This may be sacrilegious, but my 2010 Mini Cooper S needs new brakes. Would I be totally messing things up if I didn't go the BMW route and got aftermarket brakes? I don't want to sacrifice safety. But neither do I want to break the bank. The $1000 the shop quoted me was going to be used to go visit my grandson that I haven't seen in 18 months over Christmas.

Feeling quite conflicted and guilty at the moment. I didn't put the run flats back on when they needed to be replaced and have been very pleased with the ride and handling I got with the new aftermarket tires I chose. I was wondering if the same was true with the brakes. I commute 30 miles one way to school each day, so the 56K I've put on my car are mostly highway miles.

 

Browse thru the vendors listed in the vendors directory. Many offer package deals on pads and rotors. You may not need to replace the rotors with no more mileage than you could have accumulated over just 3 years. EBC Red Stuff is a very popular low dust, high reliability pad. Any auto shop can install those for you if you don't want to mess with it.

 

I live in Nebraska, so I'm kind of limited as to where I can take my car for brake service. The big one here is Midas. It's been years since I've had to replace brakes on a car, so I'm not sure. I do know the brakes need to be replaced. You could feel and see the ridge on the brake shoes (?) I think that's what they're called. I don't know anything about the internal workings of a car. I'm a teacher. LOL Ask me anything about reading and writing; I've got answers galore. Cars, not so much. The pads were down pretty much and he showed me where the sensor was and there wasn't any break pad against it, so that's why the sensor went off. I didn't take it to the dealership but to a European car mechanic. Still, the 1K was a shocker to me.

 

I think most indie shops will also charge you around $1000 for parts and labor for all 4 brake replacements. Simply put, the large disk behind your wheels is the rotor and there are brake pads inside that hanging block surrounding the rotor.

Brakes on these cars are pretty straightforward, I did it in a half day (and now could do it faster) with my friend. In my experience the parts actually comprise most of the cost, the labor is maybe a few hours so around 300-400 dollars. I spent about $350 on the parts, and did the labor myself.

 

O'Reilly or others of that ilk can order the pads for you and Midas can install them. You shouldn't need to replace the rotors yet. Do follow the bedding in instructions.

I asked our O'Reilly store about EBC Red Stuff and they said they could get them but I ordered from Way Motor Works because they had a special on pads and discs (which I did need to replace) at the time.

 

Check out our brake package
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-red...-cooper-s.html
It's all the pads and rotors. And most average mechanics can install as the brakes are pretty easy to change

 

Do you need pads and rotors or just pads? Your rotors should be fine. I'm at 55k on the original rotors.

 

I can only offer a bit of advise based on my recent experience. About nine months ago I had the rotors and pads replaced on my R56-S. Trying to save a few bucks, I went with Centric semi-metallic pads (and Centric rotors) and have been disappointed. I can't say if the fault is with the pads or the rotors but in any case I've experienced annoying noise (groaning) problems ever since the installation.

So I would recommend that you do not try to "cheap out" like me in this regard.

 

Hey Mungerman!

If you really want to save money I would recommend you look at AutoAnything.com http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A7560A0A0.aspxand look at the Centric C-TEK standard rotors. The Front rotors for your car are about $33 each and the Rears are about $28 each. These are good OEM equivalent parts very similar to the ones you'd get at MINI. Add any of the OEM equivalent pad sets and a couple wear sensors and you have the parts you need to do the entire job for under $300 and you get free shipping! This is assuming that you are looking for a standard brake job and not something "High Performance". For High Performance Rotors and pads it will cost about $150 more. http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A7561A0A0.aspx

You can ask your local shop to do the install which should be about 3 hours labor which in Nebraska is what $50-$70 per? The whole job would about $500 or so. Tell the shop guy that you got the parts from some guy at your local MINI Club who sold his car before he installed the parts so he sold them to you. Being a teacher you may have a local Gearhead student that might do the install for less, who knows?

I've seen where another post here has made some negative statements regarding Centric parts and I could disagree more with his assessment. I think most if not all of those who know about what they speak would agree that Centric parts are of high quality and beyond repute. They are sold by many if not most of the vendors that regularly participate here and are currently "on sale" by a sponsoring Vendorhttps://www.northamericanmotoring.co...g-at-35-a.html. Centric is also known by the name Stop Tech by which they market their high performance line of brake parts and systems. BTW, I do not have any connection to Centric other that to be a very happy user of their products. I would rest assured that Centric is a good choice regardless of what you read.

Oh yeah...Run-Flats Suck!

 

Ok just diid front brakes and rotors on my daughters roommates car she has 2011 mini, She went to mini they wanted a little 3 grand for brakes all around with rotors and a set of tires.
So since she is in school and just keeping her head above water i said i would do them for her since i do all my own work on my cars and my daughters cars

Got a set of wear ever pads from advance auto parts for all four wheels to start with. Once I removed all four heels the back brakes look like they had 75 % left on them there was almost no difference from the new to the existing so I didnt change them. The rotors were smooth as a baby;s butt. so I moved to the front pads were worn more the back but still not that bad , but the rotors were scared up pretty good so I ran and got a set of wear ever rotors from advance auto and installed both new rotors and pads in front went for a test drive everything seems fine drove car back o their place again no issues everything seems fine.
Well just got a call that Holly had to go to tire kingdom cause she felt a wobble in the front of the car they said she burned up front rotors ????? I first thought maybe the caliber are sticking but they said no. wha could have cause this ? Has anyone else seen this with after market rotors? Like I said I know my way around a wrench so I know everything was done correct????

Thanks for the input...