Brake pads/cooling

[TimG30si]

Hi. Got a track day coming up in feb and wondering whether to do anything with the brakes as I think they’ll be tbe weak point. I’ve already had 660 dot fluid at the last change, but considering upgrading the pads and possibly looking at cooling options.

Has anyone got any advice/experience?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TheDan]

As far as I am aware, the Z4M's have a brake cooling duct build into the front bumper. These do only force air behind the wheel and not directly at the brake disc which would be more efficient.

I would advise only changing to some higher spec pads and see how it goes. On mine I have gone with Brembo caliper upgrade and Carbotech pads, but I am very harsh on the brakes on track.

Here are a bunch of options of what you could go for. I've roughly ordered them from least to most track focused pad:

• Brembo (Stock/Road Pads)

• EBC Range (minimum yellowstuffs)

• Ferodo DS2500

• Performance Friction Z-Rated

• Ferodo DS3000

• Ferodo DS1.11

• Performance Friction 08 or 11

• Pagid RSL29

• Carbotech XP8 or XP10

Bear in mind that some of these near the bottom of the list might not be E marked for road use. I've only included the EBC Range for completeness, I have not had great experiences with them.

Hope this helps

 

[TimG30si]

Thanks a lot for that. I’ve heard mixed reviews about ebc too. I had ds2500 on my old m2 and thought they were good, I might have a look for some of those and see how it goes with regard to cooling. Good to hear you haven’t found it necessary- the specialist I use felt that the standard cooling ducts would be of little use.

Thanks again for your reply mate

 

[mmm-five]

Whilst those 'brake cooling ducts' can be made to act as brake cooling ducts, they're actually an aerodynamic device to reduce frontal air pressure and lift.

 

[TheDan]

Whilst those 'brake cooling ducts' can be made to act as brake cooling ducts, they're actually an aerodynamic device to reduce frontal air pressure and lift.

Interesting, didn't know that.

Good to hear you haven’t found it necessary- the specialist I use felt that the standard cooling ducts would be of little use.

Mine is the non-M which has no cooling/aero channels whatsoever. I am planning though to remove the front fogs (round fogs on pre-facelift) and put cooling ducts from there.

Most importantly, have fun and let us know how it goes!

 

[RedUn]

Thanks a lot for that. I’ve heard mixed reviews about ebc too. I had ds2500 on my old m2 and thought they were good, I might have a look for some of those and see how it goes with regard to cooling. Good to hear you haven’t found it necessary- the specialist I use felt that the standard cooling ducts would be of little use.

Thanks again for your reply mate

Ds2500s used to be disc killers, I don't know if they are any more but I wouldn't put them my bike.

Pagids I thought where average for the money.

Carbotechs on the other hand, wonderful, I always recommend them but hardly anyone listens as they always want some fancy name on their pads.

Ditch the dust shields if you want an immediate cooling upgrade.

Good advice from TheDan

 

[mmm-five]

Whilst those 'brake cooling ducts' can be made to act as brake cooling ducts, they're actually an aerodynamic device to reduce frontal air pressure and lift.

Interesting, didn't know that.

Good to hear you haven’t found it necessary- the specialist I use felt that the standard cooling ducts would be of little use.

Mine is the non-M which has no cooling/aero channels whatsoever. I am planning though to remove the front fogs (round fogs on pre-facelift) and put cooling ducts from there.

Most importantly, have fun and let us know how it goes!

Sorry, thought it was an M, as it was posted in the M-section - don't know anything about ducts on non-Ms (are they not filled with foglights?)

 

[mmm-five]

Carbotechs on the other hand, wonderful, I always recommend them but hardly anyone listens as they always want some fancy name on their pads.

I've got Balenciaga brake pads...they look s**t and they are s**t

For anyone who doesn't get the joke/reference, Balenciaga seem to go out of their way to make their goods look old, worn out, dysfunctional and charge a fortune for it...such as these 'brand new' running shoes at about £825...



...or destroyed T-shirt at only £650...

 

[RedUn]

The world is literally going mad!

If anyone wants their t shirt to look the same for less money have a go at removing the lambda sensors on the zed whilst on axle stands

 

[peteslag]

I've got my first track day in the zed in a few weeks. I went for performance friction 08 compound with RBF600 fluid. The 08 compound are the most similar to road pads in terms of cold friction/modulation etc. I'd normally go for EBC blues but the calipers on this car seem quite small so went for a more expensive higher temperature pad.

EBC yellows are not great for track work, I've had EBC blues on 3 different cars and they work well for the money. I've only managed to overheat them once but I was trying to keep up with something MUCH more track focused at the time.

Hope this helps.

 

[peteslag]

.

Ditch the dust shields if you want an immediate cooling upgrade.

I can see how that would work, I might give it a try.