14 replies to this topic

[bgrant570]

Been wanting to do some track days in the mini and looking for input on brake pads. I have Mini Sport 7.5 4 piston alloys with the standard mintex pads at the moment. Car currently is a fair weather driver, not really a commuter. I'll be driving enthusiastically on the track, but not all out racing. Not looking for a pad that does it all - I'm happy to switch pads for the track, then switch back for the street. I'm sure there are loads of opinions, just looking to get pointed in the right direction.

 

Thanks!

[NZMini1275]

I use the Mintex 1144 pads for both road and track use
Have never had fade and I run solid discs not vented
My mini is 128hp at the wheels and being a road car weighs in quite heavy so brakes work hard
They work perfectly fine from cold also

[imack]

Interested to hear that the 1144's work well from cold as I was considering fitting them to my KAD 7.9's when the standard ferrodo's need replacing.
Had M171's back in the 80's on 7.5" S discs which could be iffy from cold.

[Quinlan minor]

Personally, I'd stick with the pads that you're already running on.

The track's really not the best place to bed in a new set of pads.

[Midas Mk1]

m1144 are great on the road with minisport 4 pots, vented and non vented.

Edit : used in my daily mini over winter ploughing through the snow.

Edited by Midas Mk1, 20 June 2021 - 10:06 AM.

[bgrant570]

Personally, I'd stick with the pads that you're already running on.

The track's really not the best place to bed in a new set of pads.

Oops. Yeah, I kind of forgot about bedding in. I probably won't "just swap pads" at the track. Sounds like I might give the 1144's a try. How are they for dust?

Edited by bgrant570, 20 June 2021 - 04:11 PM.

[Cooperman]

The M1144 are great pads for road and for gentle track use. I have faded the 1144 on a rally with 7.5" brakes so I have changed to the Carbon-Metallic ones as supplied by Mini Spares. They are superb on the road as well and work from cold with no issues. They are not cheap, but they are the very best and you will never have to worry about braking ability. 

An alternative would be the Mintex M1166, but you will have to go to a specialist supplier such as Questmead Ltd for these.

[Icey]

Depends on the track really. I’ve only driven around Castle Combe but the last thing you’d want there is a pad that takes ages to warm up as you don’t spend long on the breaks (unless you’re in a high powered car where you’ll be running at higher speeds than most Minis).
As someone mentioned above, just run what you have until you know what/if you need change anything.

[Cooperman]

The C-M pads work fine from cold and will take very extreme temps without fading.

Any sort of spirited driving on a track will easily fade standard OE pads.

The M1144 are quite good, but for fairly hard driving they do fade.

Modern competition pads do work well from cold, so long as they are properly bedded in which is not difficult.

The very best option are C-M pads and Mini Spares list them and carry stock.

[bgrant570]

The C-M pads work fine from cold and will take very extreme temps without fading.

Any sort of spirited driving on a track will easily fade standard OE pads.

The M1144 are quite good, but for fairly hard driving they do fade.

Modern competition pads do work well from cold, so long as they are properly bedded in which is not difficult.

The very best option are C-M pads and Mini Spares list them and carry stock.

How do the carbon metallics compare to M1144 as to dust? It's not strictly a track car, so dust will factor in somewhat.

[Cooperman]

I have not really noticed. What I do know is that the C-M pads outperform every other performance pad I have ever used from DS11, through various Mintex and Ferodo offerings to Mintex1177.
They work from cold and still work when the discs are glowing red hot.

[GraemeC]

I find the CM don't produce much more dust, but that dust can contain more iron particles so keeping the wheel clean is a must - I find this worst when the car is used hard with hot brakes that then makes the dust bake onto the wheels.

 

That said, they are excellent and it is a compromise worth making.  So I'd recommend them on a car that's built to be used in anger, but not for a show queen.

Edited by GraemeC, 21 June 2021 - 03:22 PM.

[bgrant570]

Thanks so much guys. Looks like I'll be giving the carbon metallics a try! What is the bedding in procedure?

Edited by bgrant570, 21 June 2021 - 11:14 PM.

[nicrizz]

Don’t forget to change your brake fluid for something with a higher temperature rating also!
Another vote for the minispares carbon metallic pads here, but they aren’t much use if you manage to boil your brake fluid.

Unfortunately I speak from experience… whoops

[Cooperman]

Don’t forget to change your brake fluid for something with a higher temperature rating also!
Another vote for the minispares carbon metallic pads here, but they aren’t much use if you manage to boil your brake fluid.

Unfortunately I speak from experience… whoops

I boiled my brake fluid on a Cooper 'S' with the old DS11 pads.

Changed to AP600 (now called something else). Demon Tweeks sell the right stuff.