Can you comment on the pedal response of the R56 brakes fitted to R53? Is the R56 brake line stainless steel?

I have JCW Brake kit on my R53 but was confused when I drove a stock R56 recently and found the R56's pedal response to be MUCH sharper and pedal travel to be MUCH shorter than my R53 with JCW brake kit. My R53 with JCW brake pedal travels about 3 times more than the R56 and feels more spongy versus the "percise" response of R56.

It's worth noting that the stopping power is there on my R53 when I slam on my brakes but it just takes a bit more pedal travel. I did not upgrade to steel lines. It was a straight JCW Brake upgrade for my R53. Now I am worried that maybe the JCW brake kit installed/brake bleed was bad or else I can explain the difference I am feeling between them.

 

Stock MCS brakes with Hawk Blue pads solves this. I thought of doing the R56 Big Brakes, but the stopping power I get with these, and the lack of pads (at least as of today) has kept me off the thought of upgrading.

 

If you just had them bled, I would definetly consider changing the fluid altogether, as you either have a bubble someplace, or your fluid is saturated and boiling at a low boiling point.

 

A little comment about the available pads : as you probably saw, I bought EBC Yellowstuff for my 09-2002 MCS (DP41789R front and DP41389R rear) : I put them to the test many times and the worked great (little twisty roads and track : the Nurburgring and Francorchamps). Really, they are awsome when cold and they keep on braking even at high temperature. They are not even noisy. Great buy for money !!

 

great stuff...thanks all but...can you fit gen2 JCW brakes on gen1 MCS cars? I heard that those were lighter than the 1st gen types. thnx.

 

IMHO outside of bling and hardcore track use, why would you want to?

The R53 non-JCW brakes with the right pads for the right driving event work very well for most drivers. We have found most people are running the wrong pad for the wrong event. FYI, there is no one best pad for everything.

If you can find a set of front R56S brakes cheap and install them that will be the best bang for the buck for most R53, R52 and R50 owners, but you will still need the right pad for the right event.

 

The master cylinders look different when comparing the drawings on realoem.com. If they are indeed different, then that is the reason for the difference in brake feel. The R56 probably uses a master with a larger piston bore(s) which would result in a stiffer pedal.

Meant to post that on this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...etraction+tool

 

What is the complete cost of this upgrade?

 

To many variables for anyone to say, but a vendor would be glad to give you a quote

 

The issue is finding a used front setup from a R56 S. The only things you need after that is the right front lines, $50.ish a set, and brake fluid. I've heard of people finding the R56S front sets for a little as $100 on line.
Happy Hunting.

 

so i may use the stock r53 rotors?

 

nope, the R56 rotor and the NON-JCW R53 rotor are different.

 

sounds to me as a vendor here on NAM may want to put together a affordable kit.

 

As a vendor that doesn't think 99% of R53/52/50's need bigger brakes, just better pads, there is no "affordable" kit to fit the R56S fronts to the R53/52/50 since it would be almost all OEM parts at BMW prices. If you are looking to stop faster, better and with less dust check out www.buycarbotechpads.com

 

Questions:

If I get the 09 MCS R56 Brakes with all 4 Rotors, calipers and pads. All I need is the SS lines from either autoxooper or outmotoring. And then it's all simple swapping? (even for the rear?) Thanks.

 

I don't know about the rears. I have yet to find anyone that did that, but I don't know that it is needed. But since many of the rear parts, did stay the same they might work, but do more research before diving into that deep end of the pool.

The fronts will change over with just a new set of front lines.

 

I thought instead opening a new thread I revive this one...

So, any more feedback on this ? Everyone happy with the upgrade ?

A buddy has upgraded his R56 S to the JCW kit and is selling me his standard S front rotors and calipers. I got a 2004 R53.
While we are at it we want to install SS-brake lines as well.
My understanding is that I would then need R56 SS front brake lines and R53 SS rear brake lines (as we don't change the rears), is that correct ?

Thanks in advance !

 

I have the R56 front rotor and calipers with the R56 S/S lines for over a year now love them. The rears are R53 stock, no need to change them to R56 ones.

 

Thanks for the heads up !
Just again to clarify:
You left the rear R53 lines in place, you didn't upgrade them to R53 SS lines ?

I knew that I don't have to upgrade to R56 brakes in the back (therefore of course no need for R56 lines), but I thought to have read somewhere to not mixing rubber and SS lines in a brakesystem. Or does the the rear count as a separate system

 

Fount R56 SS lines Rear R53 ss Lines.

SS lines are rubber hoses with a SS braided around the hose. I know a lot of people that are running SS on the front only.

 

Thanks again ! That takes care of it

 

i should be doing this in a couple weeks. however i am upgrading all four brakes, and ss lines all around. I picked up the brand new set for 180bux....since i got them..might as well slap them on.

 

Don't forget to paint them before you put them on

 

Hi Folks, just wondering if someone can tell me if you can utilise the brake pad sensors on the R53 with the R56 brake setup or do you have to change to R56 sensors ?

Also can someone confirm which goodridge stainless steel lines (http://www.goodridge.co.uk/car-brake-lines/bmw.htm) should be installed with the R56 brake setup ?

R53 up to 09/2003 (P/N: KCB-283-176-4)
R53 09/2003 onwards (P/N: KCB-283-177-4)
R56 (P/N: KCB-283-178-4)

 

We installed mine last weekend.
The sensor was our only problem (besides the mounting point where the rubber/SS line goes into the metal on... a fat *** drill took care of that).

The sensor has a different shape, the mounting point at the pads is different and the plug that connects it is different.
We didn't fiddle with it and left the old one plugged in and cable-tied it out of the way but not mounted to the pads to avoid a warning light.


Interested to hear how other solved this issue though.