When I bought my MINI used, the brake pedal was super sensitive. It was like 1/2" of movement between slowing down or an immediate stop. My ex would get in the car after driving her mushy pedal Ford Taurus and would jerk the car while braking the first few stops while she got used to the sensitivity.

My brake light came on (wear sensor) so I got all of my rotors replaced with Centric premium rotors and pads replaced with Axxis Ultimate pads.

Picking the car up from the shop, I immediately noticed a lot more pedal travel. The tech said he bled out the lines completely with Motul brake fluid and even kept it to bleed it all a second time. He said the right rear brake pad was worn more than others and the caliper was probably seizing.

I replaced both rear calipers and bled the lines. I can notice the braking is better, but the pedal travel still isn't what it used to be.

Is this something to expect from performance pads?

 

Are you sure the inner rear pads are clipped into the caliper correctly? It is possible to get them in wrong. They will work, but the peddle will be longer. That is the first thing I'd check. Your brake peddle should not be longer with performance pads.

Read through octane guys how to on rear brakes.

 

But it sounds like he had a pad hung up which would make for a short pedal.....now it is back to normal?

 

Yes. They were first installed by a pro and then I made sure they were all clipped on correctly when I replaced the calipers.

OctaneGuy's guide was very helpful.

 

That's what I'm thinking...

I'm going to give it another bleed and see if anything changes.

 

Maybe more time for pads to remove film is needed. Not sure if axxis pads are auto-x type pad that offers instant (sensative) spopping though.

 

I don't see how bedding the pads to remove film would effect peddle travel. The bite will change from unbedded to bedded, but the travel should remain the same. This is kind of an odd one. Can't wait to hear what the cause is.

 

Not "official race pads", but definitely high-performance:

Axxis ULT
Technical Features:Special ceramic formulation

• Integral shim delivers quiet operation
• High co-efficient of friction
• Exceptional braking power with shorter stopping distances
• High resistance to brake fade at high temperatures
• Low-metal content

Driving Styles:

• Extreme high performance
• Hard braking
• Road or competitive track

 

Ok, performance pads will never have the "bite" of stock brakes. The peddle will not loose or gain any motion with pads. But the point of full-on brake is moved way down the stroke with performance pads. This gives you the entire range of the peddle to use exactly the amount of braking that you want, called, modulation. Stock brakes are, to me, button brakes - either off or on, designed to stop, not to slow the car. Those have a very small range to reach full braking, and any more pressure beyond that does essentially nothing. It is impossible to use them to the precision level needed for performance driving. Performance drivers want modulation.

 

.....tiiiiny bubbles.....

 

 

Hi, apologies if I am opening an old thread, however I would really like to know if there was an eventual resolution to the brake pedal travel issue in this thread. I have a similar issue. The brakes are absolutley fine and produce considerable stopping power. Pads/disks all in good condition. However, the pedal has to be depressed a fair bit before the brakes activate, its as if the first couple of centimetres of travel is not actually causing the pads to be applied to the disks. Its not spongy or anything ans as I say the brakes when they do come on are very strong so not an issue with air in teh system or anything. Pumping them makes no difference to this first bit of travel. When stationary with engine off I think the pedal has less travel??
Could it be to do with the servo perhaps? its not cutting in unitl the pedal has been depressed some ways?
I have looked on other forums and other people have experienced this .
It is just as if there is some slack in the mechanism that need to be taken up beofer the brakes come on. anyone any ideas?