I wasn't really sure where to post these, but figured you folks might appreciate them. These are adapted from some cooling ducts used on Porsches. They pretty much can be fitted to any car that will accommodate them. The shop I work with did have to fab some bracketry to attach the thing to the control arm. It does scrape/rub the rotor when turned to the limit and backing, but that will only last so long. Heh. They do provide a ton of cool air right to the rotor.
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With the XP8s, I've been running into a problem where I seem to be losing braking effect as I get late into a lapping session. I reckon that's due to excessive heat. I don't encounter fade, so much as I have to apply A LOT of force to get the same braking effect I had been getting when going into a threshold braking situation. It's a little unnerving how much it would change from minute 10 to minute 30 of a session. I still had brakes, but it just required real force on the pedal to get it. Anyway, I'm very interested to see how this works. I've heard good things about these from M3 and Viper owners with the same adaptation. ::fingers crossed::
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Attachment
Colin welded two small "brackets" onto the control arm to which the Porsche diverter pieces are bolted. The attachment is very stout. Removal of the diverters is trivial and, although the brackets cannot be removed, they do not obstruct movement of anything so can be left in place with the diverter taken out.
Top view...
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Rear view...
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Notes from April 3, 2007 test at Portland International:
Conditions: Cool and dry
Event: Lotus of Portland Lapping Day
Group: Intermediate
Track Setup: Chicane in place
Car: 2004 PW SC Focus Focus SVT
Brakes: SVT Focus stock calipers with Carbotech XP8 pads (about 70 percent remaining to start); same pads as prior track day with no cooling ducts installed.
This was a truly awesome track day with only 9 cars in my run group on a track that can typically accommodate 25 to 30 lappers at club event.
I was able to get many open laps in. This was my second day out with the car's new power setup. It was a lot of fun, but I'm still getting used to it.
As for the cooling deflectors, here are my notes:
* In general, they made a substational improvement late in sessions under threshold braking. I NEVER lost feeling in the brakes. This is contrast to my March 17 track day at Pacific Raceways where I was getting some pretty significant heat-related brake fade (no loss of feel, but loss of braking effect).
* I did notice at the very end of (30 minute) sessions that I needed to press with more force, but I never lost the sense of the car stopping when asked. At the prior track day (before the cooling deflectors), I was getting a sense of sliding on the pads with substantially reduced stopping effect. In contrast to that, the setup with the deflectors provided definite bite and stopping power throughout the four sessions.
There are probably some spots on the track where I brake harder than necessary (in particular at PIR that would be the entry into T10). Nonetheless I was completely happy with the net effect. I will be upgrading to XP10s later in the spring which should also help.
With the XP8s, I've been running into a problem where I seem to be losing braking effect as I get late into a lapping session. I reckon that's due to excessive heat. I don't encounter fade, so much as I have to apply A LOT of force to get the same braking effect I had been getting when going into a threshold braking situation. It's a little unnerving how much it would change from minute 10 to minute 30 of a session. I still had brakes, but it just required real force on the pedal to get it. Anyway, I'm very interested to see how this works. I've heard good things about these from M3 and Viper owners with the same adaptation. ::fingers crossed::
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachment
Colin welded two small "brackets" onto the control arm to which the Porsche diverter pieces are bolted. The attachment is very stout. Removal of the diverters is trivial and, although the brackets cannot be removed, they do not obstruct movement of anything so can be left in place with the diverter taken out.
Top view...
Rear view...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes from April 3, 2007 test at Portland International:
Conditions: Cool and dry
Event: Lotus of Portland Lapping Day
Group: Intermediate
Track Setup: Chicane in place
Car: 2004 PW SC Focus Focus SVT
Brakes: SVT Focus stock calipers with Carbotech XP8 pads (about 70 percent remaining to start); same pads as prior track day with no cooling ducts installed.
This was a truly awesome track day with only 9 cars in my run group on a track that can typically accommodate 25 to 30 lappers at club event.
I was able to get many open laps in. This was my second day out with the car's new power setup. It was a lot of fun, but I'm still getting used to it.
As for the cooling deflectors, here are my notes:
* In general, they made a substational improvement late in sessions under threshold braking. I NEVER lost feeling in the brakes. This is contrast to my March 17 track day at Pacific Raceways where I was getting some pretty significant heat-related brake fade (no loss of feel, but loss of braking effect).
* I did notice at the very end of (30 minute) sessions that I needed to press with more force, but I never lost the sense of the car stopping when asked. At the prior track day (before the cooling deflectors), I was getting a sense of sliding on the pads with substantially reduced stopping effect. In contrast to that, the setup with the deflectors provided definite bite and stopping power throughout the four sessions.
There are probably some spots on the track where I brake harder than necessary (in particular at PIR that would be the entry into T10). Nonetheless I was completely happy with the net effect. I will be upgrading to XP10s later in the spring which should also help.
Ok. So, fade it is. I guess I always thought of fade as mushy pedal brake fluid fade, but I was wrong about that limited definition. This is definitely more the fade of overheated friction bits. Castrol SRF holds up, brake feel is fine, just OMG, I'm going to put my foot through the floor!
