UPDATE: I ordered the JCW Brake Kit on Apr 14! Looking forward to installing them later in the week. I'll post installation comments and driving impressions once I have some!

Rawhyde



OK, my brake pads are getting thin...thereabouts of 1-2 mm before they touch the wear sensors, maybe less. I guess that's pretty good for 51K miles.

I've made some calls and gotten some pricing (mail order and delivered)

OEM Parts ~$385 includes shipping
includes F&R Pads, 2 new wear sensors, and all 4 new rotors

JCW Brake Kit plus new rear rotors ~$1000 includes shipping

I live in a mountainous area with lots of hills and curves, and I my one way commute to work is over 3 mountains and is 55 miles. I also autocross (badly) 3-4 times per year, and I have 17" S-Lites (so clearance isn't an issue) Installation of either will cost the same...zero dollars (I always forget to charge myself outrageous prices when I work on my own cars)

I'm looking for suggestions and advice on the way to go. I have no gripes with the stock brakes, but since I'm already spending money and time, I prefer to make an upgrade whenever I can. (Likewise, I had no gripe with the handling but once I installed my R-Speed rear swaybar, I really am glad I did!) I've had the JCW engine kit since day one on my MCS.

What I'm wondering is will I see a difference for the additional ~$600 that the JCW brakes will cost. I keep cars for a long time usually, and I like the long term parts availability of using either JCW or OEM parts.

Also, since my wear sensors aren't chewed up, is it possible to remove and reinstall them onto the new brakes or will they get messed up in the disassembly process?

Thanks for the help and advice,

Rawhyde

 

see what the OEM 07 MCS brakes cost, those are essentially JCW.

 

Good one

 

Are your rotors warped or excessively worn? If not, why replace them? Just replace the pads and flush the brake fluid.

 

PM sent.

 

I sent you one back!

Rawhyde

 

Ditto...the info you wanted to the best of my knowledge [which isn't much].

 

Bump....

Can anyone tell me about the differences in driving a MINI with the JCW Brake Kit vs. stock brakes?

Keeping a stock system is cheaper, but right now I need to replace all 4 anyway. This is an optimum time for an upgrade. It's not like I'd be swapping anything out that isn't already worn out.

Rawhyde

 

Definately more bite. I'm pretty happy with how hard they grab. I can stop faster, and with less pedal input. I also had stainless lines put on at the same time, and super blue fluid put in - so your results may vary. Essentially, I can wait longer to brake, brake for a shorter period of time, and stop in plenty of time. In fact, I find myself waiting longer and longer to brake, it does take some getting used to. I haven't stood on the pedal much yet, nor have I gone with consistent stops from high speed to test fade, but they're pretty darn good thus far (about 3000 miles on these thus far).

 

They just slide into a slot on the brake pads, so the don't need to be replaced unless they are worn through and trigger the light.
Given what you've said, I'd say go JCW. If you've already sprung for the JCW engine kit, might as well continue on that path. More brakes never hurt.

 

BMW recommends replacement of the rotors with the pads. From the ones I've seen with significant pad wear, they eat the rotors enough to justify that position.

 

UPDATE:

I ordered the JCW Brake Kit from Morristown MINI yesterday. I'll post installation comments when I install them, and my driving impressions once I get some miles on them!

Rawhyde

 

I've never actually done a brake job myself though I can change tires with the best of them, lol (not that that means much). Is it a job that can be tackled by one's self on a Saturday? My fear is of starting the job and not being able to put it back together to drive it again... I have the 2002 - 2004 Bentley Service Manual. I imagine the '05 brakes were not altered much, if at all.

A co-worker of mine built himself a garage to die for - even has a hydraulic lift among other things - but he's some 80 miles away. It may be worth the drive some day to do that brake job as he's an auto mechanical wizard... I'm at 45000 miles on the first set.

 

A normal brake job isn't that hard. It's usually one of the first jobs a novice DIYer tackles. There are plenty of good step by step writeups with pics both here on NAM and at Webb Motorsports' site. Retracting the rear caliper pistons is a LOT easier if you spring for the brake caliper piston tool at Harbor Freight for $20. Search here and on Webb's website and see if you feel comfortable doing it. If you have a more experienced friend there to watch over your shoulder, that'd make your first time a little easier.

Retrofitting the JCW Brake Kit will require disconnecting the front caliper hoses and then bleeding all the air out of the lines and calipers. Make sure you have an experienced person with you if you attempt this.

UPDATE: I added the JCW Suspension to my order on Monday. If everything works out properly, I'll have both the JCW Brake Kit and the Suspension Kit here for the weekend. With a LOT of luck, I'll get them installed Friday night, but on the required 200 break-in miles on Saturday, and take it autocrossing on Sunday. Not much hope for THAT many stars to come into perfect alignment, but it's something to wish for!

Rawhyde

 

The parts arrived last week, and Resipsamcs and I rolled up our sleeves and broke out the tools...

Here's a pic! (Yeah, I know my camera ain't that hot and I ain't that hot at photography either)



We installed the JCW Brakes (with some Moss MINI stainless brake hoses) and the JCW Suspension in about 5 hours. If there is some interest, I took some notes and pics. I could post some installation hints.

I can't give any impressions of the brake kit yet. The instructions caution you multiple times NOT to use the brakes hard until they're broken in easily for 200 miles. For the first couple of miles, the brakes definately were reluctant to stop the car. (In my experience, that is normal for fresh pads and rotors.)

The suspension on the other hand, I can definately tell a difference! The ride seems smoother, but the turn-in and ultimate grip seem MUCH better. I already had an R-Speed 21mm rear sway bar set to the softest setting. With the JCW Suspension, the setup just "feels right". With the stock springs and struts, the 21mm bar felt a bit excessive even in the softest setting. The car feels much more planted now. If I hadn't done this mod, I'd probably have reduced the rear bar to 19mm.

Resipsamcs is a much more accomplished autocrosser than me, and he says the car is very dialed in with the setup it has now. I'm very satisfied with the newest mods. It's hard to beat a setup that handles considerably better than stock while giving better ride quality.

There are probably better setups out there in the marketplace, but with the long term replacement parts availability, the price (Morristown MINI offers some very good discounts), and the fact that everything actually FITS the car, I'm happy to have two more Craptastic mods!

Rawhyde