Well, I finally got around to installing the front brake pads with the help of a friend (Warped1966).

Lesson One: Always make sure that powdercoater DOESN'T p/c the section that kisses the axle hub...reduced ID + heat cycles = a VERY stuck wheel...LOTS of pounding with a BFH is required to loosen the wheel. Once the wheel was off, sand paper was used to remove offending p/c.

Lesson Two: Look at ALL pads before installing...one pad is clearly marked for the brake sensor.

Of course this wasn't discovered until the passenger front pads had been successfully replaced...wheel reinstalled...torqued...MINI back onto ground...MINI back up on jack & jackstand...driver front wheel removed via BFH method...OEM pads removed and Carbotechs ready to be installed when Warped noticed there wasn't a cutout for the brake sensor.

Lesson Three: Clear & concise communication with friend is important. It was getting late & I suggested removing the back wheels so that the p/c could be sanded down to make it easier to do the rear brakes. Warped thought the rear brakes could be done without the special tool...so while I'm
on the other side of the MINI sanding the p/c down, washing the wheel and applying Rejex to the surfaces, Warped had removed the caliper, pads, etc. & was sanding off the rust on the rotor near the lug holes. Suddenly I hear "Crap, the piston isn't going in!" Mind you, we both have to work the next day and it was 8:05pm...the local auto parts store DID answer the phone...DID confirm they have the caliper tool needed...but WOULDN'T rent it because they had closed 5 minutes ago.

After calling around & posting on the local club board, Warped's neighbor who owns a garage came home and she sent her nephew to the garage to bring us the caliper tool kit.

At 9:30 or so the OEM pad was reinstalled on the passenger rear and I headed home.

I stopped at the local Harbor Freight store yesterday and bought the caliper tool kit which is on sale for $19.99 (reg. $39.99). Rear pads will be installed this weekend, weather permitting.

Anyhow...bedding the front brakes was FUN!

Anyone who is on the fence about Carbotech pads...don't wait! The bite is fanfreakintastic! Installation is easy...ESPECIALLY if you learn from our mistakes!

Erika

 

Hey Erika, you have made my day. Thanks for the fun and honest post.

 

Okay, my turn in the Carbotech confessional. Fortunately, when I was installing my new pads I had only progressed to the point of putting the driver's side caliper back together when I noticed the difference in the configuration of the pads...uh oh, where's the brake sensor slot? Thankfully I only needed an extra few minutes to swap it out with the companion pad.

+1 for the Carbotech pad performance. I've been quite happy with them.

 

Now that you have confessed your sin my child, go and wash your MINI and the MINI of a friend.

 

Yes Father.

(Hey, penance can be fun! )

 

Are these a fairly low dust pad?

Jack

 

Yuppers. Although in all honesty, it's not a big consideration of mine and I haven't been paying too much attention. Much less dust than stock though.


And yes, caliper tool def. a godsend for the rears. I couldn't get them depressed without the tool.

 

So....Assuming instructions were provided by aftermarket product manufactuer. Were the instructions not clear on the wheel sensor provision? Or were instructions not read?

 

Good post!

I take it you didn't have to rent the BFH.

 

In my case, I just assumed that the outside front pads were all the same (manufacturing simplicity = production cost savings) and didn't even bother to look to see if they were wheel-specific. Dustin's instructions were fine. Simple oversight by the installer (me).

 

Guess you guys never noticed my brake writeups huh??

Front
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=38346

Rear
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...345#post550345

Glad you eventually got it all to work.

Richard

 

I, for one, wouldn't have had the confidence to even embark on the brake work without them. Belated thanks!

 

Oh no problem. I mentioned it because the OP said they thought the caliper tool wasn't necessary for the rear and that left you guys in a bind late at night...=)

 

Do any pads come with install info? I have not seen any with any pad for any of the dozens of car's I have worked on in the last 20 years. Most part makers assume, good or bad, that the person buying the parts knows how to install them or will have a local tool do it for them.

 

Much thanks for the writeups...

Yes, they were referenced...but a simple miscommunication was the biggest culprit. I was all for waiting until I bought the caliper tool set but I guess he figured he could manage without the tool.

At least no one else will make the same mistakes.

Erika

 

well, we learn from our mistakes. kinda like how i forgot the orientation
of the top strut mount when i was doing my very first suspension install
many years ago and couldn't get it back on the car until i loosened
everything up again.

good job and lucky that you have cool neighbors.

 

As Bill Gates should have said a few years ago... Guilty as charged.

 

Erica,
Well written, gave me a great "tickle", thank you. It is Titled correctly too, great example to use as everything not to do.

Thanks again for the laughs!!!

 

What was Gates guilty of? Making absurd amounts of $$$$$$?

 

While that may be true,it would be oh so helpful if things like this were included. Its simple enough to do, and would save folks a number of headaches. I almost made the exact same mistake, but caught it before it was too late, simply because I totally forgot about the brake sensor, and I started on the passenger rear. Its easy enough to do, even when you should know better. Be nice if a sheet went along with the pads, no offense, but it would take all of a minute to type one up, and it would be easy enough to send off with each order. Just my 2 cents.

 

Yes, dammit! And he won't share it with ME!

 

I want some of that caasshhh as well! Guilty of coveting I am!

 

Dude! Any idea how many different types of brakes and brake calipers there must be out there? It has to hundreds of thousands. There are 3 different front calipers for the new Mini alone and 2 different rear and it has only been around for 6.5 years now. Do you have any idea how much time and $$$$ it would take to type, print and distribute for every car out there? That is why there are mechanics and forums with well detailed explanations by those in the know!

 

Plus the liability we would be open to would be too large.

 

I'm talking about the rear calipers, and a simple sheet about the brake sensor would not increase liability. You don't need a page from the Bently manual, just a sheet with basic do's and don'ts. Not that hard to do. Most instructions on brakes will have a disclaimer anyway. If you're going to sell something, why not go a little bit extra and include something that may not be obvious? There are plenty of vendors who do exactly that, and considering the number of people doing this for the first time it makes sense to me. Or maybe this stuff is too technical, and only mechanics should be doing it...Probably not good for the vendors though.