Thoughts on stock brakes?

[FairladyZ]

I haven't been very impressed about the stock brake system. I drive a lot on traffic, and feel like the initial bite really isn't that strong.

Any ideas on a quick and relatively inexpensive upgrade?

A few choices of pads with good initial bite and low dust? SS lines perhaps?

All thoughts welcome.

[jonasaurus]

Is the car to be used for city driving predominantly?

[bigjae1976]

I feel the opposite way. The stock brakes are too grabby and once you start getting into the brakes more aggressively, it feels like there is no increase in the brake pressure.

[FairladyZ]

Yes, the car is being driven in the city primarily.

I'm looking into ENDLESS pads and some lines. Any brands that everyone recommend, to go with stock brakes?

[biggynuts01]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I feel the opposite way. The stock brakes are too grabby and once you start getting into the brakes more aggressively, it feels like there is no increase in the brake pressure.

I agree, the stock brakes are grabby. With a lot of braking it seems to fade. However, for city and hwy driving I think they are great stoppers.

[bigjae1976]

I'd try to find something with more initial bite...not sure what that is though.

[nchan50]

Is this a new car/new brakes and have they been bedded in properly?

[chili cheese]

I don't understand why you would have any issue with this car's brake system for daily driving, particularly in traffic....makes no sense. If you were going to track your car, then that's a different story.

[kevin @ eas]

Originally Posted by biggynuts01

I agree, the stock brakes are grabby. With a lot of braking it seems to fade. However, for city and hwy driving I think they are great stoppers.

Agree with biggynuts01- if anything the stock brakes are grabby and provide about 20% of full braking with initial apply; after that they are not very linear.

Cool carbon pads are an excellent street pad and are linear from 0-20% and all the way to ABS plus are low dust, rotor friendly and have great stopping power.

We run them on our cars here and have many repeat customers.

Additionally our 30/30 sale has just started so an excellent time to replace the OE pads!

https://www.europeanautosource.com/specials

http://www.europeanautosource.com/ma...bonPerformance

[HP Autowerks]

StopTech Street Performance brake Pads are engineered to meet the demands of high performance driving while maintaining the refinement and comfort expected in everyday driving conditions. StopTech brake pads combine the benefits of premium street brake pads with aggressive friction formulas suitable for track day and autocross use. Para-aramid composites are specially formulated to provide linear response at both cold and hot temperatures, delivering optimum stopping performance over a wide range of driving conditions.

These are the same pads Stoptech include in all the BBK's they sell.

There is no need for a sale, as they are already very well priced:

http://www.hpashop.com/Stoptech-E9X-...ads-e9x-m3.htm

[flipm3]

I personally believe the OEM Brakes are completely fine for daily driving. Commuting into Chicago, I also deal with a ton of stop and go traffic, really with not much complaints. On the track however is a different story.

On my E46 M3, I got StopTech Street Performance pads on my OEM brakes. Like what HP Autowerks already mentioned, they're great both on street and on track. The best part is that their pricing is pretty awesome for the type of performance you get.

My top choice for any street pad from my experience is the StopTech Street Performance.

[M3SQRD]

Another pad option which may give you much higher initial brake torque (some what qualitative because I think stock is alreay very grabby initially) would be to install a set of Carbotech Bobcat pads. However, these are a street pad and will create a decent amount of brake dust.

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by chili cheese

I don't understand why you would have any issue with this car's brake system for daily driving, particularly in traffic....makes no sense. If you were going to track your car, then that's a different story.

+1. This.

[drew313]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I feel the opposite way. The stock brakes are too grabby and once you start getting into the brakes more aggressively, it feels like there is no increase in the brake pressure.

+1

[DARK_M3]

Brakes feel awfully grabby to me in city driving. I did notice a big difference in pedal feel when I put SS lines on my Z when I had it no mush whatsoever but I also tracked the car). But I don't think that's really a neccessity around town.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I feel the opposite way. The stock brakes are too grabby and once you start getting into the brakes more aggressively, it feels like there is no increase in the brake pressure.

+1. Initial bite on the stock brakes is very strong. I just upgraded to a BBK and that strong initial bite is gone. On the other hand the braking feels a lot more linear now.

[adc]

I have StopTech Street Performance currently on my Miata and X3. But the best aggressive pad for street use that I've encountered so far has been the Axxis ULT (formerly known as Ultimate).

Compared to the Stoptechs, the Axxis has more initial bite and what seems like a higher coefficient of friction.

I cannot compare other aspects (track, dust) since I've only had the Stotechs for a short while.

[Ablahad]

How does installing these aftermarket pads affect warranty and claims etc...? If I were to take it back to the dealership with these pads and my rotors done, what would they say?

[FairladyZ]

OK, this is starting to worry me.

Here's what happened. I test drove my car in Oct 2011, and during that 1-hour trip, I too thought the brakes were quite grabby, which I really liked.

Then I picked up the car, and got rear ended soon after. I was fully stopped, and some moron drunk driver ran his SUV into me. Damage was pretty bad.

I wonder if the fact that I got rear ended has caused my front brakes to become less effective, or damaged in any way, because the front brakes of the car obsorbed much impact during the hit?

A recent service at the dealership indicates that the front pads are still at 80%, and the service technician did not report any issues with front or rear brakes whatsoever.

These days, I have to press the pedal about 0.75" to 1", to get a good stop. Which feels DRASTICALLY different than before the car was hit. And I'm sure most of you don't have to press nearly as hard to stop either.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I have snow tires on now. In the aforementioned test drive, I had stock Continental summer rubber. If that makes a difference?



What should I do?

[1MOREMOD]

i just put is ds2500s and they seem to have stronger initial bite if thats what your looking for.

[JAJ]

Originally Posted by FairladyZ

OK, this is starting to worry me.

Here's what happened. I test drove my car in Oct 2011, and during that 1-hour trip, I too thought the brakes were quite grabby, which I really liked.

Then I picked up the car, and got rear ended soon after. I was fully stopped, and some moron drunk driver ran his SUV into me. Damage was pretty bad.

I wonder if the fact that I got rear ended has caused my front brakes to become less effective, or damaged in any way, because the front brakes of the car obsorbed much impact during the hit?

A recent service at the dealership indicates that the front pads are still at 80%, and the service technician did not report any issues with front or rear brakes whatsoever.

These days, I have to press the pedal about 0.75" to 1", to get a good stop. Which feels DRASTICALLY different than before the car was hit. And I'm sure most of you don't have to press nearly as hard to stop either.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I have snow tires on now. In the aforementioned test drive, I had stock Continental summer rubber. If that makes a difference?

What should I do?

Did you complain that it wasn't working right when you took it in? It sounds like the brakes need bleeding.

[1MOREMOD]

bleed the brakes?