I am a big fan of the rock hard pedal feel, and will need to replace my brakes soon. I figure 4 new rotors + 4 sets of pads will run me around 500 bucks if I go for nice pads, so I may as well jump up to a BBK while im at it.

Do any of the BBK's provide this feel? Of course stainless lines will help with anything, and I plan on getting those as well. Squeeky brakes arent the end of the world for me by the way.

 

Try getting a caliper bushing upgrade kit. It will set you back about $60 from turner motorsports in amesbury. It will stiffen up you calipers without spending 2000 on a bbk.

 

OK
TCE +3 front kit ($1295)+ TCE+1 rear kit($579)=$1874

Front rotors $160ea
rear rotors $140ea
front pads $95
rear pads $85
SS lines $120
bushings ~$150 f&r
ATE fluid ~$15
= $1065

an $800 savings
Dont get me wrong I too dream of a BBK some day, but at this time I can find better ways to spend my $ on my beloved MINI

 

Well the wilwood kit can be had for about 900, and the JCW kit can be had for 700. Albeit these are only front brake kits, but add rear rotors at 120 for the pair, and pads for 50 and I would be looking at 870-1070.

What will the bushings do for me?

 

What exactly do you mean by "rock hard"?

Very little travel? An on-off braking feel (no modulation)?

The brakes have very little to do with pedal travel.

 

Hard as in not mushy. As you would find in a race car.

 

If they are soft or mushey....get you brakes serviced!! Your fluid might be old and boiling, or you might have some air in the system. Very few drivers see real benifit from a bbk unless you track your car regularly....better pads, fluids and lines do it for most!!

 

The bushing kit reduces flex in the caliper....giving you better braking....due to less travel needed by the pads to overcome the flex. Many BMW owners do the kit....some nam vendors sell it too, but none come to mind right now. It does increase brake mataince it bit....I've heard that cleaning and lubing the pins should be done at least once per year....pretty easy for most people to do.

 

Exactly ........mushy is not good. Hard pedal is not something exclusive to BBK or race cars. It is a result of the fluid, seals, and master cylinder.

 

In my limited experience it seems that pad selection also has something to do with Pedal feel. I am running Carbotech bobcat pads and cold braking has what I would call more pedal travel than OEM or the EBC pads I was running. It is almost to the point of initially being mushy... After driving aggressively and heating up the brakes with a few aggressive stops/corners the pedal feel becomes firm and very nice. Brake fluid is new with Motul RB600.

Call it brake modulation or what ever, I like the firm pedal of the warm pads a lot better and wish it was like that all the time. My fathers Porsche 911 has an amazing pedal feel from the getgo with stock cermamic brakes. For my next pads I am going to try a step up of the Carbotech pads to see what the difference is. AX6's maybe...

 

Wow good to know. I'm going to replace my lines, fluid, and bushings right away.

While on the topic, can I bleed them without that tool that pumps the ABS? I know I should search haha.

 

With the dot 4 fluid used in the MINI's, the fluid should be changed every 24 months or less. It is actually on the list of matainance items.....might be the most overlooked items.

 

From what I understand, the AX6's will make you problem worse until they get hotter than the bobcats.....you might seek the advise of a vendor in making your next pad choice.

 

If I remember right, when Greasy did mine, he just did the standard 2 man brake bleed....no special tools.

 

Gravity bleeding also works very well. Easiest method for one man for sure, it just take a little more time.