[Charger_Hellcat]

I wanted to start a thread about brake upgrades on Charger Hellcats for Track use. I recently felt brake fade for the first time running my HC at the F1 track in Austin. I have been running my car there for months now, and I recently upgraded my tires and am now hitting higher top speeds in the straights as I am coming into the corner faster. Your butt puckers a little at almost 160MPH when the corner comes and peddle gets soft The only upgrades I did on the braking system to date is to change out the brake fluid from the stock DOT3 rated to a Mopar DOT4 (another topic of conversation for this thread). I have a few upgrades planned, but the first is new front rotors and pads. I have been waiting for the new PowerStop Track day front kit made just for Hell Cats. I just received the first ever pair to ship to anyone Thanks PowerStop!!

I'm looking to see if anyone has any feedback on upgrades they have made or if they have used PowerStop products in their HC on a road track. I believe these will work great, but we will have to see. They are high carbon infused rotors and carbon fiber metallic pads. The original version still on their site where supposed to be drilled and slotted, but the finished product is just slotted. They say the heat dissipation between the two types are very similar, but the non drilled don't crack

Here is a link: Power Stop Track Day Brake Kits | Power Stop

So if anyone has input on pads and rotors, brake fluid, brake lines, or anything else brake related I would like to know.

Here is a video of my last track day with break fade and some pics of the brake kit.

 

[Megamike55]

I don't know if the rotors will be much of a difference from stock, but the pads probably will. The brakes are definitely strong already on our cars. During my track run I spoke to an owner of a BMW M5 and he said his brakes where fading after 6 or 7 laps, and mine held up until about 8 or 9 laps. I had the stock brake fluid, so switching to DOT 4 may have improved further. Besides having calipers much larger than the M5, I think the performance edge with the brakes was also due to the superior cooling ducts integrated into body molding. modifying the cooling further could be somewhere to look for improving brake performance.

But the biggest hit against the Hellcat on the track is its weight. If there was a way to shed 500 lbs, that would make a huge difference. I just can't figure out how without doing some interior gutting.

 

[TrackDay]

There are several brake fluids out there. My favorite considering price is ATE Super Blue and Gold. They have 2 different colors so when you bleed your brakes you see the color change and know you have fresh fluid. It's what I use for track days.
Next in line to me is Mogul. It's more expensive but has a higher dry boiling point.
Then the best is Castrol SRF. It's very expensive but as far as I know has no rival for track performance. I would not use that fluid for a car that is primarily a street driver. Not worth it to me.

This company you mention is now making Hellcat replacement rotors? Price?

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

There are several brake fluids out there. My favorite considering price is ATE Super Blue and Gold. They have 2 different colors so when you bleed your brakes you see the color change and know you have fresh fluid. It's what I use for track days.
Next in line to me is Mogul. It's more expensive but has a higher dry boiling point.
Then the best is Castrol SRF. It's very expensive but as far as I know has no rival for track performance. I would not use that fluid for a car that is primarily a street driver. Not worth it to me.

This company you mention is now making Hellcat replacement rotors? Price?

TrackDay, Thanks for the feedback.

Here is the link for the kit I bought. Its about $1800 for front rotors and pads. These are rated for track and are installed now.
PowerStop® - Track Day Drilled and Slotted Brake Kit

Previously I purchased their Extreme Z26 Carbonfiber ceramic pads with stock rotors and blew them out after one track day I found out the hard way that I should read the fine print. They say not suggested for track use. They where right...

What are the specs for the Castrol SRF fluid? Is it DOT4 or some synthetic DOT5 or 5.1 type? I read that we should not use synthetic DOT5 in our brake systems. Its not good for it. I want the best I can get...

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

Found some specs for those interested. Much better wet performance then most including Brembo LCF600. I think I will go with this...
Carbotech Performance Brakes: Products-Brake Fluids

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

I don't know if the rotors will be much of a difference from stock, but the pads probably will. The brakes are definitely strong already on our cars. During my track run I spoke to an owner of a BMW M5 and he said his brakes where fading after 6 or 7 laps, and mine held up until about 8 or 9 laps. I had the stock brake fluid, so switching to DOT 4 may have improved further. Besides having calipers much larger than the M5, I think the performance edge with the brakes was also due to the superior cooling ducts integrated into body molding. modifying the cooling further could be somewhere to look for improving brake performance.

But the biggest hit against the Hellcat on the track is its weight. If there was a way to shed 500 lbs, that would make a huge difference. I just can't figure out how without doing some interior gutting.

I agree the stock brakes did well for me. Nothing really made me want to change other then wanting a little better stopping advantage so I gave these a shot. They are Brembos after all.

When you look at the new ones they look almost identical to the stock ones. I originally ordered them because they where shown and advertised as drilled and slotted, so it seemed like it would help in cooling. In the end they are just slotted like stock because the drilled version would crack!

Maybe if I removed myself and my instructor from the car and drove it by remote control we would shed 500LBs. Its to beautiful of a car to gut and make a true track only car.

 

[DGatzby]

Porterfield R4-S pads dudes. If anyone is interested I will post up the sizes tonight. Or contact Dave Zechhousen with Zechhousen Racing. I have trusted Dave for these products for years. He sold me these and they are unbelievable smooth, street manners are A+, I don't know what brake fade is on the track. It may happen, but has not yet.

I will be taking advice here and changing my fluid, probably using the Mogul product as several people at the track recommended it especially our Mopar Bro's who had the Vipers. Same for the darn PS fluid, something needs to change there because I am not liking a rag tied around the PS pump reservoir lid to contain spray.

We will get it right guys, these monsters are not bad right out of the showroom, we are close to having big fun!

 

[BULL]

What am I missing here???

