It's easy to see the glazed...
It's easy to see the glazed surface on these brake pads. This glaze will degrade the performance of the brakes if it is not removed.
Good maintenance leads to good finishes, and good finishes lead to championships. It's a simple combination. This has been the formula that David Roberts has been using to get into and stay in First Place in the championship standings halfway through the season in the Late Model Stock class at Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. At midseason, he was also in 12th Place on the national point standings of the Whelen All American Series for Late Model Stocks.
Roberts has found that going fast on the track requires some hang time in the shop. He gladly assisted in compiling this story and offered the use of his shop and car to illustrate the concept
Making the car go fast is one thing, but slowing it down is another. Brakes are important and require the same level of maintenance as any other system on the car. They need to be looked at between every race, and the minimum service should be deglazing the pads and the rotor. Merely removing the glaze helps keep the brakes in top condition. There's no need to replace the pads every race, but by removing the glaze, the brakes maintain a level of performance that's consistent, and it forces you to really look over the brakes for any other issues, such as leaking seals or physical damage. The process is simple. It requires a minimum of tools and can be accomplished in about 10-15 minutes per wheel.
The idea that you can perform simple maintenance and improve performance is something that's not lost on the professional race teams. This is a performance enhancer that can be used with a minimal amount of special tools; in fact, you probably already have everything you need to do this job. So turn off the TV, get into the shop, and start working on the car.
To begin, remove the safety...
To begin, remove the safety wire and the bolts holding the calipers to the spindle. This is a good time to make sure that there are no signs of leakage or damage.
It's also the time to be on...
It's also the time to be on the lookout for any issues or problems that could manifest into larger problems on race day.
Look for any damage to the...
Look for any damage to the hardware and check for cracks, worn threads, or bends in the bolts. Replace these bolts if there is a problem. Don't wait until they cause a problem during competition.
Remove the caliper from the...
Remove the caliper from the spindle and then remove the brake pads from the caliper. Again, this is the time to look for signs of damage, leakage, or the telltale signs of having been overheated. This will be signaled by gross discoloration, melted rubber goods, and possibly the smell of burned oil.
As the lead photo illustrates,...
As the lead photo illustrates, our calipers are in need of deglazing, and we'll use 80-grit sandpaper to accomplish this. The tool we're using is nothing more than a small section of aluminum plate and some sandpaper with an adhesive backing, which you can purchase at Lowe's or Home Depot. If you can't find this type of sandpaper in your area, some spray adhesive in an aerosol can, and regular 80-grit sandpaper applied on top of the adhesive will work just as well.
After just a few strokes,...
After just a few strokes, the glaze is nearly removed. It doesn't take long to accomplish this task. Make a few strokes and check the pad; if there's still some glaze left, give it a few more strokes. Try to make a figure-8 shape on your stroke as this will help remove the material equally across the face of the pad. Moving across the sandpaper in straight lines can remove material in unequal amounts across the face of the pad. Take your time and eliminate only enough to remove the glaze. Once you've completed the deglazing process, spray the pad with some brake cleaner.
With the caliper installed,...
With the caliper installed, replace the lock wire on the caliper bolts. Once the lock wire is back in place, you can move on to the next brake.
Reinstall the pads into the...
Reinstall the pads into the caliper and place the caliper back onto the spindle.
Once you've deglazed the pads,...
Once you've deglazed the pads, go over the disc with a section of the sandpaper. Remember to do both sides. We used 120-grit. After removing the glaze, you should use brake cleaner to remove any sanding media and dirt you may have dislodged during the sanding process. Clean the disc and the surrounding area with brake cleaner to remove any loose debris.