hi folks,

so my mini is now 4 years old and has only a wooping 19k miles on it..

lately, i hear a light pitch metal sound that could be my breaks when i drive through my parking structure. today, while parking, i think i hear that sound when i park. so i think it my pads right? now if it is so, anyone knows who can do my replacement pads other then the dealer. i called sears and they said my job with the pads might be around 180 plus (80 bucks for labor and what ever the amount for the pads.)...

please help..

thanks in advance

 

Does that include new rotors? Sears will probably try to cut the rotors, but it is advised against by BMW and MINI. Rotors are really cheap and it is best to replace them. If you have mechanical ability, it is a real easy DIY.

 

thanks, i'm a DIY guy until the brakes...i just had a bad experiance back in high school...but i'm still here.

i don't think it needs any cutting...i hope, not no new rotors. but i did hit some major mud puddels when it was raining hard, do you think it might just be dusty?

 

The pads are pretty soft so if you drivig around and around in a parking structure, you can wear them out. I used to live in Harbor Court and my pads went down real fast.

Pads are real easy on the MINI. Just unbolt the calipers, pop off the retaining clip and pull the pads, replace pads, bolt up the calipers, replace clip and you're done. Fronts can be done in @ 30 minutes.

Don't forget to use Raybestos anti seize on the areas where the calipers meet the pad holder and where metal touches metal.

 

yeah...it is fun driving in circles..

but how much are these pads?? oem vs aftermarket

 

Well, almost that easy. Still gotta bleed the brakes. May have to compress the caliper to get pads in too.

 

i think you can get the mintex redbox for <$90 front and rear. i had'em and liked'em. but i went to ebc greens cause i got white wheels. still the mintex is better than oem for brake dust. and just as good performance.

 

kb, you still have the redbox pads? Louis is looking for some pads and said he'll buy used one too.

 

I have the EBC Greenstuff pads and they ROCK !

Virtually no brake dust and they stop on a dime. I got them from MiniSpeed here in the UK but I am pretty sure they are an American product.

Brakes aren't diffcult but get the proper tools first.

 

thanks for everyone's input...

 

yep, still got my fronts with <5k miles on 'em, and i think i still got brand new rears that i just never did get around to putting on.

if anyone needs some, just lemme know. the used fronts, i'lll give'em freebie.

 

wish i knew about them... oh well...still waitig on the greenstuff

 

Thanks for the brakes, kbseto!

 

i just bought a stage two brake kit and my mini only has 2000 miles on it. you can have my old brake pads if you want. only 2000 on them obviously.

casey, treasurer

 

thanks! i just PM you!