$1800 for fronts
$2370 for front/rear

I get the whole racing = money, but this seems out of touch, that seemingly puts the cost of a front rotor at about $850 EACH and the rears at about $250 EACH...

Our fancy front two-piece Brembo rotors aren't worthy???

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

Porterfield R4-S pads dudes. If anyone is interested I will post up the sizes tonight. Or contact Dave Zechhousen with Zechhousen Racing. I have trusted Dave for these products for years. He sold me these and they are unbelievable smooth, street manners are A+, I don't know what brake fade is on the track. It may happen, but has not yet.

I will be taking advice here and changing my fluid, probably using the Mogul product as several people at the track recommended it especially our Mopar Bro's who had the Vipers. Same for the darn PS fluid, something needs to change there because I am not liking a rag tied around the PS pump reservoir lid to contain spray.

We will get it right guys, these monsters are not bad right out of the showroom, we are close to having big fun!

DG. I will do a full report back on these pads after March. If they feel bad or the same as stock I will let you know. I am interested in trying R4-S Pads next. Let see.

Quick Q about the PS fluid. I had the same issue on my first track day, but its never happened again after the level went down a bit. You seeing it every time?

I agree they are not perfect stock, but I am working hard to make it as close as possibe to it

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

What am I missing here???

$1800 for fronts
$2370 for front/rear

I get the whole racing = money, but this seems out of touch, that seemingly puts the cost of a front rotor at about $850 EACH and the rears at about $250 EACH...

Our fancy front two-piece Brembo rotors aren't worthy???

BULL. Its looking like the stock rotors are just fine. I am just trying to see if I can get the brakes to ride a little cooler on the track or handle the heat a little better. In the end I understand i could be or might be wasting money, but Its part of my hobby and I love it

 

[BULL]

I

BULL. Its looking like the stock rotors are just fine. I am just trying to see if I can get the brakes to ride a little cooler on the track or handle the heat a little better. In the end I understand i could be or might be wasting money, but Its part of my hobby and I love it

I guess I would be better with it if I didn't believe that track pads and DOT4 wouldn't get you there, which is what I think you've said...

I don't even mind upgrading the rotors, it just seems a bit much for a rotor...???

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

I



I guess I would be better with it if I didn't believe that track pads and DOT4 wouldn't get you there, which is what I think you've said...

I don't even mind upgrading the rotors, it just seems a bit much for a rotor...???

The stock rotors cost about the same.

 

[BULL]

The stock rotors cost about the same.

Wow,


I also thought about my rifle scope, I paid $3400 for it, most people freak out about that too, saying that $1500 would have got me the same thing...

I tell them they're wrong...

This is no different, my apologies..

 

[kpbrown84]

I wanted to start a thread about brake upgrades on Charger Hellcats for Track use. I recently felt brake fade for the first time running my HC at the F1 track in Austin. I have been running my car there for months now, and I recently upgraded my tires and am now hitting higher top speeds in the straights as I am coming into the corner faster. Your butt puckers a little at almost 160MPH when the corner comes and peddle gets soft The only upgrades I did on the braking system to date is to change out the brake fluid from the stock DOT3 rated to a Mopar DOT4 (another topic of conversation for this thread). I have a few upgrades planned, but the first is new front rotors and pads. I have been waiting for the new PowerStop Track day front kit made just for Hell Cats. I just received the first ever pair to ship to anyone Thanks PowerStop!!

I'm looking to see if anyone has any feedback on upgrades they have made or if they have used PowerStop products in their HC on a road track. I believe these will work great, but we will have to see. They are high carbon infused rotors and carbon fiber metallic pads. The original version still on their site where supposed to be drilled and slotted, but the finished product is just slotted. They say the heat dissipation between the two types are very similar, but the non drilled don't crack

Here is a link: Power Stop Track Day Brake Kits | Power Stop

So if anyone has input on pads and rotors, brake fluid, brake lines, or anything else brake related I would like to know.

Here is a video of my last track day with break fade and some pics of the brake kit.

View attachment 36000 View attachment 36001 View attachment 36002 View attachment 36003 View attachment 36004 View attachment 36005

The video and car data is very good. Can you tell me what camera and software you used. Very impressive.

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

Wow,


I also thought about my rifle scope, I paid $3400 for it, most people freak out about that too, saying that $1500 would have got me the same thing...

I tell them they're wrong...

This is no different, my apologies..

No worries. Its all good!

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

The video and car data is very good. Can you tell me what camera and software you used. Very impressive.

Thanks!

The front camera is actually my cell phone. Its a Samsung S5 Active. You can download Harrys Lap Timer and do the same on any android or Iphone. The rear video is from a GoPro Hero3+.

 

[TrackDay]

Thanks!

The front camera is actually my cell phone. Its a Samsung S5 Active. You can download Harrys Lap Timer and do the same on any android or Iphone. The rear video is from a GoPro Hero3+.

Agreed, I use my Samsung S4 with a Ram mount to the windshield and Track Addict software. With a bluetooth CAN tool like the OBDLinkLx you can log plenty of your parameters from the engine and vehicle that are useful to track as well.

 

[TrackDay]

Here's a good table of brake fluids and their wet/dry boiling points. Pegasus is a good company to buy from in my experience as well.

Pegasus - Racing Brake Fluid

 

[Charger_Hellcat]

Here's a good table of brake fluids and their wet/dry boiling points. Pegasus is a good company to buy from in my experience as well.

Pegasus - Racing Brake Fluid

Castrol by far has the best wet performance. Thanks for that.

Do you know how much fluid it takes to fill it up? Assuming you don't waste to much of it in the bleeding process.

 

[TrackDay]

The stock rotors cost about the same.

Actually, the rotors you were sent look an awful lot like stock front rotors. I seem to remember Speedlogix and Steve White sell them for about $600 or $650 ea for the front.