Upgrade Brake Pads??

Ruffan · 05-13-2009, 04:57 PM

I need input from those who have upgraded brake pads either on their 1 or other street cars.

This weekend I am planning on doing some maintenance on my car, including changing the oil, brake fluid (ATE Super Blue) and brake pads. The reason that I wanted to change the pads is that in my first track event in the 1 my brakes definitely faded significantly. I know that upgrading the fluid should have a major impact, but I also felt that the pads were heat soaking and losing stopping force, because the pedal never went to the floor (although it did get somewhat spongy) and I was still able to put full pedal pressure to the brakes, while braking performance clearly fell off.

I purchased Carbotech AX6 pads, which I think should be the best all-around pad for street and the periodic track events I will do. This is a weekend only car. I drive it aggresively when I drive it. I have participated in one BMW CCA HPDE and plan on going to at least a couple more this year. http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.html

Question: Should I replace the fluid and pads this weekend, or should I just do the fluid and not the pads? I'm starting to question whether I want to put on noisier pads if they won't really help.

I think I just need some motivation from the 1-team.

BMWeber · 05-13-2009, 08:05 PM

do the pads the AX8 is just a high performance street pad

Ruffan · 05-14-2009, 09:53 AM

Vote now or....don't.

turbobum · 05-14-2009, 10:25 PM

You have the pads, you have the fluid...use them both.

I just ran my car at the track with Super Blue fluid and stock pads. All I can say is I'll NEVER return to the track with stock pads. The pedal got spongy after only a couple laps and started to get low enough that heel-and-toe shiftging became very difficult.

I plan on using a track-only pad while at the track and the stock pads on the street, since they work fine on public roads. When my "free" maintenance is up I'll switch to something else. I had Hawks HPSs on my Subaru and can't say enough good thing about them for street driving.

Ruffan · 05-15-2009, 11:51 AM

That's what I wanted to hear, someone who had put in new fluid, but on stock pads. I was sure that the pads couldn't take the heat, and that it wasn't just the fluid boiling.

Thanks.

BMWeber · 05-15-2009, 12:25 PM

no its the pads melting very little to do with the fluid.

View Poll Results: Should I change my brake pads to Carbotech AX6
Yup	8	72.73%
No, just change the fluid	3	27.27%
Voters: 11. You may not vote on this poll

05-13-2009, 04:57 PM	#1
Ruffan Member 30 Rep 392 Posts Drives: '09 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gotham iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	Upgrade Brake Pads?? I need input from those who have upgraded brake pads either on their 1 or other street cars. This weekend I am planning on doing some maintenance on my car, including changing the oil, brake fluid (ATE Super Blue) and brake pads. The reason that I wanted to change the pads is that in my first track event in the 1 my brakes definitely faded significantly. I know that upgrading the fluid should have a major impact, but I also felt that the pads were heat soaking and losing stopping force, because the pedal never went to the floor (although it did get somewhat spongy) and I was still able to put full pedal pressure to the brakes, while braking performance clearly fell off. I purchased Carbotech AX6 pads, which I think should be the best all-around pad for street and the periodic track events I will do. This is a weekend only car. I drive it aggresively when I drive it. I have participated in one BMW CCA HPDE and plan on going to at least a couple more this year. http://www.ctbrakes.com/brake-compounds.html Question: Should I replace the fluid and pads this weekend, or should I just do the fluid and not the pads? I'm starting to question whether I want to put on noisier pads if they won't really help. I think I just need some motivation from the 1-team. __________________ 2009 135i Dinan Stuff
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05-13-2009, 08:05 PM	#2
BMWeber Major 36 Rep 1,329 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Amesbury, MA iTrader: (5)	do the pads the AX8 is just a high performance street pad
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05-14-2009, 09:53 AM	#3
Ruffan Member 30 Rep 392 Posts Drives: '09 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gotham iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	Vote now or....don't. __________________ 2009 135i Dinan Stuff Last edited by Ruffan; 05-14-2009 at 02:40 PM..
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05-14-2009, 10:25 PM	#4
turbobum Family Man 14 Rep 126 Posts Drives: White '09 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Washington State iTrader: (0)	You have the pads, you have the fluid...use them both. I just ran my car at the track with Super Blue fluid and stock pads. All I can say is I'll NEVER return to the track with stock pads. The pedal got spongy after only a couple laps and started to get low enough that heel-and-toe shiftging became very difficult. I plan on using a track-only pad while at the track and the stock pads on the street, since they work fine on public roads. When my "free" maintenance is up I'll switch to something else. I had Hawks HPSs on my Subaru and can't say enough good thing about them for street driving. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-15-2009, 11:51 AM	#5
Ruffan Member 30 Rep 392 Posts Drives: '09 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Gotham iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	That's what I wanted to hear, someone who had put in new fluid, but on stock pads. I was sure that the pads couldn't take the heat, and that it wasn't just the fluid boiling. Thanks. __________________ 2009 135i Dinan Stuff
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05-15-2009, 12:25 PM	#6
BMWeber Major 36 Rep 1,329 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Amesbury, MA iTrader: (5)	no its the pads melting very little to do with the fluid.
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