I was looking for something with a little less bite than the factory pads. The R56 MCS brakes are just too grabby IMO, especially at light-to-moderate braking. Less dust would be nice too, but isn't as big of a deal.

I've got the EBC redstuff front pads (EBC-DP31789C) installed and have worn away most if not all of the quick break-in coating they come with. They are a direct drop-in for the 07 MCS. I'll wait until I receive the rear pads and bed them in to write a review, but I like the results so far in terms of less grabby feel. I haven't put any major heat into them yet.

-JL

edit - summary from posts below and initial impressions:

1. 2007 MCS front pads - DP31789C are a direct replacement
2. 2007 MCS rear pads - DP31701C do not fit. As reported below, DP31931C is the correct part number for the rear pads.
3. Break-in for the front pads took ~1000 miles. These are mostly city miles without any heavy braking, but not babying them either. I did follow the EBC directions which describe how to perfrom the first couple stops. I would usually perfrom the brake bed-in method described on the Stoptech website, but since the EBC pads have the abrasive break-in coating, I followed the directions and then just waited until they wore the coating away with normal braking. They do squeak a little while this coating is being worn away, but have been quiet since.
4. I'm still happy with the front pads. I'd really like to have them on both front and rear, but will need to find out what fits the rear first. EBC redstuff front and stock rear pads have a good feel, but it seems the rears tend to lock (ABS) first under full braking with the pads still cold. This is probably to be expected with a front pad with less bite.
5. I like them so far. This is the decrease in brake bite I was looking for, but this is an admittedly subjective thing.
6. Dust seems to be less than stock. Dust on the front wheels (EBC pads) now accumulates about as fast as dust on th rear wheels with stock pads. With stock pads on the front, the dust seemed noticeably heavier on the front wheels.

 

Did you replace the stock pads while still in the break-in period? 'Cause that's the only time I felt that the brakes were "grabby".

 

+1

 

No. I had about 6500 miles on the car.

-JL

 

That's surprising. I also found them almost ridiculously grabby at first, but with 3000 miles on my MINI now, they're perfect.

Only complaint is the insane amount of brake dust... Even after break-in that seems as bad as day one. That said I do appreciate how the pad composition results in completely silent brakes, so I won't b*tch about it too much.

 

I must be silly, but aren't grabby brakes a good thing? Sure, they take some getting used to, but aren't one's brakes engaging sooner safer in an emergency situation?

 

I am trying to buy a set of front EBC reds. Not sure on the part number. Could be the same part with different numbers. One for the JCW and one for R56. But, checkout what I found. On the EBC site they list DP31388C as the right front pad for the R56 S http://ebcbrakes.iwebcat.com/_Member...s/partlist.asp

On a different site it list the same pad as the rear pad for

Fits:
Cadillac CTS-V 5.7 2004-2005
Cadillac CTS-V 6.0 2006+
Chrysler 300C 6.1 SRT8 2005+
Dodge Charger 6.1 SRT8 2006+
Dodge Magnum 6.1 SRT-8 2005+
Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.1 SRT-8 2006+ http://www.prostreetonline.com/pnsku/ebc-dp31788c.asp.

Are our front pads the same as the rear pads on the car above?

 

It looks like the DP31388C are for the 2002-2007 Mini with 10.9" front rotors.

The DP31789C fits 2006-2007 with Work Package, 11.6" Diameter Rotor and are the ones I put on my 2007 MCS.

I ordered DP31701C for the rear brakes, but have not received them yet.

-JL

 

Update:

I received the DP31710C rear pads, but they don't fit the 2007 MCS. The tabs on the sides are too long. They look very similar to the attached pic (one of these borrowed from Octaneguy's writeup on changing rear pads). Just for clarification, the pics below are of the WRONG pads for the R56 MCS.

I hate to admit it, but I didn't snap a pic of the R56 pads when I had them out. I didn't want to get the camera dirty and didn't have any extra time.

On a somewhat related note, do the previous gen Mini's have aluminum rear calipers?

-JL

 

So, if I'm reading this correctly the R56 front brakes do use the same pads as the 06 JCW, right? If that's true then hawk's website is also correct. For their HPS pad they list a HB560f.677. This same pad is listed for an 06 JCW.

 

From what I've seen, you are correct. I am by no means an expert on Mini Cooper brakes so anyone feel free to correct me if wrong.

-JL

 

Wish I had discovered this thread earlier. Couldn't agree more - the super-grabby, super-dusty brakes are at the top on my "things I don't like about my R56 MCS" list. I actually think the grabbiness makes the brakes very hard to modulate & downright dangerous - I'm sure to get rear-ended or do something stupid at an autocross soon. BTW, I've owned an '03 MCS for 4-1/2 years & had stock, EBC Greenstuff & Hawk HPS pads on it.

