Recommendations? The OEM brakes are just about done, so I am trying to decide what to replace them with. Locally a competetive car but not going much farther. Ideas

 

I like the EBC Green Stuff pads on my Cooper, and I just put Hawk HPS pads on my MCS...like them a lot, too [wanted a more competitive pad, so I went with these].

 

I really like the Ferodo 2500, I have had the Porterfield R4S and like them much better.

 

If your have no intentions of tracking your car, then EBC greens or Hawk HPS's will be more than adequate (more bite and they'll probably dust a whole lot less). I just can't see spending the extra cash and putting up with more noise and harshness over stock if you only intend on auto-xing your mini. If you're intent on tracking the car then look at the more agressive options (Hawk HP+'s Ferodo ds2500's, mintex 1144's, porterfield r4s's....). They cost you more and be a more squealy (though not a ton if you're liberal with the brake quite) but they will hold up to the abuses that track days will put on your braking system. The lesser options I mentioned will get overheated (I'm not sure how had you drive, but I've pushed mintex 1144 combo pad's under threshold braking to the point of fade at HPDE's, so I wouldn't even try lower stuff) and and wear out (I've seen guys burn through a set of EBC reds in one event) quickly under track conditions. Also if you are going to track your car I'd add brake fluid to the pads (ATE super blue, motul RBF 600...) to give you a little more protection.

 

I've tracked my Cooper with the EBCs and it did just fine. I tracked my MCS first with OEM pads that didn't do well at all, and so I switched to Ferodo 2500s. They did great on the track, but dusted and made so much racket that I switched out to Hawk HPS for this year. So far the Hawk's have been great...no dust and no noise. I can't wait to take them to the track, as I was told they are good for street, twisties, and occasional track use, too.

Each car has stainless steel brakelines, and each car gets brake fluid changes regularly if it will be pushed to limits on twisties or the track. The Cooper is now mostly driven to shows, so I'll stick with the EBCs. Since the MCS is a daily driver and since it is tracked occasionally, is why the brake fluid and/or pads are constantly checked.

 

Another vote for Hawk HPS- good stopping power, no squeal, little or no dust.

 

Thanks I guess the Hawks should be good. No track days in this car, just Autox and as of yet I don't even put R compounds on. Still finding the limits of the car and the nut behind the wheel