My Review of AP Racing BBK -- After Track Day

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Novator

I apologize if I am threadjacking, but I recently purchased an AP Racing BBK for my E46 M3 and though my kit is still really new (less than 2-300 miles) I am trying to think for the future and reading over the thread someone mentioned that pads are actually quite plentiful for AP Racing BBKs. I have the AP Racing 3800 6 piston front and AP Racing 3850 4 piston rears with 356x36 and 328x20 front/rear slotted rotors. I quite like the Mintex pads that came with the car, but would like to preserve them for when I am driving on the street. What would be a better track oriented Mintex pad but not as aggressive as the F3R you mentioned. Also is there an online vendor that I can buy these from because **********s where I bought the kit from doesn't have the pads for sale on their website and Stillen (where my kit shipped from), only has the rear set of pads listed. If these are common size/template pads what name/designation should I be looking for. Can I find these on Tire Rack or somewhere else? Any information/advice will be greatly appreciated.

I had this same kit on my e46 M3. I used Hawk DTC, and then PFC 01, 03 and 05 pads. I agree with JAJ - Raceshopper is a great place to buy pads.

[Novator]

I will call them when I am back in the States, currently stationed in Japan at the moment, will try e-mailing them. I did look further here on M3post on another AP Racing BBK thread and found a list from Chris__B for other pads.

"Originally Posted by AP Racing - Chris_B

Both front and rear kits use pad shapes that have been around for a very long time. Below is what I have notes on as far as pads go in alphabetical order. There are undoubtedly more.

-- Front --
AP Racing H100 Hybrid, C200, C300 (new compounds coming soon)
Carbotech (order D51 depth, not D54) 1521, AX6, XP8, XP10, XP12, XP16
CL (Carbon Lorraine) RC8
Cobalt XR1, XR2, XR3, XR4, XR5, CSR, ER1, ER2
Ferodo DS2500, DS3000, DS1.11, DS2.11
Hawk HPS, HP Plus, Perf. Ceramic, DTC-30, DTC-60, DTC-70
Mintex Xtreme Motorsport (F3R track compound should be available soon)
Pagid RS4-2-1, RS4-2, RS 14, RS 5, RS 19, RS 29
Performance Friction 97, 01, 05, 07
Porterfield R4-S, R41
Raybestos ST41, ST43, ST44, ST45, ST47

-- Rear --
AP Racing H100 Hybrid, C200, C300 (new compounds coming soon)
Carbotech (order D55 depth) 1521, AX6, XP8, XP10, XP12, XP16
CL (Carbon Lorraine) RC8
Cobalt XR1, XR2, XR3, XR4, XR5, CSR, ER1, ER2
Ferodo DS2500, DS3000, DS1.11, DS2.11
Hawk HPS, HP Plus, Perf. Ceramic, DTC-30, DTC-60
Mintex Xtreme Motorsport, F6R (F3R track compound should be available soon)
Pagid RS4-2-1, RS4-2, RS 14, RS 5, RS 19, RS 29
Performance Friction 97, 01, 05, 07
Porterfield R4-S, R41
Raybestos ST41, ST43, ST44, ST45, ST47

I will add to this list as I get more confirmations (and as time allows!). Remember, not all pads are stocked by all distributors at all times. The popular ones get more love whether any one person likes them better or not. Plan ahead for track days in case they need to be ordered so you don't get caught out.

Note: Pad availability does not constitute an endorsement. Discuss pad selection with professionals who understand your driving style and the tracks you will be driving on.

Chris"

[Chris__B]

Originally Posted by Novator

I will call them when I am back in the States, currently stationed in Japan at the moment, will try e-mailing them. I did look further here on M3post on another AP Racing BBK thread and found a list from Chris__B for other pads.

Call Jim over at Stillen when you get back (I'm no longer with that company). Pads for those calipers are made by nearly every brake pad manufacturer out there in a wide range of compounds.

Chris

[Sleeper519]

Yes, I ditto the plug for Raceshopper. Ed is a good guy, they stock a lot of pads and prices are very good.

[Novator]

Will do ;-)

[GewoW]

would just like to bump here and mention that I agree with OP. I used stock pads on a brake-heavy track just because I didn't want to change to race pads for 2 free lapping sessions and i lost about 1/3 of my pad in 40 min. (2x20)

so this is 100% accurate. the stock pads are not equipped to handle brake-heavy tracking. they are great, yes...but i was experiencing fade within 5-6 minutes into my session, whereas when I did return with race pads I was running the whole session with no fade.

Cobalt XR1 F and XR2 R for my race pads. highly recommended.

[ailikesiliu]

Originally Posted by JAJ

I was following him, and it looked to me like HP Man had huge fun blasting through his pads in a few minutes at the end of the day. I was running the same brakes and the same pads but I was braking a little earlier, giving up a couple of seconds a lap (no s/c and a llittle more conservative driving) and I used 1.5mm off my new pads in the course of the whole day.

New Mintex pads have a 6mm backing plate and 12mm of brake pad compound. Mine had 10.5mm of pad material left at the end of the day.

What kind of pads would u guys recomannd for stock brakes on mission? Also I realized my rear pads worn faster than my fronts, is that normal? Thank you.

[GewoW]

Originally Posted by bbs_lm

What kind of pads would u guys recomannd for stock brakes on mission? Also I realized my rear pads worn faster than my fronts, is that normal? Thank you.

turn off dsc

[dawgdog]

I was very happy with Pagid Yellows front and rear. Kept them on through the track season. They wear evenly and could get about 6 tracks days from the fronts; double that for the rear. I tried Mintex F3R, a couple of sets, and they were OK but the Pagids are better in my opinion. And the F3R is only made for the front.

No longer have my M3 but I loved my AP brakes!

[Chriskm3]

What the cost of race pads for bbk ?

[GewoW]

Originally Posted by Chriskm3

What the cost of race pads for bbk ?

depends

my front cobalt xr1 were 400. rears should be about that too. they can last like 8 track days