You could go with something like the brakeman #3 or Brembo stock pads. Unless your already burning those up fast or having problems.

I have used the Brakeman pads on track and found that they cause "warped" rotors or uneven pad deposits. Brake pedal would pulsate hard. I hated them. The stock pads will be worn out quickly on track.

[Voice of Reason]

I tried for 2 years to run two different sets of aggressive pads all the time so I wouldn’t have to swap them out on track days. The last set I used was ST45/43. The noise was intolerable, it sounded like a 25 year old civic with pads worn down to the backing plates. So bad that people at stoplights would look over wondering where the train squeal was coming from. Maybe the Stoptech rotors are better here than the TA Brembos but last year I switched back to stock OEM pads for the street and couldn’t be happier.

[8400cc]

To ensure i order the right size pads, what part number am i using. I have the stock brembo calipers with the non-ta stoptech rotor, slightly narrower i believe.

[ViperGeorge]

I tried for 2 years to run two different sets of aggressive pads all the time so I wouldn’t have to swap them out on track days. The last set I used was ST45/43. The noise was intolerable, it sounded like a 25 year old civic with pads worn down to the backing plates. So bad that people at stoplights would look over wondering where the train squeal was coming from. Maybe the Stoptech rotors are better here than the TA Brembos but last year I switched back to stock OEM pads for the street and couldn’t be happier.

Did you put extreme temp caliper grease on the backing plates of the pads? I run 45/43s all the time and my ACR's brakes are as quiet as the stock pads on my 14 GTS.

[darrahc]

I use Raybestos 45s in the front and 43s in the rear. I leave them in all the time. They are easy on rotors, lower dust than most race pads, and they aren't too noisy. I use Motul 600 instead of the Castrol as I change it often enough and as you say the Castrol is bloody expensive.

For the track I use Mobil 1 15w/50 oil. For the diff I use the Mopar stuff recommended for the Viper (Mopar fluid part number 68197927AA. This fluid is specified for the Viper's Visco Lock differential. The fluid is actually Castrol SAF-XJ 75W-140 Synthetic.)

This is pretty much what I do except I have been running stock pads and will be putting ST47s on the front and ST43s on the rear.

I used Motul 600 last time I was out and noticed zero difference versus the Castrol SRF I had in before.

[darrahc]

To ensure i order the right size pads, what part number am i using. I have the stock brembo calipers with the non-ta stoptech rotor, slightly narrower i believe.

I purchased by pads from Porterfield and the item numbers for the Raybestos pads were:

R780.18 ST-43
R780.18 ST-47

[serpent]

I have used the Brakeman pads on track and found that they cause "warped" rotors or uneven pad deposits. Brake pedal would pulsate hard. I hated them. The stock pads will be worn out quickly on track.

@sharmut: your current pads with the VE BBK has no brake squeal right? I want to go with the VE BBK and ST45/43 pads.

[Voice of Reason]

Did you put extreme temp caliper grease on the backing plates of the pads? I run 45/43s all the time and my ACR's brakes are as quiet as the stock pads on my 14 GTS.

I did. The only way I could get them to not squeal was to basically panic stop at every stop sign and light.

[8400cc]

Thanks

[sharmut]

@sharmut: your current pads with the VE BBK has no brake squeal right? I want to go with the VE BBK and ST45/43 pads.

The ST47 squeal at the last few feet of the stop, a little more than the OEM TA pads, wouldn't describe it as obnoxious. The AP-Racing ST47/ST43 in the R780 pad size squealed almost all the time, except on the track. Keep in mind I don't drive the TA much on the street and outside temp may vary the noise level.

[Arizona Vipers]

I am certainly a beginner, should i potentially run 43's in the front also so the bite isnt so bad. Im not worried about the street unless they are really squeaky but i have heard they arent bad.

I would just run the stock brake pads with the Stoptech setup. Trust me they will be fine, the SRF will be your best upgrade of everything you mentioned.
SRF is NOT expensive, I hate hearing people say that. It will last 2-3 times as long as Motul and the others, so just do the math. SRF is CHEAP. Would you spend double the price on a gallon of gas if you knew it tripled your gas mileage?

[ViperGeorge]

@sharmut: your current pads with the VE BBK has no brake squeal right? I want to go with the VE BBK and ST45/43 pads.

My current pads do not squeal (Raybestos 45s in front and 43s in rear in D001 size). I am using the Racing Brakes' version of the TA steel rotors on my ACR. I do use very high temp caliper grease on backing plates and I use Titanium backing plates sourced form Jon B at PartsRack.

[Dr.Ron]

I was unable to get the backing plates in so I went with just the pads. Is this a problem?

I use the Raybestos 47/43 with stock calipers/rotors and Motul. Brakes are great and never fade.
They DO squeak on the street so I swap back to stock pads between track days (takes about 60-90 min), of which I only have done 2 days so far this year. Going again at the end of the month though. Hope to do another 2 days before the winter.

Ron

[ViperGeorge]

I was unable to get the backing plates in so I went with just the pads. Is this a problem?

I use the Raybestos 47/43 with stock calipers/rotors and Motul. Brakes are great and never fade.
They DO squeak on the street so I swap back to stock pads between track days (takes about 60-90 min), of which I only have done 2 days so far this year. Going again at the end of the month though. Hope to do another 2 days before the winter.

Ron

The titanium backing plates are there to help reduce heat transfer to the calipers and hence the brake fluid. Titanium apparently is good at insulating the calipers from pad heat. They probably don't do anything for noise. I would look for very high temp caliper grease and apply a thin layer to the back of the brake pad where it sits on the piston. I have found this helps reduce or eliminate squeal.

[AZTVR]

I was unable to get the backing plates in so I went with just the pads. Is this a problem?

One of the purposes of the metal shims/plates are to reduce undesirable noises. The titanium ones also help reduce heat transfer between the brake pad and the caliper piston.

[8400cc]

Does anyone else know where to get the titanium backing plates.

[sharmut]

My current pads do not squeal (Raybestos 45s in front and 43s in rear in D001 size). I am using the Racing Brakes' version of the TA steel rotors on my ACR. I do use very high temp caliper grease on backing plates and I use Titanium backing plates sourced form Jon B at PartsRack.

Do you have any PICS of the backing plate from JonB? I'm curious if they are completely flat or have tabs at the edges that secures them to the back of the pad to keep them from moving around. I've seen some on eBay that are completely flat and felt the design would allow the plate/shim to move around.

[ViperGeorge]

Do you have any PICS of the backing plate from JonB? I'm curious if they are completely flat or have tabs at the edges that secures them to the back of the pad to keep them from moving around. I've seen some on eBay that are completely flat and felt the design would allow the plate/shim to move around.

I do not have pics as they are installed on the car. They do however mimic the shape of the brake pad backing plate. They have the same holes where the pins go through so they won't move. Just picture a brake pad backing plate only really, really thin.

- - - Updated - - -

Does anyone else know where to get the titanium backing plates.

I got mine from Jon B at PartsRack.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Flat.

In Stock

$169/set of 4, or $95/pair. [You really only NEED them on fronts unless you are hard-core like George !!]