Lovely evening drive, but.....brake fade and squeeaal!!

E

ErrErrminator

Active member
Thought I’d take the Zed out for a nice evening drive, to cool me down and blow the cobwebs away. No other reason. Just for the hell of it.

I consider myself very lucky for some of the fabulous roads I have right on the doorstep. The sort of road that just beg to be driven enthusiastically. So I did just that. Probably the most stick I’ve given the old girl since I had her. Great fun and the car was really on song. However, after a long downhill section coming down off the Brendon hills I experienced some quite serious brake fade. I’ve not had this before, but I probably haven’t worked the brakes quite so hard either.

I pulled over to let things cool off for a few minutes and things improved for the rest f the journey. There was some awful squeal from the rears from that point on though.

Anyone else suffered heavy brake fade on normal road use? What about the squeal, is there anything I can do to address this annoyance? I have drilled and grooves discs all round and EBC Red Stuff pads (I think).
 
When was the fluid last changed?

For the squeal, if it's the pads, take them off then clean and lube all the contact points. BMW do anti-squeak paste or you can use copper grease being careful to keep what ever you use away from any rubber parts.
 
Will check when the fluid was last changed. I’ve only had the car since the end of April, so it’ll be in the pack of paperwork somewhere. I have got it booked in with DLV Mike in a couple of weeks for replacement brake pipes, so it’ll get new fluid then.
 
I've only ever had fade on track, were you in a lower gear? Every little can help.

Get him to show you how to clean up the brakes and crack on with that while he changes the pipes :thumbsup:
 
Yes, I always use the gears as well as the brakes while descending a hill. I’m not one for riding the brakes the whole way down a hill. I was making swift progress this evening and they were certainly smelling pretty hot.
 
Sounds like your enjoying your Zed. Perhaps just a little too much, if that is possible. If your going to push her that hard regularly, then a 3.0 might be what you need, not just new brake lines. :driving: :wink:
 
There seem to be quite a few EBC fanboys around but I’ve never found them anything other than lacking. Admittedly i’ve not tried evey compound they do. Moved over to performance friction about 5 years ago and never looked back.
 
ph001 said:
There seem to be quite a few EBC fanboys around but I’ve never found them anything other than lacking. Admittedly i’ve not tried evey compound they do. Moved over to performance friction about 5 years ago and never looked back.
Click to expand...
I suppose I’m a fanboy, inasmuch as I’ve happily used them for over 250,000 road & track miles.

However, I wouldn’t class Ultimax/Green/Redstuffs as anything other than OE-equivalent replacements, and wouldn’t suggest them for fast road/light track use.

Had plenty of years on EBC Yellowstuff on e34 M5s and the Z4MC, and couldn’t complain about them. I would still be using them but my contact at EBC (who negotiated a 50% discount for motorsport marshals) suggested I try the new Bluestuff NDX pads.

I’d not read a lot about the Bluestuff, but when I went searching I found nothing particularly compelling (dustier, more aggressive to discs, not as good from cold, etc. than Yellowstuff).

I was persuaded - partly by a money-back guarantee - to try their newly formulated Bluestuff NDX compound that was made to counter these arguments, and was very happy with them...and also sourced them and other EBC products for members on here.

I have tried, and like Pagid RS29, but they last half as long, cost 3x the price, and are quite dusty - but sometimes I need spare pads for a track day and that’s all I can get hold of first thing on a Saturday morning when I’ve just checked my spares box and found I’m out :oops:

For the the miles I was doing, and the price I was paying (£120 for a front & rear set), there was simply nothing around that could beat their value for money (i.e. difference between £500 vs £2000 of pads a year)...and I don’t think anyone who has been out with me on track or road will claim that my EBC pads have held me back - although some may say I don’t brake often enough :driving:

Of course, everyone drives differently, and will have different requirements in a brake pad. I’m also finding my pads wear quicker now that I’m doing less commuting miles in the car :rofl:
 
buzyg said:
Sounds like your enjoying your Zed. Perhaps just a little too much, if that is possible. If your going to push her that hard regularly, then a 3.0 might be what you need, not just new brake lines. :driving: :wink:
Click to expand...

