Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires EBC, Wake Up! Your Pads are Failing!

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by minsanity, Oct 25, 2013.

  1. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

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    Loved my Greenstuff. Low dust, good braking. Heard stories of pads disappearing. Brushed em off as random as mine worked fine. Halfway thru its life, still worked great.
    Then a week back, felt binding on reverse. These were intermittent. Then, my Ol' Gray 02 R53 (48k mi, never sees track nor abuse) evolved to having HILL ASSIST! Thought: this just can't be! Shared this phenomenon w/ my buddy, Da Mastah. Thinking my MINI must be special. Think Herbie!
    Jacked up the car today puzzled. All Rotors were freewheeling, no binding at all. Drove to work up the hills.... Imagine my horrific drive downhill! Rear brakes created grinding noises I've never heard before, pedal went deeper, then back, losing grip. Fronts kept the car in check. Babied it right to my mechanic buddy's doorstep.... Pics say a lot:
    LH rear- Lost the inner pad (left on pic)
    9B1D7773-4930-40EC-91C7-2A7347A9C5F9-3269-00000256416ABED2_zps9985e7f0.jpg
    RH inner pad had partially delaminated, detached upon pad removal (top of pic)
    DD862CEE-6D89-4DDF-9EEB-06FABC60D99B-3269-00000256B3570D9D_zps1ceab2f3.jpg

    Felt extremely blessed! Those w/ EBC pads, swap em out now! These are accidents waiting to happen.
    EBC, WAKE UP!!!! Your pads aren't safe!
     
  2. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    Budget cuts.... :(
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Yikes. Thats not good.
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    That you for the heads up. From the looks of it that pad was loose for a long time. There is a lot of rust where that pad attaches to the backing plate. There should be none.

    You should call the maker & let them know about this failure.

    Guess this winter I get to change out the greenstuffed pads on my Miata.
     
  5. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Yeah.... I'm starting to get the squirmies in my lower intestines about all these red stuff stories, even though mine haven't been a problem....

    I'm feeling the Carbotech 1521's calling me....
     
  6. sethat46

    sethat46 Well-Known Member

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    #6 sethat46, Oct 25, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2013
    [eerie voice] Chuck..... Come to the dark side Chuck. Carbotechs even sound cooler.... You shouldn't trust anything with three letters mostly consonants. Chuuuuuuuucck..... [eerie voice fades]

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2XvxDaIwCw"]Tommy Boy (2/10) Movie CLIP - Desktop Demo (1995) HD - YouTube[/ame]
     
  7. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    Frigg'n hilarious right there! I forgot about the Mini meat wagon in that scene.

    I doubt EBC validates either.....
     
  8. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    EBC isn't the first, I have had this happen with a different Brand on a different car over ten years ago.
    As the politicians say, I don't remember any thing else.
     
  9. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    #9 wmwny, Oct 25, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2013
    I had the EBC Red Stuff pads put on my MCSa 2 years ago, changing over from the Hawk HPS pads that had disintegrated as I was leaving my pre-Mid Ohio tech check. I track the car at Mid Ohio when I can and I go to MOTD in the Springtime. I was at Mid Ohio last weekend with it for a BMW CCA HPDE and have had NO problems whatsoever with my pads. I DO, however, change out the brake fluids every 6 mos.
     
  10. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    HPS are not a track day pad.......the HP+ could be called a track day pad, but not by me.

    Now the Cool Carbons I have been happy with are definitely a great option (what.....again, sheesh :biggrin5:)
     
  11. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    I had this happen with a set of factory rear pads too, on my '03 Cooper S JCW, although the pads were more than half gone when it happened, but they weren't below 2mm....

    Check to make sure your E-brake isn't binding causing them to overheat.

    I run factory pads now, but once the fronts are done I'll be switching to Akebono ceramics - I have them on the wife's Audi for about 2 years now and I'm so happy with the lack of black dust, noise etc and they're wearing well.
     
  12. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Well we all know how I feel about EBS Reds....:mad2::mad5:

    http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/suspension-brake-modifications/17879-read-ebc-brake-users-ebc-pad-failures.html#axzz2ikiZAxtq

    Just recently I removed my rear EBC Reds and they fell apart in my hands. Another fail and that makes a total of 3.

    I replaced the rears with Akebono's and will be putting Akebono's on the front also when i install my new 1st Gen JCW brakes with new rotors with new Goodridge SS lines

    For the Dragon I will put new Brakeman pads and New Rotors on the front only.
     
  13. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

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    Where have all those old school riveted pads gone? Pads + glue + heat + stress =????
    Non-fancy Bendix pads have never failed me. I've always changed pads coz they were due, never from failure.... til now.
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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  15. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, Dave. I'll look into those! Which specific type would you recommend for low dust & street use? Mintex pads have seen this type of fail, too.
     
  16. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    #16 wmwny, Oct 25, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2013
    To each his own. Mine lasted for nearly 3 years between Mid Ohio and Putnam Park, plus Dragon slaying in between.

    I had Ferodos on the car and they dusted badly, so Chad of DT recommended and installed the Hawks because they dust less. Now, if the Hawks aren't a worthy enough street/track pad, then why would he install them?
     
  17. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I use Akebonos for daily driving. (F&R) very low dust, quite and good stopping feel.

    Carbotech or The Brakeman.

    For the track or the Dragon where stopping is more important than clean wheels from hard braking dust the choice is either of the above.

    They both make excellent track pads that are steps way above any HAWK or EBC race pads. The only thing is both manufactures require new rotors for the pads for best results. In a MINI, since its small and light you really do not need a BIG Brake Kit to make it stop you just need quality Pads on good rotors and grippy tires. I dont even use drilled rotors or slots for DD or even the Dragon. I just run light wheels Dunlop Star Specs and good brakes.

    It really comes down to to how fast you want to stop and how deep your pockets are. :Thumbsup:
     
  18. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    Drop the weight of your MINI down around 2500 pounds, and the bigger brakes are even more pointless. That being said, Ive got s TCE 13" BBK if anybody is interested in buying me some new wheels and tires...
     
  19. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Jeff you are easy on pads & tires. Driving styles vary widely. Some folks eat up brakes & tires.

    I don't consider myself hard on brakes or tires either. I am going to swap out the greenies on my Miata. Too many reports of failed EBC's for me to leave them on. I'm not going to risk a car over a few bucks for another set of brake pads.
     
  20. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    You are right...I do NOT believe in wearing out pads and tires prematurely. It doesn't mean I don't run fast when on the track or when I'm out driving, though. I have the money, however, but I don't like to waste it unnecessarily.

    For safety's sake, I had my EBC Red Stuff pads taken off my MCS before I went to the track and inspected. They were fine at Mid Ohio and I returned home safe and sound. The EBC Green Stuff pads were similarly inspected this Spring before I went Dragon Slaying with the Cooper. Again, I got back home safe and sound.
     

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