I thought the Redstuff looked perfect - less initial grab & same friction coefficient up to 750°C. Now my only concern is the DP31701C doesn't fit??? I still see it listed at several stores for the rear on R56 - anyone have a recent update?

 

I lost that initial "grabiness" at about 10K. Most of my miles are highway which accounts for the length before they got more linear. Now I'm happy with the feel and stopping power, but the dusting is still brutal!

Pads are on this years list of must do's along with wheels & tires.

 

I've installed EBC Redstuff pads on my '08 MCS (non-JCW), these are the correct part numbers for direct replacement:
F: DP91789C
R: DP31931C

Don't have enough miles on them to render an opinion on performance.

 

If you think the R56 brakes are grabby, dont drive the JCW....

 

so the ebc redstuff pads don't provide better stopping power than the oem R56 pads?

 

My car has 110 miles on it. However, I've driven friends MINIs and never found the brakes to be "grabby"; sensitive and reactive to driver input is my description. I've put EBS pads on four friend's '07 MCSs and the pads are far cleaner, stop better, last longer; the improvement is great enough that I think it is worth replacing brand new pads with EBCs.

 

Well, I finally got the correct rear EBC Redstuff pads for my '08 MCS, and I'd have to say so far, so good. After a few hundred miles and an autocross, I think the Brake-In™ coating is gone & the dust has settled down to noticeably less than stock. The fronts have been on for another couple of months & autocrosses, so they're well broken in.

The best thing about the RedStuff formula is that the braking behavior remains very constant over a wide temperature range - as advertised. You can do a bunch of 70+mph panic stops and the pedal pressure is about the same as stone cold, and very easy to modulate. The stock pads were still too grabby after 2,500mi - very touchy & hard to modulate.

I used to have EBC GreenStuff pads on my R53 - installed for the *opposite* reason - wanted more initial bite & higher coeff. of friction. At this point, the R56 with RedStuff still has somewhat lower pedal pressure required, and the brakes are still way more powerful & fade-resistant than the R53 with any pads. I also had the Hawk HPS pads on the R53 & didn't like them at all - very inconsistent.

So, for street & autocross, I'd say a big thumbs up for the RedStuff pads (so far). We'll have to see about rotor wear. Also, EBC does *NOT* recommend these for track days, etc. with prolonged & constant heavy braking. YMMV...

Dan

 

just curious for all that have switched your pads, did you replace your rotors as well? If so, what ones did you get? I need the new front setup and I am having not much luck at finding front rotors, except oem.

Thanks,
Scott.

 

i replaced my rotors with stoptech ones from Zeckhausen Racing
they have oem style ones pretty cheap and also slotted ones, depends what you want

http://www.zeckhausen.com/Mini/MINI_Cooper.htm

 

My car is new, however in the order I spec'd JCW drilled rotors, they were installed @ the VDC when the car was off-loaded from the ship.

 

I've got quite a few more miles on the pads now. My current setup is:

front - redstuff pads with stoptech stainless braided lines.
rear - all stock
fluid - Castrol LMA

I was able to beat on them a bit more than usual this weekend with some consecutive high speed stops on country roads. This setup still feels great and I would not hesitate to do it again. The dust from the redstuff pads, while less than stock, can be harder to clean off after it gets wet (rainy day) and is allowed to dry.

As a side note, I got the stainless lines from Toe-Out performance. They were great to work with and even though I initially received the wrong lines, did everything needed to make things right. I will buy from them again.

-jlevy

 

I am about to replace the fronts on my 07 MCS and I found out how much BMW want for a pad change $400 Aus. That is crazy!
My question is about the brake wear sensor. I have changed heaps of pads on heaps of different types of cars so I know what I am doing. The problem is none of them have had the wear sensors. Is it easy to replace the sensor, does the ECU reset the brake wear indicator on the trip computer automatically or does it have to go to BMW to be reset?

By the way, thanks for the EBC part numbers.

 

I love the grabby brakes. It took about ten miles to get used to, of course, but I'm coming from a 1996 Mercedes-Benz C280 with a super-squishy brake pedal.

I find it easy to modulate, and not dangerous at all. It was surprising, however, when I went from the MINIs awesome brakes back to the C280 for a trip with our five dogs... I stepped on the brake and wondered, "Why the heck isn't this car stopping?"

I guess every car can't be a MINI!

 

I've got 1000 miles on the EBC Redstuff now, here's my opinion:

• Negligible dust - far less dust from these after 250 miles than 25 miles on the factory pad, and it cleans easily.
• The occasional break-in squeal was gone by 250 miles.
• Great initial cold bite, smooth and predictable engagement, modulation and release.
• I've never lost effectiveness after repeated successive hard stops at speed (street)
• Rotor wear appears the same as stock.