Ha, possibly, but I have yet to find the 2.5s performance really lacking. Last nights drive was ‘enthusiastic’, but I wasn’t ragging it, or wringing it’s neck. Nothing it wasn’t designed to do. :)
 
For the last must be 5yrs i use textar epads a little more expensive than standard but worth it .also use racing blue fluid .never had a problem every year we go and do the swiss passes ,hard accelleration and heavy breaking usually in temps of 25-32 deg + spirited drives in uk.all of which gets the brakes a little warm :D .
The warmer tbey get better they work :driving: .
Moz
 
OP, I had exactly the same set up as you on my 2.5i, i.e Mtec Grooved discs and EBC Red Stuff pads and they were nothing but trouble :x
The front discs warped and I had them skimmed only for them to warp again. The rears were noisy/squealing always when hot. Not to mention the dust ! Diabolical ! I also had one occasion of massive brake fade coming down the Buttertubs Pass which I wouldn't like to repeat in a hurry! :cry:
Anyway, I changed all the discs and pads back in February to standard (non-grooved/drilled) Brembo all round and they are so much better ! No warping, no noise, no squealing, very little dust and just as much stopping power as the Mtec/Red Stuff :thumbsup:
 
mmm-five said:
ph001 said:
There seem to be quite a few EBC fanboys around but I’ve never found them anything other than lacking. Admittedly i’ve not tried evey compound they do. Moved over to performance friction about 5 years ago and never looked back.
Click to expand...
I suppose I’m a fanboy, inasmuch as I’ve happily used them for over 250,000 road & track miles.

However, I wouldn’t class Ultimax/Green/Redstuffs as anything other than OE-equivalent replacements, and wouldn’t suggest them for fast road/light track use.

Had plenty of years on EBC Yellowstuff on e34 M5s and the Z4MC, and couldn’t complain about them. I would still be using them but my contact at EBC (who negotiated a 50% discount for motorsport marshals) suggested I try the new Bluestuff NDX pads.

I’d not read a lot about the Bluestuff, but when I went searching I found nothing particularly compelling (dustier, more aggressive to discs, not as good from cold, etc. than Yellowstuff).

I was persuaded - partly by a money-back guarantee - to try their newly formulated Bluestuff NDX compound that was made to counter these arguments, and was very happy with them...and also sourced them and other EBC products for members on here.

I have tried, and like Pagid RS29, but they last half as long, cost 3x the price, and are quite dusty - but sometimes I need spare pads for a track day and that’s all I can get hold of first thing on a Saturday morning when I’ve just checked my spares box and found I’m out :oops:

For the the miles I was doing, and the price I was paying (£120 for a front & rear set), there was simply nothing around that could beat their value for money (i.e. difference between £500 vs £2000 of pads a year)...and I don’t think anyone who has been out with me on track or road will claim that my EBC pads have held me back - although some may say I don’t brake often enough :driving:

Of course, everyone drives differently, and will have different requirements in a brake pad. I’m also finding my pads wear quicker now that I’m doing less commuting miles in the car :rofl:
Click to expand...

You really ought to give the .11 compound Performance Friction pads a go, especially considering they are about half the price of EBC Bluestuff. The PF produce virtually no dust, are completely silent, seem to last forever yet really kind to the discs. I can't get them to fade on the M3.....ever. They just groan a little when the discs are a dull orange colour!
 
ph001 said:
You really ought to give the .11 compound Performance Friction pads a go, especially considering they are about half the price of EBC Bluestuff. The PF produce virtually no dust, are completely silent, seem to last forever yet really kind to the discs. I can't get them to fade on the M3.....ever. They just groan a little when the discs are a dull orange colour!
Click to expand...
I’ve got Orangestuff fitted to the Porsche Brembos I’ve just installed, so will be a while before I need more, but will definitely give them a go if they’re less than £200 for a 4 wheel set :thumbsup:
 
I’ve changed to brembo discs and pads all round, plus replaced 3 out of 4 calipers and replaced the hoses with stainless braided. Very happy with the result, much improved.
 
Hi Peter
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=87418&p=1292193#p1291808
I had the very same experience, hope the brake lines and fluid change have improved things? :thumbsup:
 
ScoobyR1 said:
Hi Peter
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=87418&p=1292193#p1291808
I had the very same experience, hope the brake lines and fluid change have improved things? :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Hi Stuart.
Thanks for pointing me at that thread.
I’ve not put the car through it’s paces since the new brake pipes and fluid, but hopefully it will make some difference.
 
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