[tadaska]

Which ones are people buying these days? I've seen posts about dustless pads which is what I want as mine are dusty as... Won't be changing anything else for now as I don't know what has been done on this car and want to see what it looks like in there first. I believe I need to change the sensor? Is there anything else I need to do like reset something?

Cheers!

[blueh88]

Just changed my rears recently. I stuck to OEM Pagids as I didn't see any worth in upgraded items. Dust is fairly low. Yep need to replace the sensor too which is only on one side - I didn't know this and was about to buy two! Has the warning come up on your dash? If so this will need to be reset. I did it through the Carly app.

[tadaska]

Hi blue,

I thought it was a warning light but I think it's just a red service-due light that I see every time I start the engine. Don't know what pads my car has but the amount of dust is crazy. If I wanted to keep my alloys cleans I would have to clean them every week and that's just from one or two short trips a day (work and sometimes shops etc). I have seen people mention like green stuff or red stuff and was hoping someone could tell me what's best for just normal driving.

Also, on ECP when I enter my reg number I get two options for brake pads. Any ideas why? Does 320D come in the M Sport version with bigger brake disks? I think one of the options is for larger size calipers than the other.

[e28bmw]

I've just put red stuff pads on the rear of mine and will put them on the front when they need replacing. I can't say i notice a difference in the stopping power at all but there is a little less brake dust from them

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by tadaska

Hi blue,

I thought it was a warning light but I think it's just a red service-due light that I see every time I start the engine. Don't know what pads my car has but the amount of dust is crazy. If I wanted to keep my alloys cleans I would have to clean them every week and that's just from one or two short trips a day (work and sometimes shops etc). I have seen people mention like green stuff or red stuff and was hoping someone could tell me what's best for just normal driving.

Also, on ECP when I enter my reg number I get two options for brake pads. Any ideas why? Does 320D come in the M Sport version with bigger brake disks? I think one of the options is for larger size calipers than the other.

Ahh is it the one which looks like a car on a lift along with the red exclamation in the middle cluster? If so, then yes this would be associated with your pads and needs to be reset. You will notice the sensor when you take it out will be worn down quite a bit!
Well on the fronts I have yellow stuff pads which are fast road/track type of pad; dust I wouldn't consider excessive but is noticeable. I think red stuff are supposed to be better in terms of lack of dust. Not experienced their stopping power though...

Yes, rear disc size is either 300mm or 336mm but unfortunately, I am unsure if the difference is due to trim level i.e. M sport. I can only suggest to measure them or maybe someone else can chip in for this point

[tadaska]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Yes, rear disc size is either 300mm or 336mm but unfortunately, I am unsure if the difference is due to trim level i.e. M sport. I can only suggest to measure them or maybe someone else can chip in for this point

Had another look on the ECP website, one says "for vehicles without M-technology, Without Performance Parts" and the other just says "Disc Diameter 300". Which kind of implies that the M Sports have smaller rear brake disks? I'll have to search this onces I've recovered from whatever is ailing me and my brain starts functioning better...

[tadaska]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Ahh is it the one which looks like a car on a lift along with the red exclamation in the middle cluster? If so, then yes this would be associated with your pads and needs to be reset. You will notice the sensor when you take it out will be worn down quite a bit!

Yep, that's the one.

[ChawenHalo]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Just changed my rears recently. I stuck to OEM Pagids as I didn't see any worth in upgraded items. Dust is fairly low. Yep need to replace the sensor too which is only on one side - I didn't know this and was about to buy two! Has the warning come up on your dash? If so this will need to be reset. I did it through the Carly app.

OEM pads are Pagid? Fantastic stuff!

When changing rear pads do remember that if a different brand and spec from the front it can negatively affect the balance of the car during hard braking.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Ahh is it the one which looks like a car on a lift along with the red exclamation in the middle cluster? If so, then yes this would be associated with your pads and needs to be reset. You will notice the sensor when you take it out will be worn down quite a bit!
Well on the fronts I have yellow stuff pads which are fast road/track type of pad; dust I wouldn't consider excessive but is noticeable. I think red stuff are supposed to be better in terms of lack of dust. Not experienced their stopping power though...

Yes, rear disc size is either 300mm or 336mm but unfortunately, I am unsure if the difference is due to trim level i.e. M sport. I can only suggest to measure them or maybe someone else can chip in for this point

red stuff pads are good for minimal dust,and also a good pad all round,although they wore pretty fast on my focus st(302 bhp)

[tadaska]

Originally Posted by ChawenHalo

OEM pads are Pagid? Fantastic stuff!

When changing rear pads do remember that if a different brand and spec from the front it can negatively affect the balance of the car during hard braking.

I'm getting a quote from Cotswolds. I the price is reasonable I'll just get them. As for braking balance... I think having larger wheels is affecting my ABS already as it is. Can't get much worse.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by ChawenHalo

OEM pads are Pagid? Fantastic stuff!

When changing rear pads do remember that if a different brand and spec from the front it can negatively affect the balance of the car during hard braking.

Oh I am not saying BMW originally supply Pagid branded pads, I meant I bought "OEM Spec" Pagid pads. Apologies for any confusion!!

