THSCC Forums

I've got to replace the rotors and pads this year. I've read that floating rotors minimalize warpage and greatly imporve life, but the cost is about twice as much. Any thoughts? If it helps, I'm very hard on tires just from my daily driving.

Also, is Matt still around and THE guy to go for for pads? Anyone have a contact?

One more thing. How are you guys bleeding brakes, any special tools, good bleeders, etc? Are there gotcha's I need to know other than replacing the sensors? Thanks!

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Phil... Now I miss the ITR and the M3!!!
1990 Honda Civic SI

There's tons of opinions on pads. I'm running the Hawk HP+ right now on stock blanks and I'm pleased, but not good for the street as they dust and squeal under normal street driving. I'll let Mike and some of the other bimmer guys give guidance to pads.

As for a bleeder, lot's of folks in the club have one. You're welcome to borrow mine if you like. No special tools needed outside of some basic hand tools and some ratchet driven allen head drivers. Siphon out as much of the fluid as you can from the reservoir and then start to replace/bleed the brakes. Just start at the right rear and work your way backwards to the front left and you're good to go... but you know all this already...

http://www.motiveproducts.com/

As for the sensors, no need to replace unless you have a brake light lit up on the dash.

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

OE Brembo/Balo/Zimmerman rotors from Black Forest or Bimmerworld are totally fine for anything you can throw at the car.

Pads - OE (Pagid/Jurid/Textar) are great but dust a lot. Axxis Ultimates are also excellent with a lot of dust. I run these for street and autox. Axxis Deluxe doesn't dust as much but loses some bite -- it's an organic pad. Lots of people like Axxis Metalmasters but I have always found them to be very rotor-unfriendly. All available from Black Forest or Bimmerworld for best prices. Not sure what Matt is selling these days, you could give him a call.

Bleeding - you can bleed the M3 just like any other car you've owned. I've never used the fancy tank bleeder like Rodney has but I do have and use a pressure cap to make it a one-person job.

Brakes are pretty straightforward. Use an electric impact to free up the hex head rotor (tends to keep the hole intact). Need allen hex sockets for the caliper pad removal. Check your dust boots when the pads are out -- if cracking, rebuild the caliper. The anti-rattle springs can be a bit of a pain until you learn the "easy" way to remove and install.

I'm a big fan of ATE Typ200 (NOT blue!) fluid, it has never let me down.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Depends. Company he's with now, BHP Brakes, makes pretty much only track oriented stuff. It's very very good though, I've got them on my S2000 and they're brilliant, they work quite well as autocross pads. They do generate a lot of dust though.

http://www.bhpbrakes.com

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Ken at KNS brakes has the best prices on Hawks and he's local.

brakeguru@gmail.com

Got a contact for BF? Also, where is ATE sold in the Raleigh area? Down here in the sandhills, I'm not seeing it.

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Phil... Now I miss the ITR and the M3!!!
1990 Honda Civic SI

Hey Phil - I've got a Motive power bleeder you can borrow.

I've only got the universal round and rectangular fittings though. I've got to get one that fits the Focus - found out that the round one doesn't work

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One of those LeMonHeads...
91/95 Miata, 02 Focus SVT, 01 Ford F250, 09 Suzuki SV650SF
rusty 84 C4 Vette, tiny piece of the General Lei
Irish Sport Horse - 1hp NA!

Black Forest - 468-5400. Adam Ligon is part owner, Matt usually answers the phone and generally knows his stuff. They have ATE fluid in stock, but call first to verify. If you don't get to Cary often you might be better off with Bimmerworld since most stuff arrives overnight. If Rob K answers the phone he's quite knowledgeable but very opinionated and has a racer mentality, don't let him change your mind if it's based on good decisions.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

+1 For Ken. His prices were as cheap or cheaper than anywhere and he will price match. He stocks a lot of Bowel Movement Wagon pads.

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Silver Honda
Green Ford
Blue/White Suzuki
Red Triumph
Grey BMW

"Never let life be shaped by fear of its end"

No, you're a towel!

last time i bought ATE at BFI it was like $15. wtf?

the VIR pro shop sells it for $12 so i just buy it there now If its not a track car, it gets the prettiest $6 bottle at autozone.