MCS with 65K and original pads. I'm not a racer. It's my daily driver. What pads are recommended? Ceramic? Metallic? Autozone bargain brand?? Looking for ideas

 

baredm: You might use the search tool in the Wheels,Tires,Brakes section here on NAM. There are quite a number of posts on this topic. If brake dust from stock pads is a problem for you then ceramics might be worth consideration. May want to stay away from AZ and other "generic" brands. Happy reading....loads of great information in the other section.

 

You probably need new rotors too.

There are lots of choices. EBC Green Stuff, Hawk HP ceramic, Akabono, Cool Carbon. They all work. They all dust less, they all may make more noise, they all have different initial bite than stock.

There is no correct choice.

 

My Hawk pads don't make any noise.

 

I've been very happy with the Akebono Euro's, for dust reasons. Between the new pads, Sonax to clean the wheels and Armor all Wheel Protectant, I no longer have dirty wheels.
And, as you can see here https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ive-tried.html I don't like to clean my wheels.

 

I just put Hawk HPS pads and slotted rotors. Its amazing to watch the wheels stay clean! No noise and great stopping power too!

 

I found the EBC Redstuff to be almost perfect pad for the R56 MINI. Lower dust, and great cold bite.
I don't like the hawks had problems with rotor glazing, and just a lack of bite.

 

I replaced my R56 OEM pads with EBC Green as soon as they came available for my new off the lot 07

I was happy with them on my new off the lot 02-S and am on my 07 and no one I recommended them to has had a complaint.

That said, with the good things I've heard about the reds I'm thinking about them for my next change, but like you I'm just a street driver and worry the reds may be overkill for me (us)

Has anyone run red and green on the same car (MINI) and can give a head to head comparison? Or might I be approaching being the first one (but I think I'm at least 6 months to a year from needing new front pads)??

 

Have you thought about the Posi Quiets? I love them on my Subaru - haven't had to change OEM's yet.

 

I really like the way they perform on the Mini. They can be a bit hard on the stock, somewhat soft rotors. They do dust less than the stock pads, but dust is a minor concern for me compared to the way they work. I'm even considereing some yellowstuff for an HPDE early next year, but will definitely keep using the redstuff for the street.

-JL

 

Akabono's on my 08MCS. No Noise, No Dust, and no problem stopping. Initial grab is not as intense as OEM but they are much easier to modulate.

 

I put the EBC greens on two of our cars (not the mini it still as the agreement)
and the amount of dust being thrown off is just way way too much for me.

 

Yellows are great but don't use them on the street. Also they have blue too which is like a combo of red and yellow.

 

The Akebono's have been excellent ! great modulation and zero dust ! Maybe not the best track use pads, but I don't have the time/money for track days right now. I got them off Amazon.