2016 GT4 Rotor Suggestions

[WillyDaP]

Nice write up and photos and I can't imagine how quickly I will destroy my Cayman GTS rotors , especially since they are smaller than the GT4s. Girodisc offers a 350mm two piece rotor replacement so I will likely be getting a set of those fairly quickly or maybe a set from AP Racing like Tim is using.

[blueline]

Nice write up and photos and I can't imagine how quickly I will destroy my Cayman GTS rotors , especially since they are smaller than the GT4s , also. Girodisc offers a 350mm two piece rotor replacement so I will likely be getting a set of those fairly quickly or maybe a set from AP Racing like Tim is using.

I think you'll eat them up quickly - I'm in tune with how you drive!

Are you planning on running out the stock pads with the OEM rotors? If it were me (and I realize it's not) I'd either swap out the OEM rotors and pads before track days start OR go with the OEM setups for a few track days until shot and then swap to your new rotors and new pads of whatever pads you're planning on using. New (and old) rotors don't like different pad materials deposited on them and mixed in without burning off the old material. (Getting old pad burnish material off rotors is easier said than done.)

[WillyDaP]

Thanks for the thoughts, as I will likely just destroy the factory poseur rotors getting the feel of the car and then replace them with Girodiscs or AP Racing. I was hoping to get a set of EBC SR11 Sintered pads as I just did a pad test for them last year, but it does not appear they are making them for a Cayman. I am good friends with Danny Puskar ( owner ) at G-Loc and will probably go with a set of those first as I ave used his pads since the company opened its doors. They wear a little faster than some, but they are easy on slotted two piece rotors. Sounds like the rears are going along for the ride , so did you happen to just replace the fronts with AP Racing Rotors and then after the rear holy rotors gave up the ghost, put on a new set of APs?

[blueline]

Thanks for the thoughts, as I will likely just destroy the factory poseur rotors getting the feel of the car and then replace them with Girodiscs or AP Racing. I was hoping to get a set of EBC SR11 Sintered pads as I just did a pad test for them last year, but it does not appear they are making them for a Cayman. I am good friends with Danny Puskar ( owner ) at G-Loc and will probably go with a set of those first as I ave used his pads since the company opened its doors. They wear a little faster than some, but they are easy on slotted two piece rotors. Sounds like the rears are going along for the ride , so did you happen to just replace the fronts with AP Racing Rotors and then after the rear holy rotors gave up the ghost, put on a new set of APs?

I went with new all the way around - rotors and pads. I paid Essex to burnish the new rotors with Ferodo DS3.12 pad material on their machine to ensure proper material transfer. They also requested that I use new Ferodo DS3.12 pads with the new rotors, explaining that putting used Ferodo pads afterwards would be fine. They just wanted the new pads with the newly machine-bedded rotors to start out.

While the rears were still serviceable, I wasn't that impressed with the OEM braking (not to mention the rotor wear) so that obviously played into the decision.

But beyond that, I would have done all four corners anyway as I always prefer matched components whenever possible (and whenever not ridiculously wasteful), especially with brakes and tires. They are the two most important components, at least in my feeble mind.

Rears do some work (maybe partially due to the extra weight they carry in the Cayman?) but yes, the fronts carry the water as expected.

[NickG]

........ Carrying on from above brake rotor discussions and movong to brake pads, I had a set of Ferodo 4664GB track pads installed when I first bought the GT4 to go with the Giro discs. I cannot find a place to buy them again (except up in Canada!).

Ferodo DS3.12 pads were used by Tim? Are they track pads? How much more aggressive compared to OEM. Dust creators?
ANy other suggestions also welcome.

Cheers,
Nick

[blueline]

........ Carrying on from above brake rotor discussions and movong to brake pads, I had a set of Ferodo 4664GB track pads installed when I first bought the GT4 to go with the Giro discs. I cannot find a place to buy them again (except up in Canada!).

Ferodo DS3.12 pads were used by Tim? Are they track pads? How much more aggressive compared to OEM. Dust creators?
ANy other suggestions also welcome.

Cheers,
Nick

@NickG

Hey Nick,

The DS3.12 Ferodo pads are the best in my opinion, and that feeling extends to many others who track their cars. I use them year-round, track and street. (They are technically not for road use per Ferodo, but none of their performance pads are. It matters not imo. The goal is to stop and in that regard the pads work marvelously street or track!) Ferodo descibes the DS3.12 pads on their website as "Heavy duty track compound for premium applications".

https://www.ferodoracing.com/products/car-racing

Dust is not a big problem - they actually seem a lot better regarding the dust aspect than the factory pads/rotors. You might experience a bit of squeal in the last several feet of a routine street stop but it's not a constant for me and not anything that I find bothersome.

I am running AP Racing's J-hook 2-piece rotors with the Ferodo DS3.12 pads but the Ferodos are also very well suited to the Girodisc rotors.

AP Racing (along with other performance rotor manufacturers) recommends against mixing brake pad materials on rotors (even if the same brand - ie: switching from Ferodo DS2500 pads to DS3.12 pads), so if you switch pad types, be sure to get the new pad material properly burnished on your rotors.

They also recommend using only new pads (of whatever type you're planning on using) on new rotors. New to new. After wearing out the pads it's fine to then switch to your saved used pads as long as they are the same pad type.

Jeff Ritter of Essex Parts & Services (AP Racing's U.S. importer) has a very good video on burnishing rotors.



I get my AP Racing J-Hook rotors and pads from Essex. When getting new rotors from them I also get them to do the initial new pad/new rotor bed-in/burnish. It's done on machine and is quite beneficial. The people at Essex are great too and have always been extremely helpful.

https://www.essexparts.com/

[NickG]

Tim,
Thanks for the follow up. Went to EssexParts. What a a great web site. Very informative videos on things that relate to braking.

Front/rear pads now ordered:)

[WillyDaP]

One simple sentence from blueline said it all ..............either one is better than the OEM ones!

I like Girodiscs partly because they are made in the US and I have known the guys who started the company years back and they have expanded their Plant in Washington State due to strong racer loyalty. I will have a set on my 2024 Cayman GTS by next year or late this ---- I know I can burn down the stock rotors with no problem, ha!

Either of those choices listed by Dub, Blue , and Willy will stop you in your tracks , on track!

[blueline]

One simple sentence from blueline said it all ..............either one is better than the OEM ones!

I like Girodiscs partly because they are made in the US and I have known the guys who started the company years back and they have expanded their Plant in Washington State due to strong racer loyalty. I will have a set on my 2024 Cayman GTS by next year or late this ---- I know I can burn down the stock rotors with no problem, ha!

Either of those choices listed by Dub, Blue , and Willy will stop you in your tracks , on track!

And you will burn down those crappy OEM rotors sooner than you think, especially with the DS3.12 Ferodo pads. And remember, I had different OEM rotors on the GT4 than the ones that come on the GTS cars, not that that will make any difference in how fast they wear. In any case, you'll be pleased with quality rotors when Santa (or the Halloween witch or Thanksgiving turkey goddess) brings them to you. (Better not be naughty...)

[WillyDaP]

I know, after chasing down some GT4s a week ago , I would sure like the Girodisc or AP racing upgrades for my tiny dinner plate rotors. I need to move up to a serving platter size because I have a nasty tendency to brake very, very, late!