I think I have read this in the forums somewhere but my stock brake pads seem to be letting off too much brake dust. If I clean the wheels the wheels they will go back to the dull, dirty, dark grey brake dust colour within the week. Its really irritating. Do you guys recommend getting other pads? If so which ones are the better ones which don't produce nearly as much dust as the stock pads.

 

Just about any ceramic pad will dist less.
I have Hawk ceramics and they are very similar to OEM with stopping and feel.

 

The Hawk HPS pads are a great pad that we have put a lot of people into. great brake feel, long lasting, can take some heat, LOW dust, better bite. great pad all around.

 

It's simple, really. Stock BMW pads = dust. It's a common issue for Mini/BMW. The brakes are good and well designed to do what needs to be done, they're just dirty. Any of the good aftermarket street/ street performance pads will cure the problem. Just search the threads for 'brakes' and you'll get more opinions then there are hairs on a dog.
-skip-

 

"skip..." is right
MANY posts

EBC has served me well

 

The stock pads are still the best for the street. (cold performance, noise, feel) The dust is just a minor side-effect.

 

kind of a bold statement....

Many different driving conditions , style , and needs ...even on the street
What pads have you compaired the OEM to ?

I have had EBC, Hawk, OEM

 

He apparently doesn't have white wheels.


So you like the EBC better than Hawk? I'm trying to decide between the two as the 'minor side-effect' is driving me insane.

 

I would rate stock brake pads as OK. I hate the dust, used to clean my stock wheels three times a day and got tired of that.

I did have success running Mintex Redbox pads front and rear, fairly cheap and works like OEM pads with much less dust, not as dustless as EBC greens but about half the cost.

Hawk pads are certainly popular and work well for street use.

Ceramic pads are a good choice for those that want low dust and low noise.

Personally I run track pads for more stopping (less fade with heat) but I do get more dust (not as much as OEM pads). Note track pads can be hard on rotors.

 

Well, have you tried anything other than stock?
Stock is fine but there are better options.
As I said above, the Hawk ceramics are almost just like stock, with almost no dust. Very good cold performance, no noise and stock feel.

Not the only solution either.

 

Do Hawk have pads for the front JCW calipers? I've heared they do not have and for guys who run JCW calipers, they do lining!!!

 

I like the Hawk pads over the EBC pads. EBC pads are a street only pad and can not take heat like the hawk pads can, and they perform the same as far as dust. and they are not bright green!! for the few extra dollars i think the hawk pads are far better.

Hawk does have a pad that will fit the JCW caliper (as well a 07 cooper S). i have the HPS and HP+ compounds in stock.

 

EBC's stuff is awful, Hawks will tear up your rotors. Try the Carbotech street compound. Great stopping power, long life, rotor friendly, no noise and low dust. Much better than the OEM. I've been running them almost 4 years now. I'm about to try their autocross compound out on my 07 S. Had their street on my 04.

 

I used to run EBC green pads (up until 2 weeks ago). They were lower dust than stock and they had approximately the same performance (they had a bit less cold bite but not too noticeable).

I switched to the EBC Redstuff. The reds are a ceramic kevlar compound. Based on a couple weeks of driving they seem to have quite a bit more cold bite than the greens, of course I can't say for certain as part of the feel could be due to the pads being new. The week I put the new pads on the car I also spent a weekend at the track at a 2 day driving school. Didn't experience any fade from the new pads.

Where I bought the pads the difference in price between the green and red was a matter of $7 (with the reds being more expensive). So I figured for the price I can try them out and see how I like them.

EBC also has pads that fit the JCW and 07+ calipers. You can get green, red, or yellow for JCW and R56 models (front and rear).

 

I have an R50 and the front brakes will need to be replaced soon.

When ordering replacement pads I see comments like "with brake sensor" what is that and how can I check if my buggy has it?

Thanks

 

You have an 05, therefore you have 2 brake sensors. One in the front the other in the rear. The one in the front is on the driver's side. I believe the one in the rear is on the passenger side.

However, if you want to see it for yourself you will have to pull the wheel. The pad sensor is a little wire connected to the inner brake pad. You should see a black wire running to a small slot in the pad on the outer edge.

This image from OctaneGuy's write-up of changing pads probably makes more sense then what I'm trying to write.

 

I don't think EBC's stuff has any stopping power. I have asked 6 different racers (Minis, Miatas, Vettes, and S2000s) and none of them would even consider the EBF stuff. The Mini racer won two SCCA national championships on Carbotech's and told me he wouldn't run anything else. Google Pete Taylor SCCA National Champion.

 

I didn't have any issue with stopping at the track. Of course I only had the car up to 116 on the front straight (could have gone higher but I wasn't out there to break any speed records, just for fun).

 

116 is still pretty fast! How many hard braking corners did you encounter? Did they fade on you? Ever smoke 'em? Was tire lock up a problem? I'm looking for the best compound, period. I've found that going with the guys who are winning is a good place to start.

 

i use carbotech on my mcs and have found that they rock, tons of stopping power with out fad. on there street compound they make a spot for the sensor however on the racing and auto x they do not. i use the ax6 witch is a there autox compound so i am not using the sensor. witch is not a big deal becouse i check my breaks every time i do a tire change. besides that sensor runs 20 bucks for one

 

hey wellzy-
how did that autox compound work 4 u? Were you runnin up front? Do you have the turbo? So, the street compound will come with all the appropriate hardware? Is that what u r saying?

 

Thanks...I did understand what you typed, but an image always helps.

I am assuming that this is a type of sensor that will trigger either/or an audible alarm or illuminate on the dash?

Thanks for the information.

 

It sets off a light on the dash. When the sensor gets tripped you have to replace it though. When the sensor wears through the light it tripped by the open circuit.

 

ya i use the ax6 compound and it work really well. i find that i can wait a sec longer before hitting the brakes before a turn. in all with the r compound tires i was able to run with the z07 vetts that where at the last autox i was at in a stock 07 mcs

 

Sweet, I would love to see a Mini besting some Vette's. Let me know when your next event is, maybe I can make it. After reading the write-up in mc2 I can't wait to try out that AX6 compound.