Hey guys,

I know this question gets asked around here all the time b/c I've been using the search function to get some ideas, but figured I'd ask to see what the knowleadgeable NAMers thought. My 07 MCS is at about 41,000 miles and the service indicator says I have about 1,000 miles left on the front pads and like 14,000 on the back ones.

The car is street use only and I'm looking for pads that will give me the same performance or better than OEM. If I could get less dust, that'd be great, but I do not want to compromise performance. I like the OEM pads a lot. Any suggestions for where to order from? How about the rotors? Where can I get OEM like rotors? I would like to not spend a ton of money on these so something good and reasonable would be ideal.

Last question - should I change all four brake pads and rotors at the same time? My dad will probably do the brake job for me so I'd rather get it done at once instead of waiting 6 months to do the back ones. Unless you guys think the service indicator says 14,000 miles but they'll really last a lot longer.

Thanks a ton!

 

There are a lot of choices especially for a street car. Most of the stuff will be better than OEM for dust. As to performance, some people like the off-on feel of the OEM pads and others like the ability to feel the modulation of the brakes.

Carbotech 1521 and Hawks HP+ are good alternatives to consider. I buy stuff like this from www.tirerack.com (alex) and www.autoxcooper.com (Dustin)

 

I really like my Stoptech Street Performance pads.

Good bite, low dust, cheap. I also liked the stock pads, they just dusted way too much. My review is here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ds-review.html

- Andrew

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

Andrew, those look like they'll fit the bill. Would you mind telling me where you ordered them from?

TIA!

 

Sounds like an interesting choice. I have not come across them before for a R56 MCS.

 

Thanks for the replies. I've ordered the front rotors and plan on getting a set of front and rear pads, but was wondering - should I also get a set of rotors for the rear or do those tend to wear less than the front and should be ok for a new set of pads?

 

I LOVED the Hawks I had on my first MINI!!! And the rotors were not that expensive.

 

Hawk HPS and Ceramics are a good street pad. The Hawk HP+ is a dust and noise maker and is more for autocross

The Carbotech Bobcats, Axxis Ultimates are also options.

I like the Axxis Ultimates for a little better stopping feel compared to OEM.

 

I'll throw my two cents in for Akebono Ceramics. I've run these pads on two previous cars and loved them, and just picked up a full set for the MINI that should be going on this weekend.

 

I just ordered some Stoptech Street Performance pads for my 2008 MCS. The only place I found that had them for the R56 is Zeckhausen Racing http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=499

 

I am looking into aftermarket pads for my R56 as well. One question I have, aside from the pads, is whether or not you have to remove the OEM pad retaining springs? It appears that changing pads is as simple as loosening the bottom bolt on both front and rear calipers and sliding/pushing them up and away, leaving the pads on the carrier via the retaining springs. Do aftermarket pads eliminate the OEM pad retaining springs or do you keep them in place and use them for the aftermarket pads? It almost looks, from the faint pictures on the TIS, that the retaining springs are there because the OE pads don't have the typical "hammerhead" style retaining feature but I cannot confirm. Would really like to know this ahead of doing the job if anybody would be so kind to help.

 

R56 does not have retaining springs to remove. Your method you wrote is correct. No, aftermarket pads load exactly the same way onto the clips.

I think of the "springs" more like clips.

 

Slinger,
Thank you very much for the reply. The nomenclature used on the TIS is "retaining spring" though they appear to more like "clips." They are not the wire or clip type found on say, BMW e30's or 1st gen MINI's as they sit with the carrier. It sounds like I'll just loosen those bottom bolts, push the caliper up and away exposing the carrier and pull the pads from the "clips" and replace with the aftermarket pads. Sounds very easy...almost too easy.

Thanks again for your quick support!

 

Placed the order today - thanks everyone!