Yes, absolutely right - in an ideal situation I would have put the same brand on the back too however, in a matter of urgency and haste, I bought the cheaper pads. I do plan to change all 4 at the same time next time round for the same brand

[ChawenHalo]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Oh I am not saying BMW originally supply Pagid branded pads, I meant I bought "OEM Spec" Pagid pads. Apologies for any confusion!!

Yes, absolutely right - in an ideal situation I would have put the same brand on the back too however, in a matter of urgency and haste, I bought the cheaper pads. I do plan to change all 4 at the same time next time round for the same brand

Pagid make very high quality pads although many are for various racing applications. I think they bought out an "S" version aimed at street and track use and supposed to be very good.

TBH you're only risking it if your rear pads (or brake balance is too high at the rear) are too high performance nice vs the front. That would only apply in extreme conditions. If they're OEM spec I suspect that you're absolutely fine.

Something else which I learned and might be useful to others: when you change your disks change the pads as well at the same time. Reason is simple- with use your old pads will not be straight / flush against new disks as they were worn with the old disks and hence took their shape (like old vs new shoes). Hope I'm making sense here . In all the cars I've had and including a very hard pushed road and track one, never never not once have I had "wrapped" disks.

I have however always had very dirty wheels and sometimes embarrassingly noisy brakes.

[ChawenHalo]

Originally Posted by tadaska

I'm getting a quote from Cotswolds. I the price is reasonable I'll just get them. As for braking balance... I think having larger wheels is affecting my ABS already as it is. Can't get much worse.

Yep, more unstrung weight could do that if you've gone to extremes. Also look at a good flush and fresh good quality fluid (air in the system). Do avoid extreme track pads though, they'll destroy your disks and make everyday driving a pain.

The last set of RS29 I had fitted went through 2 sets before finally needing new ones. Saying that I had some Ferrodos fitted afterwards and absolutely hated those.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by ChawenHalo

Pagid make very high quality pads although many are for various racing applications. I think they bought out an "S" version aimed at street and track use and supposed to be very good.

TBH you're only risking it if your rear pads (or brake balance is too high at the rear) are too high performance nice vs the front. That would only apply in extreme conditions. If they're OEM spec I suspect that you're absolutely fine.

Something else which I learned and might be useful to others: when you change your disks change the pads as well at the same time. Reason is simple- with use your old pads will not be straight / flush against new disks as they were worn with the old disks and hence took their shape (like old vs new shoes). Hope I'm making sense here . In all the cars I've had and including a very hard pushed road and track one, never never not once have I had "wrapped" disks.

I have however always had very dirty wheels and sometimes embarrassingly noisy brakes.

yeh,should always change pads with new discs,,but you can put new pads on old discs..and after puttin g new discs/pads on..go and do a few 60mph-0mph braking manouveres,,making sure not to come to a dead stop..ie keeep it moving when close to stopping,do this afew times,will put a layer on the disc at a decent temp.

[Chappers 71]

I replaced front my front discs sometime ago due to the driver side disc being out of balance for the second time (first time I just had them skimmed but as the pads still had plenty of life in them I didn't replace them, I just bedded them in & I've had no issues.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

I replaced front my front discs sometime ago due to the driver side disc being out of balance for the second time (first time I just had them skimmed but as the pads still had plenty of life in them I didn't replace them, I just bedded them in & I've had no issues.

yup,you can get away with it,but most of the time it aint worth the hassle of trying.depends on how the pads have worn..ie evenly

[tadaska]

Replaced the pads this morning. An easy job but did encounter a few unexpected "problems".

The caliper bolts on one side are so rusted that I didn't think it was going to come off. When my wrench slipped off a couple of times trying to crack them I was going to just put the wheel back on and order new bolts so I can have them replaced at a garage but third time as lucky. I didn't do them tight as fuck so I can get them out next weekend to replace with new ones.

I bough some special slider grease that's designed for metal on metal and is rubber friendly. But it turns out my rear calipers are not metal on metal but metal on rubber and they are open to the elements. I didn't see the point in lubricating them so I stuck them in dry. Cleaned them up with brake cleaner first of course. To me it looked like that rubber might be a replacement item. Any of you guys know how it's supposed to be done per proper BMW instructions?

Also, I thought the disk/drum was going to come off and was going to inspect the state of things inside of it but instead I was greeted with a racing style nut in the middle. What's that all about?

[Chappers 71]

Your rubber caps are missing from the slider bolts

[tadaska]

Do you mean the ones that keep the dirt out from where the hexagonal (allen?) bolt head is? If so they are not missing, just removed and put aside

[Chappers 71]

Ok my mistake, I thought you posted that the slider/caliper bolts are open to the elements

[tadaska]

No... I'm talking about the shiny part of the slider pin. the pin slides in a rubber sleeve but the part that is not in the sleeve is open. That's why I left it dry without any grease. I think dirt will just mix with the grease and make it worse. On a few occasions I worked on my brakes on other cars pins would go into a metal hole and would have a rubber sleeve on the outside to protect the shiny part and grease on it. I should really buy an owners manual

[dreamspeed]

If you want practically zero dust check out the akebono ceramics. Actual braking performance is a tad bit lower though.