Hi guys,

Just got my 07 MCS a month ago and its been great. I am really glad I found this forum and its full of great info. My car is due for a brake job, so I am replacing all rotors and adding some Akebono Euro Pads. This weekend Im trying to tackle the rears. Got some Akebono EUR1309's in today. On the Akebono instructions it says...

"Before removing the protective film from the noise insulator, make certain the backing plate is free of grease and loose debris. Failure to clean the backing plate may prevent proper adhesion of the noise insulator to the backing plate"

The noise insulator is the thin metal shim that goes on the outside(piston-facing) part of the pads right?

If so, I can feel a coating on the shim, but it doesn't seem to want to peel off as I would imagine it should be doing. Does anyone have experience with these pads?

 

I replaced all my stock pads with the Akebonos. In fact, the rears I just did yesterday. I think the writing you quoted is just part of an insert they put in with all their pads and I suspect does not apply to the Mini Cooper parts. I only put that lube on the new pads where the shiny spots were on the old pads. For the rear pads, I also put moly lube on the piston faces since they do rotate against the backs of the pads. I will definitely use these pads again since my wheels no longer look dirty a couple days after they are cleaned. I would guess that it reduces the brake dust by a factor of 5 to 7 times by using Akebono pads.