2nd Gen JCW Most liked posts in thread: Pads yes, but rotors?

Yes rotors too. Brakes are not a place to try & save money....

 

Change the rotors too. Centric rotors are very good and reasonably priced....and they are even track rated. 2cents

 

You're down to .4 mm over the minimum recommended thickness. That's cutting it pretty close. In English units, that's .016 inches. The average human hair is .002-.004 thick.

BMW (and MINI) place a premium on braking performance. I am not a brake engineer, but there are numerous trade offs when designing a braking system. Some generalities (not necessarily true in every case, but true in general):

The better the car stops, the dirtier the wheels will be from brake dust.

The better the car stops, the noisier the brakes will be in regards to groaning, squealing, etc.

The better the car stops, the less long (per unit of thickness) the pads will last.

The better the car stops, the shorter the life of the rotors.

You're within a few hairs of having rotors worn down to minimum spec. If you can afford to, get new rotors. If you have to wait for a while, you'll probably be ok because there is a factor of safety incorporated into the minimum spec. I'm using too many words here, but your rotors aren't going to implode as soon as you wear off another .004".

Also be aware that various car manufacturers specify different compositions of cast iron for their rotors. Chances are that an aftermarket supplier is going to sell you a harder rotor so it will last longer, but changing that composition can affect your stopping distances. I'm not attacking BBK's, but just casting a suspicious eye on "parts store lifetime warranty replacement rotors".

Please don't think I'm trying to be a know it all, but my first job out of college was a Preventive Maintenance Engineer at a large foundry that made brake drums, rotors, calipers, and anchor brackets. Since I was already a lifelong gear head, I tried to learn as much as I could about our products.

 

Check with the dealer for a deal on pads/rotors, they offer kits now with all the sensors, pads, rotors, the Torx screws, anti-squeal grease etc, all for competetive prices.....and they're factory original parts.

I try to use all factory parts on my cars - nothing against aftermarket stuff, there are some great suppliers out there, but that's just my preference.

 

Zimmerman makes a great set of rotors for the MINI. Made in Germany of quality materials, they have been an asset to my car after installing them a year or so ago...

 

^ Words to live by

 

Hey Jeff, looks like you'll have to put the original rotors back on. :smilewinkgrin:

I'm amazed at how gentle the previous owner was on the brakes. Some folks just have mechanical sympathy & can really make things last.

 

Yep, change rotors while your in there.

 

BMW rotors are soft and meant to be changed with the pads. Change both.

 

Not sure how soft they are, but rotors are a wear item like pads. Wonder what their Rockwell hardness is.

 

At this point it makes more sense to replace the rotors as well. Your wear is enough that it would be better to put a new surface on a new surface. Have more even wear on your new pads, and save the life of your new pads, sensors, and rotors.

If you decide to stay with OEM, please check out our site! We offer OEM parts at a discounted price! Here is a link to the page with front rotors for your MINI.

MINI Parts -

 

Well Minidave..... then you should check out our site we offer OEM MINI parts at a discounted price. The same parts you get at your local dealer , only we offer a discount off of true MSRP.

 

Whew!!! 82,000 miles on the front and rear... and wore out at the same time.. I'm guessing mostly highway miles???

 

Sorry, didn't mean to step on an Alliance Vendor's toes there.......I just installed a set on a club member's car the last club shopday we had and he was showing me the deal.....

A second on Zimmerman rotors. I put a set on the wife's Audi along with some Akebono pads, cut the dust on the front wheels to almost nothing.

 

I installed at set of Centric Rotors and Akebono pads on my Brothers' MINI last year and he has been extremely happy with the setup. As Minidave said almost no dust.

 

Alwawys do new rotors with new pads and with 82 k on the car it needs them for sure.

Zimmerman rotors are good and you can get they from WMW / Walyan.

OEM blah

 

I was amazed 82K on the originals! I changed mine at 45K, now I can't get the front to stop squealing when apply light pressure, driving me nuts.

 

I'd suggest our EBC redstuff pads, they are great with great feel, and low dust, and affordable price.
Then for Rotors we have been very happy with the Zimmermans, then we have the TSW rotors for a much lower cost. And we just got our WMW drilled and slotted OE quality rotors that will be $200 for a pair, will be on the site soon.

Also FYI the front rotors from an R56 S are the same as an R53 JCW rotor.

 

I am going through the same mental debate on my FJ at 60K miles. Rotors look amazing (as far as even wear), but the pads are almost gone. This is a good thread, with many good points.

At the rate they last, you can get what, at least 4 YEARS out of some new rotors and probably pads.... might as well change them out for fresh ones. Spending a couple hundo for that much use seems well worth it IMO, and I was about to order pads only just yesterday. Might as well pony up and do it all! Plus you'd probably need to at least turn the old ones, which will cost a little anyway.

I am going with Centric stuff, with StopTech being a division of them, they certainly make some good stuff. EBC was on my short list, but the Customer Service horror stories have finalized my decisions lol.