So I've had my 05 Cooper S for almost a year and its brakes have never been amazing, so I installed stoptech rotors, pads, and stainless steel lines. I was banking on these being a huge upgrade, but they just feel about the same and my brakes don't really engage until I press the pedal 1/4 of the way down. I wouldnt notice this except my girlfriends honda accord is WAY older than my cooper, has never had a brake job, and her brakes are amazing.... way better than my mini cooper brakes... something has to be wrong here . I bled everything right, no leaks, and I have one way bleeder valves, there is no air in the system. HELP! I want epic mini cooper braking!

 

Did you bed the pads? After 1000 miles they will get better. Also you realize that pads have different properties? Some good hot, some cold, some dusty and some not. Point being what pads do you have and what are you looking for? Initial cold bite isn't always high on the feature list of pads.

 

what pads are you using?

What fluid are you using?

Did you bed in the pads?

 

Did you replace the rear rotors? If you didn't they are probably out of spec and need to be replaced and or your rear emergency brake adjusters did not expand after you screwed them back in, to put your new rear pads on. That will put slop in your brake pedal even if there is no air in the lines. You also might want to change all the brake fluid using a power bleeder. It doesn't take much air in the lines to make the brake pedal soft. Good luck!

 

I bought the stoptech upgrade 2 kit from outmotoring.com, it came with stoptech pads, 4 stoptech rotors, and SS brake lines. I was planning on using Motul fluid, but stoptech forgot to send it with my order So I went out and got Dot 4 Valvoline rated at 481 degrees (best I could find off the shelf). I didn't bed the pads, what exactly is it? I did end my bleeding on the side furthest away from the master cylinder which I know is a no no, but I'm rebleeding today and checking for leaks so I'll get it right this time. I'm not looking for race brakes, but I'm a big fan of sensitive brakes, I love getting that *bite on demand and my cooper just doesn't have that right now which is frustrating.

 

No bedding? Houston, we have a problem...

http://www.essexparts.com/learning-c...ost/Bed-in?v=2

Rotors and pads need time to seat perfectly against each other on top of everything else. New brakes always fell like crap for a bit...

Read, bleed and toast...

(Proper bleed is farthest caliper first, then work your way back to closest.)

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME... I just went to bleed my back right caliper and guess what... the speed bleeder valves that are supposed to make life so much easier have STRIPPED MY CALIPER ahhhhhhh.... this is an awful day

 

Stripped? Rounded bleeder or screwed the threads? If rounded it shouldn't be too hard to replace...stripped threads, not so good.

I sure know the feeling. I (or the last guy) cross threaded the SS lines in mine. Turns out a new line and a lot of care to get it right the second time was all it took. I hope you get lucky too.

 

Stripped threads on the caliper itself, the screw came out with metal in the threads Did outmotoring give me the wrong size bleeder screw? Or did I just not take enough care to set it in right, it felt like it was going in the right way. This may mean a new caliper.. ugh I hope it isnt too expensive

 

Just to update/close this thread I had to get 2 new rear calipers. Took a chunk out of my wallet, about 800 bucks, but the brakes have bedded in and feel great! They have a ton of bite once they warm up!