[cooperstan]

As I have now joined 210bhp club I'm feeling that my brakes could do with a similar improvement!

I'm not too keen on going for a full monty calliper and disc upgrade for 3 reasons:
1. I want to keep the standard S' Lite 17" wheels
2. Cost
3. Some people may be put off by a big brake kit at resale time... Unless I refit the old brakes of course, which is an option.

Is there much of an improvement with just fitting grooved discs and upgraded pads in terms of initial bite and feel or is there a touch of the placebo effect with these??

Thanks to anyone who has any comments.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by cooperstan

As I have now joined 210bhp club I'm feeling that my brakes could do with a similar improvement!

I'm not too keen on going for a full monty calliper and disc upgrade for 3 reasons:
1. I want to keep the standard S' Lite 17" wheels
2. Cost
3. Some people may be put off by a big brake kit at resale time... Unless I refit the old brakes of course, which is an option.

Is there much of an improvement with just fitting grooved discs and upgraded pads in terms of initial bite and feel or is there a touch of the placebo effect with these??

Thanks to anyone who has any comments.

Better pads, rotors and brake lines will make a big difference.
Should be all the improvement you need but.......

The one thing that always puzzles me about this question is this;
The car weighs the same, it takes the same braking power to stop as it did before. Why does everyone think more hp means you need more brakes?

[asterix2112]

From everything I have read, brakes are the one area where the JCW brakes upgrade are actually cheaper then most other routes!

Good review at: http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/04/...ake_kit_review

Something I plan to do eventually.

- John

[cooperstan]

Because I'm arriving at a given corner faster than before...?

Thats the only other variable. I take your point though, there's no difference in stopping my car from 100mph now than there was from before I had the kit fitted. But, the brakes do feel underpowered now.

Maybe its a perception thing as well, as when you've just finished accelerating hard and stand on the brakes you expect them to pull you up with similar force...

[TT_Convert]

On any given stretch of road between 2 corners (for example), you can now reach a higher speed, so if you want to brake where you did before, you'd need better brakes.

Personally though, despite the increase in bhp, I think the brakes are just fine - but then, I don't go out to play on the track.

[roland2003]

Hi Guys, although I think the std brakes are a bit borderline,we have found 3 cars
fitted with 'performance discs &pads' (stock size) have been much more prone to fade/fluid boil than even the stock setup. In 2 cases after half a dozen stomps in succession we have no brakes at all ! The effect is emphasized with 3 or 4 occupants. On a race track I think we wouldnt get past the 3rd corner - IMHO horrible! Rear needs no upgrade even on slicks. The front needs big discs & big calipers,the heavier the car and/or the grippier the tyres the better those front brakes need to be.
Regards Roland Gt Tuning

[shazam]

I changed to mintex pads, after my 220 conversion, and found them to have better bite, and less fade. My drive home consists of a bit of dual carriageway with 5 roundabouts- if I brake from speed at each one, the stock pads were useless by the end- the mintex still work. They are also okay cold.

These are the pads used by the JCW upgrade.

I would either just change the pads £100, or do the full BBK £800- £1000, rather than spend good money on a Works kit.

[cooperstan]

Thanks for that Shazam.

I think your right, for now I'll be going with a set of decent pads all round and see what that gets me. Not sure whether to go for EBC Greenstuff, Mintex or Ferrodo DS2500. I could spend £500 on 4 discs and pads all round, braided hoses and decent fluid for a marginal improvement, which is well on the way to the cost of a BBK.

How are the Mintex pads on brake dust? The BMW pads are leaving crap all over my alloys which is really hard to get off...

[Fabio]

Quote: Originally Posted by cooperstan

Thanks for that Shazam.

I think your right, for now I'll be going with a set of decent pads all round and see what that gets me. Not sure whether to go for EBC Greenstuff, Mintex or Ferrodo DS2500. I could spend £500 on 4 discs and pads all round, braided hoses and decent fluid for a marginal improvement, which is well on the way to the cost of a BBK.
................

i have heard some good reports on the Ferrodo DS2500, thus i have ordered a set for my front brakes. Also i am getting new brake lines and some mintex 5.1 brake fluid. i'm hoping this set-up will make a big difference and it also means i dont have to spend big money on big brakes

[pocketrocketowner]

A superior set of pads should put your mind at rest for normal driving. Track time requires either SERIOUS pads (as in outrageously expensive, all out competition compounds that you really don't want to use on the street cuz of the noise and dust) or an upgrade. I found a serious brake upgrade in the US which allows for fitting even 15" wheels. Have ordered it but have yet to install it as it is awaiting some kind soul to bring it for me........

[shazam]

According to the rep- the mintex pads are not carbon based, unlike the std, so they dont produce as much dust, and dont make an acid when mixed with rain.
In real life the wheels still get covered in cack- but it wipes off fairly easily.
That doesn't really bother me though, I just want to stop better.

[pocketrocketowner]

If you are ever in the position to acquire Porterfield Brakes pads (blue compound) you will come to understand what a set of real brake pads can do......of course an axle set will set you back close to 200 quid.....plus the VAT...... And don't EVEN think of using them on the read.......

[minimc]

Had this same dilemma myself recently.
Went with cryo-treated, slotted rotors from Powerslot. Pads are Hawk HPS, ATE Super Blue brake fluid (same name cast into your MINI's caliper ), SS lines from Goodridge.

I followed directions for bedding in the pads/rotors, but haven't recorded nearly enough miles to have heat cycled them properly. So am taking it easy until then. Its supposed to take 200 miles or so until they bite well.

Despite some aftermarket brake rotors or pads being suspect I can't see you going wrong by changing to ATE super blue, or if you don't mind more frequent maintenance (flushes) Motul RBF 600 will handle even more heat. Dissipating heat is the real issue.

Installing a set of SS lines and the Mintex or Ferrodo pads also offers improved pedal feel and stopping ability. Although I didn't get them I've heard that the Ferrodo are some of the best.

Something else that I've seen which is supposed to improve both feel and performance is a brake-caliper stiffening kit. The kit replaces the OEM rubber caliper bushings with brass. This modification requires more maintenance - anti-seize each time you change pads, or at least annually. The benefits are less caliper flex/torque & more even pad contact with the rotor.

Hope you get what your after.