Brake light just came on earlier today. I'm assuming for the rear bake pads, because I replaced the front ones recently.
Any recommendations? I don't want to spend too much, but I don't want something bad. The front ones cost me a lot of money.
Thanks in advance.

 

Is your intention to stop in time or save $50 ? What did you use on the front? If they work well and don't make noise or excessive dust stick with them.

Last time I used Akebono pads, centric rotors.

 

The ones I have in the front were ordered by the mechanic, so I don't remember exactly, but they charged me $400 for them + installation.
I saw the Akebono pads for $55/pair on Amazon. Is that a fair price?

 

Seems fair, I used EBC Greenstuff and they were somethign like 80/front and 60/rear per pair

 

These are the ones I found.

Akebono EUR1309 EURO Ultra-Premium Ceramic Rear Brake Pad Set For 2007-2010 Mini Cooper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E24MH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_rVwhyb8S80NXQ

 

No need to spend silly money on parts that are unknown when you can buy brand name quality parts on the net or through one of our site sponsors. As 3lusive stated the EBC product line delivers and at a really decent price. I don't know what Mini you are running Val P but here are some examples.

$85.55 at Minimania
http://new.minimania.com/part/G2NMB2...t-Gen2-R55-r61

Only $88.95 at Outmotoring
http://www.outmotoring.com/ebc-redst...-rear-set.html

$85.55 at ECS tuning
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2007-...Pads/ES520508/

Here are your Akebono pads. Never used them so I can't speak to their performance or value.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2007-...ads/ES2019399/

Oh and you will need a new wear sensor as it is sold separately!
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2007-...ads/ES2534855/

So don't waste money. There are tons of options out there and the prices vary greatly. EBC works for me but it's up to you. Try to use our sponsors if you can though because they help keep this place alive.

 

Akebono is well known, they make quality products too so I don't see a problem with Val using Akebonos. If it was some Autozone brand then I'd be concerned.

 

your GEN2 MINI has two brake wear monitoring systems

one is the sensor which if tripped means the pads ARE worn and need to be replaced (as does the sensor)

the other is a simple counter - similar to the oil change counter - it alerts after X miles. When this alert pops up, you may not need new pads .... the first time this alert popped on my 7 I checked the pads and saw they were less than 50% worn. I reset the counter (thru the dash stalk) and was good for another 10,000 miles or more ....

If you do a reset and the light comes back on immediately the sensor has most likely tripped

I SUGGEST you do a visual check of your pads b4 you order anything.

IF you need pads I'm a fan of EBC red ... very good street performance, able to support spirited driving and very minimal dust. MINI says when you replace pads you should also replace rotors .... just sayin' .... I routinely will go 2 sets of pads to one set of rotors.

I've bought my MINI pads and rotors from http://waymotorworks.com/ for many years. But when I discovered son's MINI needed pads BAD, got perfectly acceptable pads at AutoZone ...

$400 for one axle of brake pads is criminal .... buy the parts, bring the car to my house and I'll put on rotors and pads .... then you buy lunch. There is NOTHING special about MINI brakes and ANY decent garage can handle them ... most chain autopart stores have pads and rotors and you only need to go to 'MINI specialists' if you want something more than 'regular'

*************
visual pad check

you can do this without removing the wheel in most cases, altho removing the wheel allows you to check the inner pad as well as the outer.

Look at the pad face (thru the wheel) if the pad material is thinner than the backing plate, you should be thinking about new pads. Here's an almost new MINI pad with some white on the backing plate to highlight it. You see the pad is MUCH thicker ....


here's a worn pad


note also that on the new pad you can still see the 'bevel' .... not ALL pads for MINI have the bevel, but the OE and EBC pads do ...

 

I love my Akebonos. I used to have to wash wheels thoroughly every two weeks. Now just rinse with water and they're always spotless.

 

A bit off topic but two weeks back I did a brake job on an Audi RS4 and get this, Audi want $900 for each front rotor plus just over $800 for pads. So almost 3 grand in parts plus our Canadian 13% tax of course.
I opted for Brembo rotors from ECS at $600 a pair.

 

Thanks for the referral, NBCooper. We also have a helpful application guide for OEM and Big Brakes:

http://new.minimania.com/Mini_Cooper...lacement_Guide

http://new.minimania.com/Mini_Cooper...lication_Guide

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

If you were bringing it into our shop we would recommend and install the EBC reds
https://www.waymotorworks.com/ebc-re...r50-53-52.html

But if you want something more cost effective, and include the sensor we have the stock Original MINI pads kit
https://www.waymotorworks.com/mini-o...0-r52-r53.html

Or just cheapo pads like the stock, and still dusty:
https://www.waymotorworks.com/textar...0-r52-r53.html

 

I've just order these, for the price if they don't work out all I've wasted was $138.. Of course comments are welcome

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

That is an amazing deal! Let us know how they perform. Although these are designed for 03-06 MCS, is that what you have? I'm asking because you posted in the R56 section which is 2007 - 2013 MC/MCS hatch

 

Was just answering a post the was in the general area.

I just got the box last night. I was very impressed by the quality, even though they didn't mention the sensors being part of the package, they were in the box. I will take some pictures before I put them on the car this weekend. Hopefully they perform as good as they look.

They also have them for the R56