SDAC 27 Prepping your car for the road course

[sdac guy]

First off, all drivers will be required to wear a helmet with a rating of SA05 or newer (M05 is acceptable too).

Your car will need to pass tech inspection at the track prior to running it.

Items checked will include but not limited to:

Battery must be secured.

Brake fluid must be at proper level and fluid cannot be cloudy (really old).

Each wheel will be checked for proper lug nut torque, and that it does not feel loose (loose wheel bearings, loose tie rod ends, etc). Tires cannot be worn out (down to wear bars).

You will be required to drive your car slowly for a short test drive in which you apply the brakes without your hands on the steering wheel. The car must go straight and not pull to right or left.

There might be other items which I will add as I think of them.


Barry

[supercrackerbox]

Installing new brakes right now.

[cordes]

Installing new brakes right now.

Same here. I'll throw some rear bearings in too while I'm at it though.

Aside from safety, etc. what is everyone doing to prepare their cars? I'm toying with the notion of porting my water pump. I have a nice aftermarket fan with shroud I made that I'll probably add too.

[83scamp]

Installing new inner tie rods in the Daytona this weekend, then an alignment next week to make sure it's ready... I did brakes a month ago, wheel bearings last weekend along with new CV shafts...

[supercrackerbox]

Same here. I'll throw some rear bearings in too while I'm at it though.

Aside from safety, etc. what is everyone doing to prepare their cars? I'm toying with the notion of porting my water pump. I have a nice aftermarket fan with shroud I made that I'll probably add too.

I've decided I'm going to replace my brake fluid also. Stuff in there is black and smells awful. Likely still the factory fill. Stepping up to Dot 4.

[cordes]

I've decided I'm going to replace my brake fluid also. Stuff in there is black and smells awful. Likely still the factory fill. Stepping up to Dot 4.

I am replacing my fluid also, but it's due to the 11" conversion. I purge the old fluid once or twice a year if I'm running in a lot of events. I've been using either Motul or Raybestos DOT 5.1 fluid. I know there are DOT 3 and some DOT 4 fluids with higher dry boiling points, but I like the minimum specs for the 5.1 stuff.

[iTurbo]

I've decided I'm going to replace my brake fluid also. Stuff in there is black and smells awful. Likely still the factory fill. Stepping up to Dot 4.

Damn! I should check out the fluid in my CSRT. The one thing that I've been disappointed about with this car is the factory brakes. They've pulsated since it was practically new. And the brake dust is insane. I've had the stock rotors resurfaced, but it came right back after a few hundred miles. I have new rotors and Hawk HPS pads ready to go on, but my plate is overflowing with old school stuff.

Meanwhile my SL which had all new brake lines, 11" setup, 24mm MC and filled with DOT 4 10 years ago is still practically crystal clear in the MC. It still looks new even though I'm going to bleed the ---- out of it since it's been sitting since '09.

Looking forward to that CSRT upgrade experience Adam!

[supercrackerbox]

Damn! I should check out the fluid in my CSRT. The one thing that I've been disappointed about with this car is the factory brakes. They've pulsated since it was practically new. And the brake dust is insane. I've had the stock rotors resurfaced, but it came right back after a few hundred miles. I have new rotors and Hawk HPS pads ready to go on, but my plate is overflowing with old school stuff.

Meanwhile my SL which had all new brake lines, 11" setup, 24mm MC and filled with DOT 4 10 years ago is still practically crystal clear in the MC. It still looks new even though I'm going to bleed the ---- out of it since it's been sitting since '09.

Brake dust was maddening on mine when I got it, and I hear it's a common problem for many SRT cars. The same went for my wife's Fiesta ST; Ford put some aggressive but notoriously dusty pads on the ST line. It didn't help that the previous owner had put on some EBC YellowStuff pads on the front of my Caliber. I swapped the brakes on the Caliber out out for some Centric extreme service ceramic pads and some slotted front rotors from Rock Auto and took the car out to properly bed the brakes. I cannot stress that enough. That never happens with new cars from the factory, and rarely happens when people put new brakes on their cars. But it makes all the difference when it comes to brake performance and brake dust. I went from washing my wheels 2-3 times a week to every other week, and the braking power improved immensely even over the aggressive EBC pads. When it came time to put brakes on my wife's ST we chose Power Stop pads and Raybestos rotors, followed the same procedure, and got the same results. Now I've upgraded the Caliber to the StopTech kit that included pads, hardware, and slotted/crossdrilled rotors for all four corners. So far I love them.

