1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Brakes for R50 Justa.

I had Akebono ceramics on my MINI. I was very happy with them, you'll love the low brake dust. If you need rotors Centric rotors are good.

 

I have used the centric + akebono combo on my daily drivers for years and installed them on buddys' cars and everyone has been pleased with the combination of price low dust/noise and performance, good call

When I had an R50 it was slow enough (on street tires) to get by with street pads in the rear hehehe. Driving style does affect brake heat/wear a huge amount. Pads on my daily are on pace to last ~100k (they were swapped at 153k and now at 194k they aren't even half way down) on my r53 I have to swap the fronts every 8 hours lulz (track use means i measure hours rather than miles because it is easier)

 

I remember back in my early days of driving that street pads are not up to the job as I excited the road on a bend through a gate in a Peugeot 205 GTI with brake fade. Lucky the gate was open! LOL since then I've used Hawk, EBC and other good brands to help with brake fade but for street driving the original set up works well. While you're swapping your pads you should change your brake fluid.

The yellow stuff pads I have now are holding up really well.

 

I like the CoolCarbon pads better than the Hawk HPS or the oem ones I had on before.
Currently have slotted rotors - Cryo powerslot in front and ATE in back (needed them
in a hurry last go-around, or I would have ordered matching ones for the back).

 

My R50 has EBC Green Stuff pads and the OEM rotors. It has been tracked at 2 Phil Wicks' Driving Schools and has been Dragon slaying 5 times, as well as to Mini Meet East in Frederick, MD, Mid Ohio Vintage GP, and Pittsburgh Vintage GP. The pads and rotors are still good [installed in '04], or so says the guy who does my tech checks for the MCS I drive at Mid Ohio. He's a former SCCA/BMW Club race champion. I'll take his word for it that the pads are ok.

 

So...we are ALL supposed to flog our cars like YOU do? No wonder you are always changing pads.....:frown2:

 

I've got EBC Green Stuff on our Miata. Seem to work fine for me. From what I understand EBC is changing how the their pads are bonded to the backing plate.

Brakes are a funny thing, one person can drive a set or _____ for 70,000 miles while another will turn them to flaming ash in 10,000. Very driving style dependent.

On a drive with friends one told me how he needed a big brake kit because he didn't have enough brakes, yikes he said. I drove the same roads at the same speeds in my MINI & had zero brake issues? All down to how one drives. I'm not a late braker, I'm a carry speed kind of driver.

 

Oh yeah....RIIIIIIIGHT...I guess that's why I was told NOT to smoke when I was with some MI guys one year on I-75 to Fontana...poor lil kiddies were getting nauseated with smoke coming in thru open winders and tops down...boo-freakin-hooo. Then, I was told again as I smoked ON the Dragon...waaaa.

Speed while driving does NOT dictate the enjoyment of a good cigar. I concentrate on driving when I am on the road. I do NOT yak on the cell, or text like many idiots do. A good cigar allows me to enjoy the ride.

 

I just ordered a set of these for my R56 on a suggestion from Dave.0. Cant wait to try them out.

 

Good call Chris, change thee brake fluid!

 

just pads or are you looking to replace the disc's too?

 

I use EBC pads and disc's all round with no issues for 2 years.

 

Those are good brake parts that you guys mention, but for a street driven car they are overkill. IMHO....

 

EBC sucks. :mad5: the pads come off the backing plates. I have had 3 different sets fail and will NEVER use them again.


Akebono's are the way to go.

 

It's an R50 and your not going that fast to even need the brakes. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

I could put my foot out the door and stop your car. :lol:

 

One trouble with brakes that are that old Jeff is they can be rusting between the pad material & the backing plates. That can cause pad separation. The only way to check for that is to remove the pads & take a very close look. I seriously doubt your guy is pulling the pads apart & looking that closely. He is looking at pad thickness & making his determination on that alone.

This is not only for EBC brakes, but any pad of that age. Also keep your size 10s in the car.