Opinion sought - ATE discs and ceramic pads.

C

Courageous

Member
Hi kids,

am looking to replace calipers on the front of my 2.0 roadster as one has a sheared off bleed nipple. Since I have just bought the car and she has been lacking love, it seems, I have decided to go a bit further with the brakes (and other stuff).

So, regarding the brakes, has anyone any experience with ATE discs and ceramic pads and if so can you share your experiences please? Ceramics are obviously more expensive and I am wondering do they justify the additional price?

I'm also wondering if anyone makes stainless discs or are we all simply accepting the fact that our discs will get ugly through corrosion? Motorbikes have this sussed although at some cost.

I like the fact that ceramic discs are cleaner as brake dust can be a major pain to clean off the wheels can't it?

Thanks in advance!
 
Standard brakes and pads are more than upto the job. Maybe look at the green stuff, red stuff pads for cleaner dust. I personally see a once a week blast off of the wheels as more than adequate. Seems a lot of extras £s for very little gain.
But it's not my money
:)
 
:roll: Also parts out there are so expensive Courageous.
Or you getting them shipped? I used to get parents to pack spares in their camper.
 
I've seen comment on the MTEC offering. They are offering a full front/back set for £160 plus coating cost if required which seems good using Brembo pads. Also saw comment that the corrosion coating didn't last long. Not sure if I would have the same problem here on the continent as they don't use salt on the roads.

Was going to get them shipped to the in laws place in Belfast as my van heads back (full of family) for August. I could ship them back myself then. I do that a lot for the reasons you state! :thumbsup:
 
I think the coatings are shite and not worth the extra. I used Apec discs and some other pads...not sure,as they came from one of the factors we use...on the roadster last month..and a new caliper.. And the discs are holding well with little surface rust. Out there I think it's rare to get much corrosion on any thing and you should be fine.
And glad you have the chain of parts sorted.
If you need anything mind let me know I can get you a price for parts and sent. No probs.
 
I have Mtec discs (with the coating on) on mine, along with Textar Epad ceramic pads.

To me, the ceramic pads are worth the extra cost as they throw out much less dust.

The coating isn't worth a penny. You're better off painting them with Hammerite. My coating started going rusty a while back and last week I painted them. Looks much better now, and Hammerite lasts forever :thumbsup:

DSC_6445.JPG
 
Thanks Coupster!

Ben, thanks for the obs on your MTEC ones. They do a good price for 4 discs plus brembo pads at £160 but not ceramic of course. Hoisted aboard the comment regarding coating.

Were the ceramic pads an arm and a leg?
 
I don't think they were. I bought them from carparts4less, who were cheaper than eurocarparts (same company, different prices, very odd).

I've done around 200 miles since I last washed my wheels and they still look nice and shiny, so if that's your thing, then they're worth the extra.

They also seem to perform well. I can't say I've ever been left wanting more braking power and I've had a couple of hairy moments which required a bit of emergency braking :thumbsup:

Just check and the pads are £85 or so via carparts4less for my 3.0i. I don't think that's too expensive for 4 sets of pads.
 
I have read on here that for the 2.0l a cheapish brake upgrade is to fit larger front discs so going from 285mm to 300mm and all you need is a set of 300mm discs and a set of E46 calliper hanger brackets (which I got second hand for £20) and the callipers fit

Note I have not completed this just yet but there is a thread detailing brake upgrades somewhere.
 
I went for ATE discs and Textar ePads all round.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=79580

Car stopped very well. Discs were coated and pads caused very little brake dust on wheels :thumbsup:

Raj
 
You’d be wiser spending cash on the 325mm front disc upgrade from the 330ci / 3.0si

Cheap and a decent setup from your standard 2.0i set up.
 
Raj_UK said:
I went for ATE discs and Textar ePads all round.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=79580

Car stopped very well. Discs were coated and pads caused very little brake dust on wheels :thumbsup:

Raj
Click to expand...

Raj how did the coating stand up?
 
Courageous said:
Raj_UK said:
I went for ATE discs and Textar ePads all round.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=79580

Car stopped very well. Discs were coated and pads caused very little brake dust on wheels :thumbsup:

Raj
Click to expand...

Raj how did the coating stand up?
Click to expand...

I had the car for a about a year after and it held up really well. I’m not a detailing expert but I’ve a feeling some harsh wheel cleaning products speed up the corrosion; certainly the stuff they use at car washes!
 
Courageous said:
So, regarding the brakes, has anyone any experience with ATE discs and ceramic pads and if so can you share your experiences please? Ceramics are obviously more expensive and I am wondering do they justify the additional price?
Click to expand...

I have ATE discs. No problems at all. For street performance they are more than enough. If you do not plan on some serious racing and boosting your engine with lots of HP they'll do the job just fine. If you're street lunatic upgrade to 3.0 brakes.
Otherwise stick with stock. It's essential! to clean the hubs thoroughly before installing new discs! Or you'll get vibrations and shakes on braking.
 
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