Looking forward to that CSRT upgrade experience Adam!

I know I know. I've got the dyno sheets sitting right here next to the computer. I just haven't had time to do the full write up with everything else I'm trying to do to the car before SDAC. We just put an upgraded clutch in on Sunday (huge thanks to Jeff Mass) and I just picked it up from the tint shop this evening. I'll get to it.

If you pull off the battery tray you'll see the stud for the battery hold down under it. I've put a jam nut on top to prevent spinning before.

Yup, been there done that. Worst case, I think the battery tray out of my GLHS has a good hold down. Shoot me a PM and I'll bring it along to loan you for the weekend.

[BadAssPerformance]

Thanks for adding the thread Barry! We plan to have guidelines and rules packets available for participants as well.

[csxtra]

New Street/Track front pads and ATE Type 200 brake fluid being delivered tomorrow for the 300. New UHP all season tires showing up next week. It will be fun throwing a big boat around the course!

Barry/JT, what is the policy for ride-alongs, especially minors (16y/o)? I have an extra SA2005 helmet for Max Boost, but last year at the Track Night in Memphis they wanted a release form signed by both parents and notarized ahead of time, so if ride-alongs are allowed I want to be sure that I have all of the legal paperwork in order before leaving for SDAC.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide!

Warren


Thanks!

[sdac guy]

....
Barry/JT, what is the policy for ride-alongs, especially minors (16y/o)? I have an extra SA2005 helmet for Max Boost, but last year at the Track Night in Memphis they wanted a release form signed by both parents and notarized ahead of time, so if ride-alongs are allowed I want to be sure that I have all of the legal paperwork in order before leaving for SDAC.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide!

Warren

Hmmm, at Memphis they didn't want your left arm and left leg also??? They must have loosened up their rules since 2002. lol

I don't see a problem with Max riding along as long as he has a helmet. I don't recall any special paperwork being needed at Waterford before, but there may be a waiver you will need to sign for him also.

Barry

[csxtra]

Hmmm, at Memphis they didn't want your left arm and left leg also??? They must have loosened up their rules since 2002. lol

LOL! Thanks for the info Barry, looking forward to a great event!

Warren

[DaveSkrab]

For those of you repacking or replacing rear wheel bearings, I would recommend rechecking the adjustment after a few miles on driving. They tend to seat a little after some driving, and will give you some play.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[superbleu]

Barry
Do you know whether they want sunroofs in or out, or don't care?
Dan

[sdac guy]

Barry
Do you know whether they want sunroofs in or out, or don't care?
Dan

I don't think it matters.


Barry

[83scamp]

I don't think it matters.


Barry

Good, I can run the course with my T-tops out.... More headroom with the helmet on


Just kidding......

[superbleu]

Thanks, in the glhs with a helmet on, out would be better. Kinda Herman Munster like.

[djm3452004]

I have been watching some Youtube videos taken from GoPros (presumably)at Waterford Hills to try to get a rough feel of the truck ahead of time. These were like MG-related events, etc.

Every car there was numbered and the drivers were wearingfull fire-suits and racing gloves. Theinstructions for our event in “Up Front” just said long pants and shirts, inaddition to the correct Snell-rated helmet. I’ve got the correct helmet, but what about clothing? I have no fire suit or official racinggloves, etc.

As to the car numbering, I’ve got nothing for thateither. Is that something we need to provide?

I just don’t want to get there and find I can’t run due tosome little stupid item I didn’t know to bring…

Thanks for the suggestions/help in advance!
David


(And I’m really sorry about the omitted spaces between someof the words; it does that every time I post on this forum.)

[cordes]

Last time we were there they didn't require jackets, shoes, or gloves. Good question about the tape for numbers though. Will we need it? I guess I should throw a roll of masking tape into the trunk just in case.

[sdac guy]

We usually don't assign numbers to the cars as this is NOT a competitive event. That is also the reason fire suits & gloves are not required. This event is considered a "driving school". Though for more experienced drivers it will be more or less an open track event.

Barry