Brake Pads
Reply With QuoteWhat do you want out of your brakes? What is your climate? What wheels do you have? Do you drive kids? Are you the only driver? What tires? Future upgrades planned?
Sorry for all the questions, but anyone who comments on what fits you without asking you questions doesn't have the answers. So, lets learn more about what your needs are for the brakes.
I can tell you what fits me. I wanted brakes that will work when cold, are not noisy, stop well, pads that don't wear out fast, pads that don't wear the rotors too fast, pads that can take the heat of spirited driving, a pad that didn't dust too much. I did not mention price.
I chose the M5 brake upgrade with solid rotors for maximum friction area. I use Axxis Ultimates because of their performance in the cold and hot. They dust less than factory and the dust is more grey. I decided I wanted better stopping and less fade at the expense of some dust. I love my set-up. Perfect for the street and I have used them on the track.
Here are some of my pad experiences:
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Hawk HPS - need to be warmed-up to work well, not good for emergency stopping
PBR/Axxis Deluxe - no dust, actually made noise, pad glazed, glazed pad glazed the rotor, didn;t stop as well as stock
Textar - factory BMW pad, lots of dust that stains the wheels, good braking, very consistent, easy on the rotors
Mintex Red Box - don't like, they seem to have some irregular wear, not good stopping, never use with cross-drilled rotors
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Akebono - Like them as a stock replacement, good consistent stopping, no dust, no noise, easy on rotors
Axxis Ultimates - Like them, dust just a little less than factory, great stopping cold, great stopping warm, less fading
Track pads - Love how they stop at the track, they are so noisy and dusty, the stopping friction might suck your eyeballs out, wear out rotors
Solid rotors are great and cheaper. The first 2 places to look at for heat resistance when braking are the pads and the brake fluid. So choose the pad and the price that fits you. I would suggest to anyone to flush the brake fluid. I like to use Ate Typ 200. It is the same as Super Blue, but I don't like how the Super Blue can tint the plastic reservoir blue. If you want to purchase brake fluid at the local parts store, then look for the Valvoline Synpower fluid. It is much cheaper than the Ate fluid and is very very good for the street. I like that I can get it whenever I want to. As with all brake fluid, it should be changed once a year.
Originally Posted by Blitzkrieg Bob
