Brake fade!! Yoinks!!

mr nurburgring said:
http://ebcbrakes.com/ebc_brakes_product_feature/how-to-bed-in-new-brake-pads-by-ebc-brakes-on-cars-although-this-applies-to-all-brands-of-pads-being-used-for-track-day-and-race-use/
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This , I put exact pad and disc combo on a 3 ltr z4 a couple of years ago and didn't bed them in using this method for some unknown reason , I always have done in the past , and the brakes lasted half a lap of the ring before giving up . They were fine after they cooled off , effectively I'd bedded them in properly , you'll probably find yours will be the same , if not follow the procedure above .
Lots of people say not to do this but from personal experience it works and standard bed in procedure I doesn't . My take on it is that ebc don't want to leave themselves open to legal claims by instructing people to drive fast then brake heavily on a public road :D
 
Assuming the pads were bedded and it wasn't vapour lock it doesn't sound like you should have suffered such drastic fade which is then down to overheating of the friction surfaces. The calipers on these cars seem quite prone to dragging due to sticky slide pins or pistons sticking, both caused by dust and/or rust. The hotter things get the more they drag - the more they drag the hotter they get it doesn't take much dragging to start the viscous cycle.

If you are swapping pads out I'd drop the calipers off to clean and examine the pins and pistons which isn't a huge job if you keep the lines connected. I replaced the calipers, discs and hoses on my 2003 which were in a pretty nasty state so it may be worth considering :thumbsup:
 
Z4Zena said:
2006 2.5 Si. Bought a month ago with new EBC slotted and dimpled discs with Green Stuff pads. Experienced serious brake fade from just 2 hard dabs on the pedal coming down Porlock Hill. Glazed the pads and blued the discs. Scarey stuff (very). Going to ( I mean GOT To) try some different pads because these are not fit for purpose. Any recommendations?
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I find it hard to believe that after 'just 2 hard dabs' on a brake pedal that you experience 'serious brake fade', unless either you have a significant issue with the brakes binding, or you were lightly on the pedal all the way down the hill to get them very hot.
You have a problem to fix beyond just pads, bedded in or not.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Z4Zena said:
2006 2.5 Si. Bought a month ago with new EBC slotted and dimpled discs with Green Stuff pads. Experienced serious brake fade from just 2 hard dabs on the pedal coming down Porlock Hill. Glazed the pads and blued the discs. Scarey stuff (very). Going to ( I mean GOT To) try some different pads because these are not fit for purpose. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that after 'just 2 hard dabs' on a brake pedal that you experience 'serious brake fade', unless either you have a significant issue with the brakes binding, or you were lightly on the pedal all the way down the hill to get them very hot.
You have a problem to fix beyond just pads, bedded in or not.
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Yes it's true, ebc are easy to get brake fade unless you bed them in properly.
Once you have bedded them in they will be brilliant.
 
mr nurburgring said:
cj10jeeper said:
Z4Zena said:
2006 2.5 Si. Bought a month ago with new EBC slotted and dimpled discs with Green Stuff pads. Experienced serious brake fade from just 2 hard dabs on the pedal coming down Porlock Hill. Glazed the pads and blued the discs. Scarey stuff (very). Going to ( I mean GOT To) try some different pads because these are not fit for purpose. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that after 'just 2 hard dabs' on a brake pedal that you experience 'serious brake fade', unless either you have a significant issue with the brakes binding, or you were lightly on the pedal all the way down the hill to get them very hot.
You have a problem to fix beyond just pads, bedded in or not.
Click to expand...

Yes it's true, ebc are easy to get brake fade unless you bed them in properly.
Once you have bedded them in they will be brilliant.
Click to expand...

I must agree , every time I've installed them and given them death bed in procedure they have been faultless , the only time I didn't they were fading by adenua and non existent a few corners later , and it was the first lap in that car and I'm not an aggressive driver . I backed off for the rest of the lap to cool them off and they were fine afterwards , that said I really wasn't trying that hard anymore , just in case :lol:
 
Ok guys - I hear your comments and in fact bed my EBC pads in every time and have had no issue in a decade of use on several cars..

I just struggle that a sports car can fade on a little hill as if that's the case I'd expect hundreds of normal cars on tiny disks, crap pads, etc to be in a heap at the bottom and clearly that doesn't happen
 
Reason for brake problems discovered. Previous owner had fitted incorrect front discs (286 mm instead of 300 mm) and pads were overhanging the edges. Also he had not changed the fluid or even bothered to remove any fluid from the reservoir which was full to the cap. The dirty old fluid obviously boiled when I needed the brakes hence the fade. I've now fitted correct discs and new Brembo pads and new fluid right through. Brakes now work as they should.
 
Glad you found the issue. I knew you had a serious issue beyond normal brake fade. Amazed someone could actually do that and not see it when they tried to fit small disks unless they knew and were nudging the car on the cheap..

I'd would say that while you did 100% right to change the fluid you did not experience boiling fluid but the small contact area with the lads no doubt twisting, themselves becoming so hot as to fade.

Enjoy the Bremnos..
 
Z4Zena said:
Reason for brake problems discovered. Previous owner had fitted incorrect front discs (286 mm instead of 300 mm) and pads were overhanging the edges. Also he had not changed the fluid or even bothered to remove any fluid from the reservoir which was full to the cap. The dirty old fluid obviously boiled when I needed the brakes hence the fade. I've now fitted correct discs and new Brembo pads and new fluid right through. Brakes now work as they should.
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Glad you got it sorted, good to find out you got to the bottom of the issue!

I'm suprised no one picked it up before though as that is shoddy workmanship!
 
Z4Zena said:
Reason for brake problems discovered. Previous owner had fitted incorrect front discs (286 mm instead of 300 mm) and pads were overhanging the edges. Also he had not changed the fluid or even bothered to remove any fluid from the reservoir which was full to the cap. The dirty old fluid obviously boiled when I needed the brakes hence the fade. I've now fitted correct discs and new Brembo pads and new fluid right through. Brakes now work as they should.
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I've seen several different reasons for brake fade before but didn't see wrong disc/pad size coming! :o

Glad it's all sorted :thumbsup:
 
After several years of Coupe ownership I am now qualified to enter this discussion.
I had to go to Milton Keynes yesterday. In a hurry.
The journey involved a series of about 10 short, sharp sprints between roundabouts (many of which I had to stop dead for). Lo and behold sudden stench of cooked brakes and very pronounced fade...
Fortunately I had plenty of room but disconcerting nonetheless.
I'm amazed in all the time I've had the car I've only just experienced this now (on the hottest day of the year).

I'm on the original discs (58,000miles) and expensive (I think ATE) low mess pads.
I actually have a new set of front discs in the garage, I think fitting them has just nudged up the list of priorities...

Out of interest, is the E46 330 disk upgrade applicable for the 3.0si or is it more for the smaller engined roadsters?
 
The 330I size front brakes is what you have now, I have Ferodo Sport pads in mine, not suffered fade yet but then I don't drive fast on the road, that's what tracks are for!
 
RickRob said:
I am more puzzled as to why anyone wants to go to Milton Keynes quickly!
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I put it off as long as I could. The plan was to be in and out without touching the sides. Fortunately this was achieved despite comprised braking.

It's a funny place, all the roundabouts on the roads around the periphery - I can't really think of anywhere else that you're brakes get such a workout. I used to hate it in my old 325 Coupe which was automatic. Even with Steptronic I never really had enough engine braking to help much in the brisk circumnavigation of MK. That was a heavier car too so I was always aware of the brakes working hard (although I don't remember them fading).
 
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