So I just picked up my first MINI yesterday, yay! I'd go on about how awesome it is, but you all already know that. So here's my dilemma: The car needs new front pads, at the least. The seller told me the wear sensor tripped the morning of the sale, and the pads are visibly very thin. I've had good experience in the past with Hawk pads, so I just figured I'd throw on a set of HPS pads and be done. However, I've now got that nagging voice in my head telling me to do the rotors too...

The car just turned over 39,000 miles on the trip home. Visibly, the rotors appear to be in good shape - decent thickness with no groves or that lip around the outside of the rotor that developes when it gets really worn. I've done brake jobs on other cars without new rotors before and never really had problems, but I just want to make sure it's cool on a MINI.

On a related note, what is the minimum thickness for MCS front rotors?

 

If they're not smooth or close to min, change 'em.

I don't know what minimum is, but on my M3, the minimum was stamped on the rotor.

 

They're definitely smooth. I can't imagine stock pads would eat through rotors in only 39k, but I could be wrong. Out of curiosity, does any one know at what millage the dealer would replace them?

 

If I remember right they are pretty cheap, so if I was doing a brake job I would probably just replace them if they need it.

 

Mine were lipped at 40k miles on stock pads. The dealer replaces them with each pad change. The minimum thickness should be stamped on one of the edges.

 

The MIN is on the rotor and at 39K I'd put new rotors on at the same time with pads. The OEM rotors rarely get more then 50K out of them. The OEM rotor has a lip from mile 1 and is not something to use a wear tool.

 

Congrats on your purchase! If you haven't done so already, check out this section of the forum regarding brakes, as there's lots of good info there. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...splay.php?f=36

 

replace the rotors. the Min. on the front is 20.4mm and the rear is 8.4mm. normally they need replacing about the same time. i have several options in stock to help you with, including the Hawk HPS pads that we use on a lot of MINI's. give us a call.

Chad
Detroit Tuned.

 

I recently replaced my '05 rotors and pads with aftermarket (TSW slotted rotors and CarboTech Bobcat pads). The original MINI set lasted me almost 70,000 miles.

The job COULD have taken about two hours to change all items if it were not for the fact that the rotor TORX bolt was not frozen on three of the four corners! A two hour job went to about six. The bolts are hardened and had to be drilled out - even a heavy impact driver could not back them out - the heads literally sheared off. Don't ask about the high quality, "hardened" drill bits we went through drilling them out.

My advice: buy four of the Torx bolts from your dealer and also have anti-sieze compound to apply to the new bolt when installing the new rotors. Have plenty of good drill bits and a tap set on hand - just in case... Good luck!

 

I replaced all four rotors and pads at 45K. I could have gone a little longer but with everything apart I thought why not.

The HPS is a good pad, but I find them noisy and dusty.

 

My stock rotors and pads were shot at about 20k.

 

I must be the odd man out here, my pads are at the point I needed to order replacements (CarboTech Bobcats). My rotors look fantastic, so I will keep them for now.

I must not be running my brakes as hard as everyone else (i.e. autoX, driving in hilly areas, etc.).

I usually down-shift to help slow down too.

 

Will the dealer measure rotor thickness free of charge (I've still got warranty, but I'm pretty sure brakes aren't covered)? I'd like to know exactly what I have to work with, since I just found out the fuel pump on my 944 is shot. There goes whatever money I had laying around for rotors . Thank god I got the MINI when I did - I don't know how much more crap I can take from this Porsche before I just push it off a very high cliff. I think I can count the number of days since I bought it 6 months ago where nothing was broken on one hand...

 

Sorry to hear about the 944. Based on everything that I know about MINI brakes at 39K you will need to replace them by or near 50K. I wouldn't put new pads on rotors with that many miles. It's rare to find MINI's with more then 55K on rotors that are still above the min thickness.

 

Congrats on the MINI!

+ another on replacing the rotors.

After 56K on all OEM, I just changed out Pads, Rotors, brakelines, fluid and sensors. I also put on the caliper stiffening kit from BMW.

 

How'd that work for you? I'll admit I haven't driven the car enough yet to get a really good feel for the brakes, but they did feel a touch spongier than I like driving home... Could just be me though, as I prefer a very stiff pedal.

 

I think that with the calipier stiffening kit, you have to lube the slides every now and then.

 

New braided lines and a brake flush go a long way in making a firm pedal.