Hi all,

I'm fed up with nasty-äss brake dust getting all over my wheels, and since I ordered new wheels recently, I want something that's not gonna dust all over them. I've got a 2003 R50 with stock brakes, so any recommendations for that fitting would be great. They don't need to be high-performance per se, but at the very least need to match OEM. More bite is good, but not at the cost of lots more dust.

Notes:

• I don't track the car
• I won't be doing any canyon carving after the new wheels
• I observe proper following distance (usually) and rarely have to brake hard (once in the last 3 years is a pretty good estimate).

Thanks!

 

I am on a set of HAWK Ceramic Pads. I have them on my stock rotors (r53) which are the same as r50 rotors. They are great for less dust, but sometimes I feel they don't bite as good, then sometimes I feel they do. So far, they seem to be great. I don't track my car either.

 

I have mintex brake pads.. my car is a DD. it's great for the price.

 

try the seach function. This has got to be in the top 5 most discussed topics list. You'll find hundreds of opinions but the truth is almost any street pad is gonna dust less then the factory one. The OEM pad is very soft...they don't last long and dust bad but grip GREAT.

You can get perfectly acceptable pads and rotors for your situation at AutoZone....well at least my local AZ has them. And there's an ad popping up right now on this site for autopartswarehouse offering free shipping on EBC pads and rotors... (rotors are heavy ya know). I've used EBC greens since about 2004. Not the lowest dust, but better.

 

I've been very happy with Hawk Ceramics. I am on my second set & when these wear out I'll most likely buy yet another set.

Just my .02...

 

Look on tire rack for Akebono pads.
I have them and they are very low dusting and still stop very well over stock dust pads.

 

for what it is worth ... and my comments are as bad here as any

most folks who comment on their pads have tried ONE .... repeat ONE non factory pad. No big comparison and I can not point you to a big side by side comparison.

Which is why I point you to 'search' and "roll you're own"

 

For just a cooper and street use a set of EBC Green pads should do you just fine.

 

So if I order just front pads is it quantity x1 or x2 on your site?

 

Akebono pads front and rear are available. You must be sure to get the ones that have a part number that starts with "EUR". This is a compound specifically formulated for European vehicles. No black dust and no noise. I have used them with new rotors and "pad slapped" them when the rotors have a small outer ridge from wear with good results both ways. Pedal feel is almost as tactile as the factory pads so this small difference may be a good trade off to eliminate the dusting issue. HOWEVER if the rotors are damaged or warped you will experience other undesirable things as in brake pulsation or noise. The best thing to do is replace pads and rotors.
In this one instance I do recommend the dealer rotors. They have a grey coating on the hat section and outer edge to prevent ugly rust coloring visible through your wheels.