"Is bigger better?" Stoptech 380 vs. Stoptech 355

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

^ Easier to just carry a backup pair to the track with you and leave the grinder at home.

Doesn't everyone carry a belt sander in their car?

The weird part with some ST40 compatible shapes is some pads (as I found out) are 1mm thicker. Would have been OK with a more worn down rotor but mine were new so it wasn't close.

But...it is still a valid point that it is much easier to find an ST40 compatible pad than one for an ST60.

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Doesn't everyone carry a belt sander in their car?

The weird part with some ST40 compatible shapes is some pads (as I found out) are 1mm thicker. Would have been OK with a more worn down rotor but mine were new so it wasn't close.

But...it is still a valid point that it is much easier to find an ST40 compatible pad than one for an ST60.

Jae, if you had pads that were too thick, could you and how would you sand them? I was helping a friend swap pads, calipers and shocks on his 87 Vette, and the aftermarket pads are too thick to work with new rotors. What would be the safest way to grinding them down a mm or two?

[bigjae1976]

Belt sander

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Belt sander

Thanks! Will the belt sander leave a flat, even surface for good rotor contact?

[bigjae1976]

Likely...depends on the user. Probably not fantastic for the lungs.

[Richbot]

Zombie thread, didn't want to start my own.

I have the ST40 trophy sport front kit, using them with the supplied Stoptech street pads. I have to say I'm all kinds of happy with this kit after putting about 7,000 street miles on it this year. The higher pedal and reduced (though not eliminated completely, these are street pads after all) fade from higher speeds are both much appreciated. I decided to stick with OE replacements in the rear rather than upgrade because I feel I have more than enough brake on the car now and there's not much weight savings to be had in the rear Stoptech kit.

One thing with the Stoptech pads, they're not as nice from a release standpoint as the OE pads, and I've noticed they're more likely to corrode against the rotor than the stock stuff when wet. I've also noticed that they're relatively prone to leaving uneven deposits, which means you need to do a couple of hard stops to clean them off, but then good as new. I think I'll try a different street pad in front, honestly wish there was an OEM BMW pad shape with the same characteristics as stock for the ST40 caliper, because I would use it.

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Zombie thread, didn't want to start my own.

I have the ST40 trophy sport front kit, using them with the supplied Stoptech street pads. I have to say I'm all kinds of happy with this kit after putting about 7,000 street miles on it this year. The higher pedal and reduced (though not eliminated completely, these are street pads after all) fade from higher speeds are both much appreciated. I decided to stick with OE replacements in the rear rather than upgrade because I feel I have more than enough brake on the car now and there's not much weight savings to be had in the rear Stoptech kit.

One thing with the Stoptech pads, they're not as nice from a release standpoint as the OE pads, and I've noticed they're more likely to corrode against the rotor than the stock stuff when wet. I've also noticed that they're relatively prone to leaving uneven deposits, which means you need to do a couple of hard stops to clean them off, but then good as new. I think I'll try a different street pad in front, honestly wish there was an OEM BMW pad shape with the same characteristics as stock for the ST40 caliper, because I would use it.

Agree, the stoptech street pads are similar to track pads in that they corrode and leave residue on rotors. It's a compromise we have to live with for the better fade resistance.

[Richbot]

I don't think the Stoptech street pad is particularly fade resistant either. The rotors shed heat faster yes but I'm not convinced the pads are all that fade resistant. It's a street pad. I have been able to fade them even in hard street use. Difference is they come back much faster with all the other components dealing with heat better than the stock stuff

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I don't think the Stoptech street pad is particularly fade resistant either. The rotors shed heat faster yes but I'm not convinced the pads are all that fade resistant. It's a street pad. I have been able to fade them even in hard street use. Difference is they come back much faster with all t06he other components dealing with heat better than the stock stuff

For the track I would try the ST SR34 pads, I'm on my second set and really love these pads.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by ortho281

For the track I would try the ST SR34 pads, I'm on my second set and really love these pads.

I liked those as well.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I don't think the Stoptech street pad is particularly fade resistant either. The rotors shed heat faster yes but I'm not convinced the pads are all that fade resistant. It's a street pad. I have been able to fade them even in hard street use. Difference is they come back much faster with all the other components dealing with heat better than the stock stuff

I've ran the street pads twice with brake ducts. They aren't great but it doesn't render them useless like normal track use would.

