MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: WillsSayers on December 3, 2008, 17:03

Title: Brake discs and pads
Post by: WillsSayers on December 3, 2008, 17:03
Hey all,

I'm looking at getting some new brake discs and pads. 3 reasons: 1) my brakes squeel, 2) they're quite worn, 3) I can't help but feel the brakes are quite soft.

What do people recommend? My budget's about £400 for the discs and pads. I'm currently eyeing up the 3G discs (10 groove) with Mintex pads, but I have absolutely zero knowledge when it comes to brakes!

I've tried searching but uncovered absolutely zilch.

Ta!
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: markiii on December 3, 2008, 17:05
I'd stick with stock pads I never found any better

best upgrade you can do is braided lines and decent fluid

disc wise I had no issues with my black diamonds
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: WillsSayers on December 3, 2008, 17:17
What sort of cost am I looking at for braided lines, and is it a time consuming job labour-wise?
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: markiii on December 3, 2008, 17:24
about £45 and a couple of hours to DIY, less for a garage
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: WillsSayers on December 3, 2008, 17:40
Where can I get said hoses from? And can you recommend some good fluid? Does different fluid get used at different rates, or should it be fine unless there's a leak?
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: StuM on December 3, 2008, 17:43
Quote from: "WillsSayers"Where can I get said hoses from? And can you recommend some good fluid? Does different fluid get used at different rates, or should it be fine unless there's a leak?

It's a sealed system, so won't get used unless there's a leak.  More of a problem is degradation of the fluid over time.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: WillsSayers on December 3, 2008, 17:46
Ahh right that's good to know  s:) :) s:)  I told ya I'm a reet noob ;D
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: markiii on December 3, 2008, 19:05
get teh fluid replaced with Motul RBF600 its really good stuff
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: rmowbray on December 3, 2008, 19:59
I went with EBC dimple grooved discs and greenstuff pads. Did them at the front first and loved them, so then did them at the back and was slightly disapointed that there didn't seem any improvement. They're well within your budget.

That said, the braking system on the roadster is pretty damn good as stock. So you could take the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" view. My reason for getting the EBCs was that I wanted grooved discs to see if they would clear heavy road spray off the disc quicker and avoid the scary ½ second of nowt when you put your foot on the brake on the m-way in heavy rain.   s:scared: :scared: s:scared:  

I have to agree with markiii, good fluid (1st) and braided hoses (2nd), may be the best way to go if your brakes are not worn out but feel soft.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: roger on December 3, 2008, 20:18
Quote from: "rmowbray"I went with EBC dimple grooved discs and greenstuff pads. Did them at the front first and loved them,I have to agree with markiii, good fluid (1st) and braided hoses (2nd), may be the best way to go if your brakes are not worn out but feel soft.

My set up exactly. Just waiting for the rears to need doing. BTW also added speedbleeders to the system which makes it all very easy.

IMO this works better than OEM. Which of the mods does it, not sure, but I reckon they all add benefit.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: ChrisGB on December 3, 2008, 23:04
I am on EBC plain discs with Toyota pads and Goodrige braided hoses. Works well, no sign of fade, good feel and progression.

Chris
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Two's Company on December 4, 2008, 13:06
I'm on EBC Grooved discs, standard pads and Goodridge hoses, RBF 600 brake fluid.  The stainless steel brake lines and fluid made a massive difference to the 4.5 year old ones they replaced.  EBC discs look a bit nicer but I've not really noticed any performance improvement, I got them because they were cheaper than standard ones.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: roger on December 4, 2008, 14:36
Quote from: "Twos Company"I'm on EBC Grooved discs, standard pads and Goodridge hoses, RBF 600 brake fluid.  The stainless steel brake lines and fluid made a massive difference to the 4.5 year old ones they replaced.  EBC discs look a bit nicer but I've not really noticed any performance improvement, I got them because they were cheaper than standard ones.

As I said above, on exactly the same. I found the EBC + green pads were better than OEM, with the foot pedal becaming more positive. But that maybe just because they were bled.   s:? :? s:?
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Ilogik on December 5, 2008, 02:05
Don't bother wasting you money on groved disks, Buy some Carbotech brake pads, go for Bobcats if you can, more of a street friendly pad, not much dust or squeel at low spee.d

If you fancy some brakes that are uber kick ass, buy some Carbotech AX6 aka XP8 in the UK.

You won't find a better brake pad. if normal driving go stock, ebc are shite, red pads dont give good bite from cold, green are the same as standard, yellow are ok though.

You wont get the bobcats in the UK, but give them a call, had some sent out to me within 6 days recored very good service.
 m http://www.ctbrakes.com/ (http://www.ctbrakes.com/) m

If you want the XP8 or some advice, give rogue a call.
 w www.revision6.com (http://www.revision6.com) w
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Wabbitkilla on December 5, 2008, 07:07
Well, i got the ebc "turbo" grooved and dimpled discs because they were a good price (relative to most others) are anodised to keep rust under control on the unswept parts and looked sexy... well and because they seemed to be lasting well on other peoples' cars. I put blackstuff pads on because i already had them, they're basically standard spec pads.

The brakes perform very nicely, look the part and corrosion of the unswept surfaces is none-existent. The swept surface gets a little corrosion in damp conditions but it's just on the surface and disappears as soon as you use them. All in all very pleased with them.

