Wow, had the pedalpusher for one week and the brake dust on the wheels is out of sight. Does anyone make a "no/low" dust brake pad for the R56? I don't want to spend every other night cleaning the wheels. And dirty gray/black wheels just doesn't look good. Help........

 

Also, if you're still breaking the brakes in, they'll put out more dust than once you get them broken in.

 

Check here:

http://www.buybrakes.com/ebc/?gclid=...FRAvhgodzWpBOg

I've had great luck with some of the different offerings by EBC. Greenstuffs in particular on my Volvo S70R, but I'd like to try the Redstuff pads next. Great bite. Less dust (a little, at least). Good stuff.

 

I know this is an old thread, but it's the "youngest" that came up when I searched... Thread economy and all...

Anyway, I have the same shocked observation about the amount of dust. The question I have is this: What does changing the pads do to warranty on the rotors?

 

The lowest dusting high performance brake pad on the market IMHO is the Carbotech Bobcat. Can be found at link below. I have many New MINI owners replacing the front OEM pads for cleaner Bobcats.

 

I have also heard that Hawk HPS pads give off little to no dust they grab incredibly well.

 

I went with CarboTech BobCats (1521? IIRC) from AutoXCooper and am totally sold on them!

Super low dusting, great linear feel, nice initial (cold) bite and reputation for being rotor-friendly. They accept the stock sensor and no matter how hard I drive them (street only), I can't get them to fade. They just keep biting.

Now I need these for my 335xi. UGHHHH!

 

i run carbotech 1521 street pads on my r50 and r56 and they really are a supream brake pads

 

Okay, forgive my lack of familiarity, but sensor? What sensor?

Also, can anyone give a comment on the warranty impact?

 

Any vendor here sell the Hawk pads?

 

Great Pic in Sig. Many vendors on NAM sell Hawks, check with http://www.grassrootsgarage.com/brakes.html he and I also sell the Carbotech line which you might want to try the Carbotech AX6 pad. Stops like an anchor. www.buycarbotechpads.com

 

Having not physically seen the brake configuration on the MINI, but being intimate with the Bimmers, I’ll venture a guess that the sensor is located in the middle of the inboard pad. It is a closed loop system that has a raised little rubber nub that when the brake pads wear down, the rotor will physically rub at the sensor. When the wire inside the sensor is eventually worn through, the CAN Bus (the Minis’ electrical system) detects an open in the brake circuit and your brake light is illuminated on the dash board – thus telling you that you need to have your brakes serviced.

With respect to having aftermarket pads, I would suggest you contact your service advisor. However; we all know what that response will be. IMO, unless the dealer installs the aftermarket pads, you are likely forfeiting any warranty claims associated with your brakes.

Personally, I’ll probably install something that is less likely to throw as much brake dust, have good performance, and yet be rotor friendly. Looks like Carbotechs' are a viable candidate.

 

I agree. The Good News is there have been almost no issues with the MINI Brakes and it's really all about the Service Adviser, take donuts , I know the Carbotech pads are most likely not going to cause issues that would need warranty claims. However if you track your MINI all bets are off at the dealer. For Street use, I'd do the Bobcats upfront, will give you better braking, lower dust, longing rotor life and all of that saves you money. I'd leave the rears OEM and hope they need changing before the program runs out and once it does run the Bobcats in the rear too.

 

just an fyi carbotech gets there backing plates from the same place that mini does.

that being said, your car has to have brakes pades just like it needs to have fuel. so if you put another pad on, then you have no clame on them or your rotors. but you should still be able to warenty your clapers and the rest of the braking system.

 

I’ve been researching EBC Redstuff pads vs. Carbotech Bobcats. Both manufactures appear to be similar in regards to performance & quality so the choice is not an easy one.

The only problem I’ve encountered is getting the correct part numbers for a 2008 MCS. For Example: Carbotech doesn’t list the Bobcat 1521 pads for the R56 (2007~2008) http://www.ctbrakes.com/pads/mini.htm and EBC lists the REAR only. Go figure…

If anyone has an opinion between the two feel free to elaborate

 

Has anyone tried those "Cool Carbon" brake pads they sell at Bavauto, their claims are pretty big??

 

I just purchased Hawk HPS from Tire Rack for my R50, not sure if they stock for the R56...

 

1521 is a Carbotech pad type number it's not the whole part number.
The part number is based on the backing plate.
For an 08 MCS you need
Front CT1204 Bobcat 1521
Rear CT1309 Bobcat 1521
Both can be ordered online at http://www.autoxcooper.com/carbotech_brake_pads.html

A few reasons why I only sell Carbotech pads. Bobcats offer more stopping power with less dust then OEM or any other pad I have run. They are rotor friendly, which gives you more miles on rotors and saves you CA$H, plus when you want to play they play hard without fade. Bobcats will AutoX very well too.

Hope that helps, Dustin

 

Excellent info.. Thank you Dustin!

What is your experience with EBC Red Stuff Pads? Are the Bobcat 1521 pads (F&R) worth an additional cost ($86.00) ?


.

 

Worth it? I think so, but some may think it's just because I sell them. It's not the case. Why would I sell some of the highest priced pads on the market and make it the ONLY pad I sell if I didn't think CT had something special.

As stated above the money you spend on CT pads will be saved in rotor life and over all pad life of the Bobcats under normal day to day driving. Plus the lower dust. I also like CT because of the people, it's family owed biz, pads are hand built with a 3way pad to backing plate attachment system, not just 1 or 2 like many others.

The overall feel and true brake modulation http://www.autoxcooper.com/carbotech..._pads.html#faq make them stand out in a crowded market.

They have also been doing JUST pads for over 13 years and own the Miata racing market plus Carbotech is proud to have been selected as the Official Brake Pad of the United States Endurance Racing Association.

Hope that helps.

 

I run there Carbotech pads on both of my minis and I feel that the price is totally worth it.

lets take the case of some police dept. that run there stuff. they run there pads for one major reason they last a long time. on a typcal cruiser they will get 12,000 miles on a set of oem pads (they will hit this in only a few months) then it needs a brake job. when the police went to carbotech they went 60k between brake jobs. that is a huge amount of time that the car can be out on the road giving us tickets. so for them the more stopping power low dust no fade are just icing on the cake.

 

tirerack.com has the hawks in stock! Just a FYI