Yikes!

After couple of hot laps at Shannonville, it was pointed out to me that my front brakes were
actually smoking when I got back to the pits. Anyone here tried to add ducting for cooling? What
has/hasn't work for you? (the pads were overheating, it's not the fluid)

Thanks,
Allan
97 TSi AWD

Are you sure it wasn't break dust? Smoking seems a bit scary.

------------------
Crusading for a geometrically correct suspension.
Red 98 TSI AWD shuffling to the left.

Nope wasnt brake dust, rotor/pads were showning signs of visible smoke foe approx 30 sec upon returning to the pits. Alan Dont worry next time just tell people to bring marshmallows

you sure your breaks are installed correctly and their not seized????? I had same trouble before and they were seized up.

Alan, my first time to Shannonville, I smoked all 4 corners badly. It looked like a fire was just doused in each wheel! Ofcourse I was just using Cdn Tire crap pads at the time.

You might be better off asking the road race guys about your brakes. (ie Nino)

Good luck

Hello Allan.

I've seen a few ppls using Cooling Ducts to dirrect cold air to the front Brakes. Sue Pottinger, Nino and Tom from Kingston(Non Club DSM).

I made an "Adaptor" out of Fiberglass. Mounted it in the Front Facia and I'm using it to bring air to the Airfilter area. Here are a few Pics. Your set-up would be slightly different since you have a different Year/Generation than me but it can give you an Idea.
http://www.lks.net/~ghislisa/Adaptor.jpg
http://www.lks.net/~ghislisa/RamAir.jpg

I used Blue Foam and wraped it with Saran Wrap as a mold to make the Adapter. It took a few adjustement but did not need to start from scratch every time. Fiberglass is easy to work with and you can build up on previously cured stuff with good results. Used a Dremel to smooth out the bumps, Put some Wire Mesh and painted it Black.

It has been held in Place with Aluminium Tape for the past Three years. Never felt off.

I'd say you could make some quite easyly and use 2" Aluminium Ducting Stuff from crappy to route cold stuff to the binders. You could be crafty and make "Distribution Ducts" that could be mounted to the Heat Sheild. That would be a sweet set-up.

BTW; Nino, Sue and Tom have them (Air Duct) mounted just bellow the Front Facia. Seems to work just fine.

Hope this ansewers you call.

Ghislain.

Thanks Ghislain!

That is exactly what I am looking for.

On the 2G, it looks like it would be very difficult to mount ducting inside the front
bumper. There is an intercooler and a pump inside the openings that I wouldn't want to
steal air from.

Any of you 2G guys got pics of ducting on your cars?

If anyone has any pad ideas as well, I'd be happy to hear them. The set I put on last
weekend is now 1/2 gone! (my nice shiny cadmium plated rotors have also gone white!)

Allan
97 TSi AWD

Hey Allen,

This is my next project as well. Why don't we get together and make them?

Reza,


------------------
Reza
97 F2 TSi AWD
FRC FED

Hey Allan.

I'm actually trying to make an Adaptor that can be mounted under the Front Facia.

I first tried with that Blue Foam but did not wrap it enough and it melted. I made a mold using MDF. The FiberGlass is curing right now. Will see how it turns out.

I'll be posting a few pics in a few days. Ain't gona be anything sutable for a "Show Car" but it should be funtionnal.

TTYL.

Ghislain.

I'm not an expert, but while watching a lot of car racing on TV, you'll see smoke coming from the wheel wells of the cars when they come to the pits for a tire change, and these race cars have cooling ducts. I'd say its probably normal, just as long as its coming from continuous hard braking, not from normal driving.

Still I think custom cooling ducts sounds cool.

Reza,

I'd be happy to help out. If I'm going to do much more lapping (or SOLO I) I'm going to need
as much brake cooling as I can get. Smoke may look cool, but when someones rear license plate is
rapidly growing bigger and your foot is already on the floor you don't really care about looking
cool!

Ghislain,

Let me know how it turns out! Mmm, molded brake ducts for the talon....

Allan
97 TSi AWD

It's taking me more time to do it than I tought. I ain't an "artist" with Fiberglass... I'll drop a few pics in here whenever one of them is done sometime next week.

BTW: Was laping at S'ville tonight (Fabi cct). Did three secions of 1/2 hours and the Metal Axxis held up pretty good. Euro Rotor from Crappy are not wearing as fast as I tought they would be with those Pads.

Got to say that I did not get the speed you probably got last week-end but was not the snail of the pack.

TTYL

Ghislain.

Smoking pads is very common at track events. Its your pads. You need pads designed to take that type of heat. I would recommend Carbotech Panther (carbotecheng.com) or Panther Plus. They are streetable and have amazing stopping power. Carbotech Super Street F are ok but ntohing like the Panthers. Hawk HP+ are ok but not a race pad. Hawk Black or Blue work well but eat rotors. Use better brake fluid. Cdn Tire Ford 550 or Ford Blue are minimum, Motul 600 if you can afford it. Cooling ducts are difficult to install because there is no room to but them in tidy. I am now using 3" alum. duct from home depot. You can squish it down oval for more ground clearance and use tie wraps to install to front bumper. I go through a few a year because when I spin off the track they get banged up or rip. They look ugly too but function over looks.

Hey All.

This is what I made so far. Ain't going to mass produce these. Just want to show this idea.

Made a Mold, slapped on Two coats of the goo, allowed to dry. Then cut a few holes and installed a Half Cut Can of "Green Peas" as a Mounting Flange for the 3" cooling Ducts. Ain't HighTech but it should work.

Will put them on next time I go for some Laps.

Later.

Moi.

http://www.lks.net/~ghislisa/Mold.jpg

http://www.lks.net/~ghislisa/BIDuct.jpg

http://www.lks.net/~ghislisa/BIDuct1.jpg

super nice!!!