You don't need to go all exotic or "not available in this country" to get decent brake performace. By far the be improvement to brake performance was had by fitting the braided hoses and dot5.1 fluid. Just make sure they fit the rear ones properly or they rub against the bodywork.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Ilogik on December 5, 2008, 09:16
untill you try carbotechs, you won't understand lol. The pads with standard disks are amazing.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: custardavenger on December 5, 2008, 09:37
Ok this is getting interesting now.

I have Bremtech disks on the front with Mintex extreme pads. Have had no problems at all other that the usuall overheating on track. An considering replacing all the disks for new Bremtechs bit getting the zink passivated (as EBC) to stop them rusting, Then keep the front disk I have to go with some track pads.

Ilogic, Do you have an idea of price for the Carbotechs? Ones that would be suitable for track.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: roger on December 5, 2008, 10:17
Quote from: "Ilogik"Don't bother wasting you money on groved disks, Buy some Carbotech brake pads, go for Bobcats if you can, more of a street friendly pad, not much dust or squeel at low spee.d

If you fancy some brakes that are uber kick ass, buy some Carbotech AX6 aka XP8 in the UK.


Quote from: "Carbotech"..... does NOT recommended XP8™ as a daily driven street pad due to elevated levels of dust and noise. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

Bit of a bummer if you do track days.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: roger on December 5, 2008, 10:22
Quote from: "custardavenger"Ilogic, Do you have an idea of price for the Carbotechs? Ones that would be suitable for track.

Look on the website - £175 + (depending what you buy) for set of 4 plus delivery USA to UK. Not cheap.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Ilogik on December 5, 2008, 16:20
Quote from: "roger"
Quote from: "Ilogik"Don't bother wasting you money on groved disks, Buy some Carbotech brake pads, go for Bobcats if you can, more of a street friendly pad, not much dust or squeel at low spee.d

If you fancy some brakes that are uber kick ass, buy some Carbotech AX6 aka XP8 in the UK.


Quote from: "Carbotech"..... does NOT recommended XP8™ as a daily driven street pad due to elevated levels of dust and noise. Bobcat 1521™ is NOT recommended for any track use.

Bit of a bummer if you do track days.
Rogue use the xp8 as track brakes.
As street pads, they are great from warm and cold,  but xp8 are bit noisy and leave a lot of dust, they do last very well though, unlike the ebc they wont rip chunks out your disks.

The bobcats I was recommended by carbotech, as they don't have squeel, and don't produce to much dust.

Think they charged me $25 for recored postage to the UK, I will never go back to other brands of pad, and if you do a quick search for brake pads, you will see where im coming from, once you go carbotech you wont go back  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Ilogik on December 5, 2008, 16:34
Quote from: "custardavenger"Ok this is getting interesting now.

I have Bremtech disks on the front with Mintex extreme pads. Have had no problems at all other that the usuall overheating on track. An considering replacing all the disks for new Bremtechs bit getting the zink passivated (as EBC) to stop them rusting, Then keep the front disk I have to go with some track pads.

Ilogic, Do you have an idea of price for the Carbotechs? Ones that would be suitable for track.
Speak to Rogue Motorsport mate, here you go  m http://www.revision6.com (http://www.revision6.com) m  think they had them on there mk3 Britcar.

Alot of people use them as a road pad, its whatever you want to put up with tbh. ahh wait its the panther plus not xp8, getting myself confused.

Ax6 in usa is the Panther plus.
Bobcat is bobcat can only be bought from USA.

Review for you
 m http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32637 (http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32637) m
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Star_69 on December 5, 2008, 16:53
I cant imagine needing to stop any quicker than the stock set up! Its amazing. Any quicker and I'd worry the airbag would go off   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: loadswine on December 5, 2008, 16:58
Just as another combination. I have grooved discs on my 2, no idea of make, as they were on the car when i got it .
I have RBF600 fluid, stainless braided hoses and Black Diamond pads. Brilliant in all situations I have come across and can't find any downsides. On a track I used them as hard as I possibly could and there was no loss in braking efficiency,
bearing in mind my 2 is heavier than some. The dust from the Black Diamond pads is not bad at all and supposed to be lower than most out there.
I do also have mega respect for the stock setup though, having used it on other peoples turbo'd 2s and unless you have a special reason for changing over, stock is a very safe bet, especially , as Mark has said, with the right fluid and stainless braided hoses.
Title: Re: Brake discs and pads
Post by: Ilogik on December 5, 2008, 17:21
Quote from: "loadswine"Just as another combination. I have grooved discs on my 2, no idea of make, as they were on the car when i got it .
I have RBF600 fluid, stainless braided hoses and Black Diamond pads. Brilliant in all situations I have come across and can't find any downsides. On a track I used them as hard as I possibly could and there was no loss in braking efficiency,
bearing in mind my 2 is heavier than some. The dust from the Black Diamond pads is not bad at all and supposed to be lower than most out there.
I do also have mega respect for the stock setup though, having used it on other peoples turbo'd 2s and unless you have a special reason for changing over, stock is a very safe bet, especially , as Mark has said, with the right fluid and stainless braided hoses.
Exactly all down to what you want to use it for, I find the ebc stuff a waste of money over standard, if you want gains carbotech if you have reason for needing them. If not standard are good.