Upgrading discs and pads - any performance difference?

NickXX · 11 Dec 2006 at 21:01

Hi all,

At some point in the future I'll have to replace my brake discs and pads on my 330d. I'm tempted to go for non-OEM parts if they will give better braking performance - particularly as 'performance' parts will probably cost the same, if not less than the BMW parts. Will it make any difference using upgraded parts?

Black Diamond discs seem to be quite popular with e46 owners as do GreenStuff pads. Anyone had any experience of either? Are there any other disc/pad combos I should consider?

Will probably use my car on a few track days next year, so a reduction in brake fade would be useful but not essential.

Many thanks in advance,

Nick

Firestar_3x · 11 Dec 2006 at 21:05

I use EBC turbogroved disks those are groved and part drilled, fully drilled disks are prone to cracking, part drilled stops the pads lifting due to gas build up.

I've also use Greenstuff pads.

I noticed loads more bite on the road but be warned they take longer to warm up.

First lap of the ring i got fade half way round, got back to the carpark let them cool then took the car out for 3 hard laps in a row, didn't get any fade at all really happy with the combo.

Make sure you get some good dot5 fluid in as well.

Goliath · 11 Dec 2006 at 22:29

NickXX said:
Will probably use my car on a few track days next year, so a reduction in brake fade would be useful but not essential.

Nick

Wrong way round - It's essential if you are going on track days. As you get more confident going round a track, the last thing you want is for your brakes to get worse as you get faster - that way gravel lies (or armco

)

As Mark stated, good brake fluid is also essential. I've got mintex 1144 pads on the front and ebc greenstuff on the rear with dot5, and they are superb. (although the mintex squeal like a stuck pig as some of the guys will attest

)

Trick · 11 Dec 2006 at 22:39

I'm using ebc turbo grooved discs as well with Mintex 1144s and stainless steel braided brake hoses. the improvement over the standard discs and pads is incredible.

NickXX · 11 Dec 2006 at 23:15

Thanks guys - think I will upgrade the discs and pads then. Will Dot5 brake fluid be much better than the standard BMW stuff (had it changed back in July)? Are there any disadvantages to using it over the standard stuff?

agw_01 · 11 Dec 2006 at 23:40

Higher boiling temperature... hence less brake fade

Firestar_3x · 11 Dec 2006 at 23:42

Yea you don't want to boil your fluid

If your thinking about spending more money look into doing the brake lines as well.

jpmonkey69 · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:32

I use grooved Black Diamond discs with Pagid FR pads. Made a massive difference to braking

merlin · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:36

Have you ever had brake fade on the stock setup Nick?

Cos the stock pads are Brembo's.....

paradigm · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:41

Changing the LCR from the standard Brembo/Galfer pads to Ferrodo DS2500's has improved braking after pads have warmed up (they just don't seem to fade any more).

So yes, upgrading just your pads and/or discs can make a huge difference to braking charecteristics.

Simon · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:51

Dont use Dot5.

Dot 4 plus has the highest boiling point, 20C higher than 5.1

merlin · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:53

Simon said:
Dont use Dot5.

Dot 4 plus has the highest boiling point, 20C higher than 5.1

That's impossible, 5 is a higher number than 4 so it must be better.

Personally I use Dot7, just to be sure.

Firestar_3x · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:55

merlin said:
That's impossible, 5 is a higher number than 4 so it must be better.

Personally I use Dot7, just to be sure.

Watch out the OT Forum police will have a field day with the above comment.

JTrickle · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:17

Trick said:
I'm using ebc turbo grooved discs as well with Mintex 1144s and stainless steel braided brake hoses. the improvement over the standard discs and pads is incredible.

Your brakes when you first bought the car wernt that safe tbh. I still rekon there was something wrong with then as standard Elise brakes will have been better than that.

Firegod · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:36

NickXX said:
Black Diamond discs seem to be quite popular with e46 owners as do GreenStuff pads. Anyone had any experience of either? Are there any other disc/pad combos I should consider?

Nick

Blackdiamond = good
Brembo = good
RedDot = good

EBC Greenstuff = rubbish! I know of a lot of unhappy people with these pads cracking and generally disintegrating into nothing.

If you want to do it right then I suggest perhaps a Pagid Fastroad pad or Mintex M1144's. Mintex Extreme are a new pad, but a lot of Clio owners have reported they squeel really bad (hell, even mine do!)

Housey · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:43

merlin said:
That's impossible, 5 is a higher number than 4 so it must be better.

Personally I use Dot7, just to be sure.

My kind of logic!

Marge "Homer, pop tarts are not fruit"
Homer "Well they have purple in them, purple's a fruit"

We can learn so much from Homer!

Firegod · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:53

housemaster said:
My kind of logic!

Marge "Homer, pop tarts are not fruit"
Homer "Well they have purple in them, purple's a fruit"

We can learn so much from Homer!

hahah genius!

helpimcrap · 12 Dec 2006 at 18:16

just out of interest do you boys replace your brake lines with braided hoses or do you run the stock mix of rubber/metal lines?

Firegod · 12 Dec 2006 at 18:20

helpimcrap said:
just out of interest do you boys replace your brake lines with braided hoses or do you run the stock mix of rubber/metal lines?

braided all the way for me.

May as well when you do your discs and pads.

Ev0 · 12 Dec 2006 at 19:36

Brembo High Carbon replacement discs are supposed to be great too. No fancy grooves/holes but make you stop very well

Usually very cheap as well.

Stick them on with some decent pads, braided lines and new fluid and it'll make a world of difference to most stock "normal" car setups.