[admranger]

I know the too thick pad issue is a year old, but I had this happen once at the track as I was trying to install new pads the night before a race. I had a file, but that wasn't working very well. Then it dawned on me, the concrete refueling pad. I took the pads to the refueling pad and used the concrete as a big sanding block. A few minutes later and my pads were thin enough to install. Brush finished concrete is a great abrasive!

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I've ran the street pads twice with brake ducts. They aren't great but it doesn't render them useless like normal track use would.

Agree, I ran the street pads 1 weekend at TWS (CCW) while waiting for SR34's and they held up well to track use. However TWS (CCW) is not particularly hard on pads. They do wear away quickly with track use, so you may only get 1-2 weekends depending on the track.

Originally Posted by admranger

I know the too thick pad issue is a year old, but I had this happen once at the track as I was trying to install new pads the night before a race. I had a file, but that wasn't working very well. Then it dawned on me, the concrete refueling pad. I took the pads to the refueling pad and used the concrete as a big sanding block. A few minutes later and my pads were thin enough to install. Brush finished concrete is a great abrasive!

Great idea! Noted!

[XKxRome0ox]

Originally Posted by ortho281

The trimming of dust shields was done with a 35K Multi-speed Dremel with EZ-lock cutting wheel.

is this something necessary on all ST60 kit to fit on the e9x m3?
where does the dust shield interfere with the kit?
would love a little more explanation

and i just realized this is an old old thread..... hopefully someone can chime in

[Pig Farmer]

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

is this something necessary on all ST60 kit to fit on the e9x m3?
where does the dust shield interfere with the kit?
would love a little more explanation

and i just realized this is an old old thread..... hopefully someone can chime in

You can find the installation instructions online. You have to trim the shields to make space for the caliper. It's not much trimming, but it is necessary.

See page 12. http://www.stoptech.com/docs/install...98-160-16D0-02

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

is this something necessary on all ST60 kit to fit on the e9x m3?
where does the dust shield interfere with the kit?
would love a little more explanation

and i just realized this is an old old thread..... hopefully someone can chime in

Edit: I ended up trimming some on the fronts and trimming away most of my rear shields to prevent rubbing with the rotors.

[SpartaEvolution]

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

is this something necessary on all ST60 kit to fit on the e9x m3?
where does the dust shield interfere with the kit?
would love a little more explanation

and i just realized this is an old old thread..... hopefully someone can chime in

Can't speak to the ST kits specifically, but for our BBKs you have to remove the lip around the outside of the dust shield for rotor clearance, and the areas circled in the picture below (roughly) to clear the caliper & adapter.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/attachm...1&d=1529521009

[XKxRome0ox]

my shop told me they just bent the shield back instead of cutting it away in case i wanted to return it to full stock ...
i'll get my car back today so i'll see how it looks and feels with the ST60 installed without cutting away the shield

[ortho281]

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

my shop told me they just bent the shield back instead of cutting it away in case i wanted to return it to full stock ...
i'll get my car back today so i'll see how it looks and feels with the ST60 installed without cutting away the shield

That's cool!

[Richbot]

Heh

So...I guess I should update this thread. My STR40 front kit (355x35mm rotor) with Street Performance pads now has ~53,000 miles on it, with some extremely limited track driving but almost all street miles.

The pads still have at least 8mm of material on them. I think it's safe to say the ST40 front kit is absurd overkill for a street brake setup, and the rear kit is even absurd-er

[XKxRome0ox]

Originally Posted by ortho281

That's cool!

i should have tried taking a photo "behind" the rotor
but i guess it fit without cutting

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Heh

So...I guess I should update this thread. My STR40 front kit (355x35mm rotor) with Street Performance pads now has ~53,000 miles on it, with some extremely limited track driving but almost all street miles.

The pads still have at least 8mm of material on them. I think it's safe to say the ST40 front kit is absurd overkill for a street brake setup, and the rear kit is even absurd-er

I would agree with this. My ST40 kit, even with about a dozen track days and ~8,000 street miles, had like 1mm of rotor wear when I took it off the car. I ran DS2500 pads which aren't even a race pad.