So based on rave reviews of the dtc60 pads, and in prep for my first track day of the year this weekend, I swapped to new rotors and new dtc60 pads.

So upon my first hard stop while bedding the pads, they showered the car in sparks. Totally freaked out, I did some Google searching and this appears to be common with such aggressive pads. But in every thread it's mentioned in a very casual fashion, like oh yea they threw out some neat sparks. Mine literally shower the car in sparks. To the point that on my second drive I carried my fire extinguisher with me just in case.

At what point does this subside? Ive never noticed any other cars at the track literally spraying sparks thru the braking zone. I feel like at the current level im going to get black flagged for safety on the first lap.

I'm going to drive the car to work tomorrow and see if they helps bed them some more and cut down on the pyro show.

I can't be the first to experience this. Somebody calm my fears... Or tell me to work through the night and swap my hp+ pads back on.

Thanks in advance. #newbfears

 

I've only noticed it driving at night. Don't worry about it and enjoy your track day.

 

The sparks subside when the pads come up to operating temperature. 100% normal for DTCs (and most other metallic and semi-metallic pads) to throw sparks when they're cold. I want to say the XP12 does it too, but don't quote me on that (it's been too long since I've run that pad on the street to say for sure).

 

Sav, the XP10s throw sparks when they're bedding in, for sure.
Don't think I've seen them since at night, though I haven't needed to brake hard on the streets after dark.

 

A chemical reaction has occurred.

 

Yea we did a night autox last summer and there was a FRS running those pads I believe. It was doing the same thing. The general consensus was that it looked pretty cool...

 

My brother driving with fresh DTC60s a couple nights ago. Yeah, they spark. We thought it was pretty cool the first time I got them a couple years ago too and we were bedding them in at Pocono at night.

 

I noticed this down at Miatas at MRLS last year. We were playing on one of the curvy roads leading up to the track and I slammed on the brakes and SPARKS! It was pretty neat.

 

It makes little flecks of hot metal imbed in the finish of your wheels, too...

...which then rust...

 

^not excited about that part of things.

 

Yep. Realized this the hard way. Ruined the inner lips of what were shiny C3Ms. Oh well, track wheels. But wash the dust off if you intend to drive the car through rain and then let it sit for any amount of time.

potato picture, but I think it gets the point across...

 

Buy non-metallic track pads.

 

...like?

 

There aren't any.

 

 

My last set of XP10s did the same thing.

 

Washing your wheels very well after a track event is just part of the maintenance of track days. Period. If you don't, prepare for rust spots on your wheels. I learned the hard way.

I also hope your Hawk pads do not denigrate in the middle of the pad as a set of mine did on my STi. I no longer use Hawk pads.

 

The first time I put on DTC-60's and bedded them at night, I thought I'd done something terribly wrong. It no longer bothers me, but the guys at the ball field near by get a show.

One of the shops that did my NASA inspections said to wash the wheels after every track event and inspect them for cracks. Wheels are a wear item and nothing more exciting that having one break on track.

 

It's always weird when you park next to an MT member without knowing it.

I forgot to ask you, how'd you like the DTC-60s on track?

 

Yea it was nice to meet you. So random that we ended up next to each other in the paddock.

The dtc60's did great. Great bite and no fade. I had fun learning the new limits of my threshold braking, though my tires are starting to be a limiting factor. I started pushing my braking zone going into turn one. Locked up the tires on one occasion; bit of a pucker moment but I got it gathered up in time for turn in haha.

Oh, and I went to clean my wheels tonight... Already started rusting within 2 days. Dang.