Most liked posts in thread: Need new front brakes @ 17000 mi?

That is kind of perplexing seeing as you are an experienced mountain driver who knows how to downshift. Since you need new brakes I'd recommend going with a higher quality aftermarket pad. Ten people will chime in soon with their recommendations.

 

Driving in the mountains can be very hard on brakes. Is your car a Manual or an automatic? Automatics typically go through brakes faster than manuals do..

Welcome to M/A....

 

If you ride the brakes they will wear out fast. If you drive your Mini fast it will run out of gas faster.

 

:wink::wink::wink: If you do The Dragon high speed hard braking with RedStuff pads when they should have been changed to YellowStuff pads, they'll wear out in minutes to hours.:cornut:

Jason

PS Welcome to MA!

 

Hahahahahaha the funny thing is both sets failed before I went to the Dragon.

I only swapped out the last set when I got to the Dragon.

 

Welcome to M/A! Sounds like you are indeed using your brakes more than you think. Especially on those mountain drives. I would replace the rotors also if you went down to sensors.

 

Brakes are usually covered under the free maintenance period, right? You should be able to bring the car into the dealer and get new pads and a checkup.

 

The free maintence is only good for 3 years 30,000 Isn't it? Unless you or original owner bought an extended maintance warranty... Sounds like someone is riding the brakes more than they think they are.
I got about 38,000 miles out of my original front brakes.

 

:cornut: My Margi's(08 BRG R56 MCS/JCWm) front pads were changed at~20kmi. MINI of Dallas(great trustworthy dealership with great people) said that MINI pads are organic(tree hugger pads?:lol and as such don't last as long as most non organic pads. So I changed to after market pads and they're lasting considerably longer.

Jason

 

If you are doing a bunch of canyon carving the cycling of the DSC will also cause excessive pad wear. Replaced the CMS brakes at 13k and 28k under maintenance warranty.

 

:cornut: The aftermarket pads that I use on Margi(08 BRG R56 MCS/JCWm) are EBC RedStuff. They last much longer than OEM pads, they bite better, stop quicker and are low dust. Now to be fare, DaveO. recently had problems with 2 different sets of RedStuff @ the Dragon and has gone on to a different brand. He'll be along shortly and tell you what that brand is. Me, I'm staying with RedStuff. Great pads and I've never had a problem with them.

Jason

 

Those are two words I never want to hear together........cheap and brakes.

 

Eli, you got a good price on the akebono pads, rotors and labor, they are sold by a few resellers of MINI items here and the other MINI forums. For a low cost pad, they do the job.

I suspect you will go through them in 18-25K again, what rotors did you put on the 08, rotors and pads vary in quality, the lower quality will wear faster in my opinion.

If you don't mind, what shop did you use? I can point you to a couple of local shops that are MINI experienced for your next visit for brakes or other MINI work.

Yes, if your rear sensor is worn and the pads are cutting into the rear rotors, you should replace rotors and pads.

What is the total mileage on your MINI, you mentioned 17K, is that the total miles since 2008?

Don

 

Akebono makes great pads for DD cars. I used to run them before EBC Reds and Carbotech 1521's. The Akebono's don't chew up rotors like race pads but the also do not stop and dust like race pads.

Akebono is low dust and stops like an OEM pad.

 

I've used Akebono pads on our Subaru's & have a set on my MINI now. It is a very good pad, but not a track or Dave O. pad. :smilewinkgrin: