14 replies to this topic

[BaronVonchesto]

I know this question has been asked in some form to death... but for the life of me I can't seem to get a straight recommendation.

 

I'm using 8.4" font discs and its time to replace my brake pads. Trying to decide between the standard AP pads and the Ultimax Road Use ones sold on minispares. Are the ultimax ones worth the slight price increase?

 

Not interested in mintex or the greenstuff or black stuff pads. They are either too expensive or not really suited to my needs I think. I primarily drive the car for leisure on country roads, but also like to do "touge" hill climb challenges, so good stopping power without needing to put my entire body weight on the brakes would be good to have.

[Midas Mk1]

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

Edited by Midas Mk1, 15 August 2018 - 12:47 PM.

[absx2]

I think you will find Ultimax is EBC Black Stuff. I would hope minispares know the difference between the 7.5" pads pictured and the 8.4`s :)

 

Personally I prefer AP pads as they were good enough for Rover, have excellent initial bite and it takes a hell of a lot of abuse to get them to fade on the road.

I have managed a couple of track days as well with no issues but I keep things smooth and allow the back end to assist with braking.

 

The AP`s do make quite a lot of dust when pushing on a bit so the reduced brake dust might be what you need ? I have always been disappointed with EBC pads. The Green stuff had no cold bite on a servoed Rover, changed to Black stuff that wasn`t great. Fitted a set of AP and nearly head butted the screen rolling down the driveway on the first trip. Nuff said !

 

I have wasted literally thousands of pounds on the latest brake gimmicks over the years fueled by the glossy mini mags etc, alloy four pots, vented, drilled, you name it and I have concluded that its AP every time with Brembo solid discs for my purposes and carbon metallic for serious track use on the Cooper S set up.

 

Damn my one finger typing is slow.

Edited by absx2, 15 August 2018 - 01:05 PM.

[gazza82]

 

And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

 

Fit the wrong pads and you won't be cutting any corners ... or going around them ... ...

 

I bought a box of mixed parts a few months back and the guy threw in a new set of Green Stuff pads with the discs I bought off him .. I think I know why now reading various comments on a number of different car forums (but all with the same basic feedback .. <expletives deleted>!

Edited by gazza82, 15 August 2018 - 01:35 PM.

[BaronVonchesto]

I think you will find Ultimax is EBC Black Stuff. I would hope minispares know the difference between the 7.5" pads pictured and the 8.4`s :)

 

Personally I prefer AP pads as they were good enough for Rover, have excellent initial bite and it takes a hell of a lot of abuse to get them to fade on the road.

I have managed a couple of track days as well with no issues but I keep things smooth and allow the back end to assist with braking.

 

The AP`s do make quite a lot of dust when pushing on a bit so the reduced brake dust might be what you need ? I have always been disappointed with EBC pads. The Green stuff had no cold bite on a servoed Rover, changed to Black stuff that wasn`t great. Fitted a set of AP and nearly head butted the screen rolling down the driveway on the first trip. Nuff said !

 

I have wasted literally thousands of pounds on the latest brake gimmicks over the years fueled by the glossy mini mags etc, alloy four pots, vented, drilled, you name it and I have concluded that its AP every time with Brembo solid discs for my purposes and carbon metallic for serious track use on the Cooper S set up.

 

Damn my one finger typing is slow.

Wait... you saying that these sold by minispares are actually EBC?
http://minispares.co...|Back to search

 

Now that you mentioned it I tried googling ultimax brake pads and they do say EBC on the box... but every picture of ultimax appears to have red pads not black.

 

So in your view the AP standard is still the best?

Edited by BaronVonchesto, 15 August 2018 - 05:45 PM.

[BaronVonchesto]

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

M1144s are just too far out of my budget. Plus I've read that they produce copious amounts of bake dust and they produce almost too much braking power!

[Orange-Phantom]

 

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

M1144s are just too far out of my budget. Plus I've read that they produce copious amounts of bake dust and they produce almost too much braking power!

 

As someone who has and runs the M1144's I can say that they do not produce copious amounts of brake dust.  I swapped to them from the EBC Greenstuff and am very glad I did.  They work very well from cold and can cope exceeding well when pushed hard.  They have a very nice progressive feel to them.  My brother also uses these pads in his Cooper S road racer after trying numerous other pads.  He has never had any fade and they just work excellently.

I don't get the comment that they produce almost too much braking power.  Surely you want good brakes?  This is one area that I would never skimp on.

 

Saying that if the Ultimax are indeed EBC Blackstuff then I'd go with AP who are a reputable and quality brand.

[Bat]

Hi,

I've not used the ebc ultimax on a mini but they do stop a 2.5ton 350bhp Bmw very well.

A friend has fitted them on a new cooper S and is very happy with the low dust and stopping power.

I'm sure I've got ebc pads on my mini but it' so long ago I can't remember which ones.

Cheers    

Edited by Bat, 15 August 2018 - 07:07 PM.

[BaronVonchesto]

 

 

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

M1144s are just too far out of my budget. Plus I've read that they produce copious amounts of bake dust and they produce almost too much braking power!

 

As someone who has and runs the M1144's I can say that they do not produce copious amounts of brake dust.  I swapped to them from the EBC Greenstuff and am very glad I did.  They work very well from cold and can cope exceeding well when pushed hard.  They have a very nice progressive feel to them.  My brother also uses these pads in his Cooper S road racer after trying numerous other pads.  He has never had any fade and they just work excellently.

I don't get the comment that they produce almost too much braking power.  Surely you want good brakes?  This is one area that I would never skimp on.

