Advice on brake pads

[mike519]

Hi all,

I think I am going to put on new pads in the next month and wanted opinions. I am looking for low dust and really looking for low noise. Noisey pads are why I am doing this in the first place. Yes, yes, I know, german cars have noisey pads but I am sick of it.

I am looking for high performance street pads with very occasional track use but nothing super aggressive. I have looked at a few options but want to get everyone else's opinion.

Thanks

[Finnegan]

Stoptech Steeet Performance. Lower dust than stock, but still dusts. Can be used on track for up to intermediate level use.

"Low dust" usually means ceramic. There are good pads out there like Akebono, but those are not for use on track.

Curious why you're having issues with noise. Stock pads are very quiet in my experience. I understand they can get noisey if used very lightly or if pad deposits are uneven. Have you tried re-bedding them?

[330indy]

PBR Ultimate Ceramic
have these and they are great feeling, and very low dust.

[mike519]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Stoptech Steeet Performance. Lower dust than stock, but still dusts. Can be used on track for up to intermediate level use.

"Low dust" usually means ceramic. There are good pads out there like Akebono, but those are not for use on track.

Curious why you're having issues with noise. Stock pads are very quiet in my experience. I understand they can get noisey if used very lightly or if pad deposits are uneven. Have you tried re-bedding them?

I had been looking at the Street Performance pads as well.

I had issues with my old 3.0i's brakes being noisey and now again with the M. Surprised to hear your comment though...I have heard complaints from others about noise as well. I have not tried to rebed these yet as I just bought the car in Nov but I had tried it in the 3.0i with no luck. Bought new pads for it and bedded in OK.

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by mike519

I had been looking at the Street Performance pads as well.

I had issues with my old 3.0i's brakes being noisey and now again with the M. Surprised to hear your comment though...I have heard complaints from others about noise as well. I have not tried to rebed these yet as I just bought the car in Nov but I had tried it in the 3.0i with no luck. Bought new pads for it and bedded in OK.

+1 on the Stoptech Street Performance! I have a second set in the garage waiting for the next change. Tirerack has great pricing last time I checked.

[VMZ432]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

+1 on the Stoptech Street Performance! I have a second set in the garage waiting for the next change. Tirerack has great pricing last time I checked.

Another +1. I put some on to tide me over until a replacement set of sintered race (endurance) pads arrived, and found them to be comparable to the race pads in every way, except they fade much sooner. I agree they are excellent for intermediate track days, even on a supercharged car, so long as you don't exceed 20mins per session (inc. warm up and cool down). And street tires don't like being pushed much past that regardless.

[inTgr8r]

I run Cool Carbons & love them.
They definitely are not light dust pads, but not bad though.

I run them now on my Stoptechs BBK http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=723674

But also used them previously on my OE brakes.

[mike519]

So, I had been looking at the Stoptechs already and they sound like a good bet. I had also seen the Cool Carbons.

On my original question though, what about noise on either of these two?

[inTgr8r]

I haven't experienced noise problems on any of my pads.
OE, Stoptechs or CC.

....maybe you don't drive them hard enough

[Mirko]

I have the standard stop tech pads that come with the BBK and they are quiet. Bite is a little more linear than stock which would grab aggressively hard on the first use. Dust is less than stock. I like them.

Didn't know they had cool carbon as stock replacements. Thought they were only for a BBK. Will consider those after these ones wear out. Ian, you did a really good review of them which has me considering them in the future.

[Mirko]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I haven't experienced noise problems on any of my pads.
OE, Stoptechs or CC.

....maybe you don't drive them hard enough

I've followed Mike on the road .. he drives it hard. lol

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Mirko

I've followed Mike on the road .. he drives it hard. lol

I noticed it didn't take him long to get to Creemore springs

[mike519]

Not yet!

[mike519]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I noticed it didn't take him long to get to Creemore springs

That's cause of the beer samples waiting!

[Caddyshk]

No noise for me.

[kevin @ eas]

+1 totally agree with inTgr8r – great performance- Stoptech applications at 50% off now for March—also great pricing for 135i/M5/M6!!

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by kevin @ eas

+1 totally agree with inTgr8r – great performance- Stoptech applications at 50% off now for March—also great pricing for 135i/M5/M6!!

50% .... wow great deal.
Fortunately mine are standing up great so dont need any more right now, but tempted to stock up.

[mike519]

Originally Posted by kevin @ eas

+1 totally agree with inTgr8r great performance- Stoptech applications at 50% off now for Marchalso great pricing for 135i/M5/M6!!

Looks like only pads/caliper combo is 50% off. PM me with pricing on just pads please.

[mike519]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Stoptech Steeet Performance. Lower dust than stock, but still dusts. Can be used on track for up to intermediate level use.

"Low dust" usually means ceramic. There are good pads out there like Akebono, but those are not for use on track.

Curious why you're having issues with noise. Stock pads are very quiet in my experience. I understand they can get noisey if used very lightly or if pad deposits are uneven. Have you tried re-bedding them?

Picked up the Stoptechs yesterday and got started on the pad change last night. Rears needed to be changed soon anyway but I found the reason for the noise. Drivers rear inner pad had the tabs bent inwards which causes the squealing. I know cause I had the exact same problem on my 3.0i as well. Must be a common problem on the Z4s.

FYI for my Canadian friends...I bought these through JRP in Mississauga who sent them to one of their dealers local to me and I got them cheaper than any price I've seen in the US...$72 and $52.

[Caddyshk]

Originally Posted by mike519

Picked up the Stoptechs yesterday and got started on the pad change last night. Rears needed to be changed soon anyway but I found the reason for the noise. Drivers rear inner pad had the tabs bent inwards which causes the squealing. I know cause I had the exact same problem on my 3.0i as well. Must be a common problem on the Z4s.

FYI for my Canadian friends...I bought these through JRP in Mississauga who sent them to one of their dealers local to me and I got them cheaper than any price I've seen in the US...$72 and $52.

Thats great pricing! $71 & $51 at Tirerack. I have a set in the garage I purchased from a member here last year for $110 that he decided not to use. So your Rotors are OK?

[mike519]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Thats great pricing! $71 & $51 at Tirerack. I have a set in the garage I purchased from a member here last year for $110 that he decided not to use. So your Rotors are OK?

Yeah, they're fine. I figure another year at least out of 'em.

Just finished the brake work tonight. Nothing left to do until the wheels and exhaust in April. What am I going to do besides just stare at Rose until the snow is gone?????

[Caddyshk]