 

Saying that if the Ultimax are indeed EBC Blackstuff then I'd go with AP who are a reputable and quality brand.

 

Orange, the M1144s are explicitly marked as track only, not for road use. I know plenty of people use them on the road, but from what I've read on this forum, they wear out quickly because the brake pads give A LOT of friction, more than needed for road use.

 

At any rate the M1144s are out of my budget. Of course I want good brakes, but I don't need excessive stopping power. Just hoping to have something a bit better than my current pads which are "i don't know what" pads.

So really I'm trying to decide between the ultimax and the Ap standard

[Midas Mk1]

I run standard mintex and mintex M1144's. 

 

As I  said before, standard mintex pads. Ulitmax / black stuff are ****. But hey, if you want to ignore our experience, fine. 

[minimaded]

 

 

 

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

M1144s are just too far out of my budget. Plus I've read that they produce copious amounts of bake dust and they produce almost too much braking power!

 

As someone who has and runs the M1144's I can say that they do not produce copious amounts of brake dust.  I swapped to them from the EBC Greenstuff and am very glad I did.  They work very well from cold and can cope exceeding well when pushed hard.  They have a very nice progressive feel to them.  My brother also uses these pads in his Cooper S road racer after trying numerous other pads.  He has never had any fade and they just work excellently.

I don't get the comment that they produce almost too much braking power.  Surely you want good brakes?  This is one area that I would never skimp on.

 

Saying that if the Ultimax are indeed EBC Blackstuff then I'd go with AP who are a reputable and quality brand.

 

Orange, the M1144s are explicitly marked as track only, not for road use. I know plenty of people use them on the road, but from what I've read on this forum, they wear out quickly because the brake pads give A LOT of friction, more than needed for road use.

 

At any rate the M1144s are out of my budget. Of course I want good brakes, but I don't need excessive stopping power. Just hoping to have something a bit better than my current pads which are "i don't know what" pads.

So really I'm trying to decide between the ultimax and the Ap standard

 

 

 

I have had a set of M1144s fitted to the front of one of my minis for 5 years and I have gotten through 2 sets of tires in this time. I was so impressed with how they performed, I now only fit Mitex pad and shoes to my cars. Hot or cold, I have found them to be predictable and reliable. I have the road compound on my Polo and whilst I don't drive it is spirited as the mini, the cold performance is good and I've not noticed any brake fade.

 

 

People that scrimp on tires and brakes is a pet peeve of mine, the Mintex pads only cost a couple tanks of fuel.

[Orange-Phantom]

 

 

 

Mintex standard pads, without a doubt 100% , those EBC Ultimate (same as black stuff) - ******* shocking, brake fade in minutes.

 

Or M1144 for hard driving, which you say you dont do. And for price, buy cheap, buy twice. On brakes, why bother cutting corners.

 

M1144s are just too far out of my budget. Plus I've read that they produce copious amounts of bake dust and they produce almost too much braking power!

 

As someone who has and runs the M1144's I can say that they do not produce copious amounts of brake dust.  I swapped to them from the EBC Greenstuff and am very glad I did.  They work very well from cold and can cope exceeding well when pushed hard.  They have a very nice progressive feel to them.  My brother also uses these pads in his Cooper S road racer after trying numerous other pads.  He has never had any fade and they just work excellently.

I don't get the comment that they produce almost too much braking power.  Surely you want good brakes?  This is one area that I would never skimp on.

 

Saying that if the Ultimax are indeed EBC Blackstuff then I'd go with AP who are a reputable and quality brand.

 

Orange, the M1144s are explicitly marked as track only, not for road use. I know plenty of people use them on the road, but from what I've read on this forum, they wear out quickly because the brake pads give A LOT of friction, more than needed for road use.

 

At any rate the M1144s are out of my budget. Of course I want good brakes, but I don't need excessive stopping power. Just hoping to have something a bit better than my current pads which are "i don't know what" pads.

So really I'm trying to decide between the ultimax and the Ap standard

 

Hello again,

 

Yes I'm totally aware that they are now marked for track use.  They never used to be and if I remember rightly it has something to do with the compound used which is why they have to label them like that.  They don't wear out quickly.  I don't know where you're getting that from and can't find any reference to that on these forums either.  I've never had an issue and neither has my dad or brother who also run them!  They also don't give A LOT more friction.  They just work... very well and very consistently so unfortunately you are talking codswallop about the Mintex pads.  There is a good reason why so many of us on here are advocating them!  Take the hint, we're trying to help ya!

 

I would stay away from EBC from my own personal experiences and also from a chap who worked round the corner who used to test brake pads for a living.  He found the EBC pads to be very inconsistent.

 

It's your money at the end of the day, I personally would not skimp on such a critical safety item.

 

If you can't afford the M1144 then I'd stick with AP.  Otherwise save up your pennies and get the M1144's like a lot of other people have said.

[dotmatrix]

I have tried both standard pads and ultimax pads for metro 4-pot calipers and im not impressed with the ultimax pads. IMO not Better than the standard ones. They used to Sell kevlar pads for the metro calipers and These were very good but they have been superseeded by the ultimax pads. Carbon metallic pads are the best but quite expensive.

[skoughi]

I use M1144's on non servo standard 8.4" discs and can lock up the fronts no problem, but my wife does say I'm a heavy footed clot! Not too dirty with brake dust either, I have revolutions on at the moment with bare alloy polished rims and usually only have to give them a wee squirt of brake dust remover when giving her a wash. Good brakes from cold which is the most important, not like pads that need a couple of good laps to start working!

[BaronVonchesto]

Thanks all! Appreciate the feedback