Warning on EBC Redstuff Rear Pads - don't buy them

[PawnSacrifice]

2. The dealer who sold greens to a Z4 was an idiot as these pads are only meant for light sport cars(<1200KG) and no more than 150HP. the resin/lubricant caught fire and destroyed the pads so the squealing is absolutely normal because the pad was hard as a rock after it has been abused.

Hang on... the lot that sold me the pads were a good bunch! For the record I have upgraded to the E46 330D which is as quick and a lot heavier (especially at the front)... if what you are saying is true then EBC should not be making those pads for that car, the dealer sold me what EBC specify for that model.

Did have another slight issue in Scotland at the weekend, think I may keep the disks and swap the pads back to OEM, worst I ever had with those was some fade, nothing as bad as I've seen with the Green Stuffs even under similar conditions.

 

[gannet]

2. The dealer who sold greens to a Z4 was an idiot as these pads are only meant for light sport cars(<1200KG) and no more than 150HP. the resin/lubricant caught fire and destroyed the pads so the squealing is absolutely normal because the pad was hard as a rock after it has been abused.

mine came from EBC themselves....

and for the record the 3.0 is right on the weight that you quote, albeit more powerful.... but EBC themselves describe the greenstuffs as follows: EBC Greenstuff so 200BHP, no weight quoted but our cars aint exactly heavy...

I go nowhere near a track and am light on brakes and have had no issues with mine except for some slight squeal which is getting less and less...

 

[gannet]

Did have another slight issue in Scotland at the weekend, think I may keep the disks and swap the pads back to OEM, worst I ever had with those was some fade, nothing as bad as I've seen with the Green Stuffs even under similar conditions.

what other issue did you have ?

 

[EdButler]

Pawn, you may want to try Ferodo DS-2500 or Mintex 1155's. These are also very good Fast Road (occasional Track) pads. Id almost go so far as to recommend Red-Stuffs having never had fade from them. They are however, quite un-responsive in the cold, fortunately a non issue at this time of year.

I really wouldn't recommend the OEM's either after reading many reviews of the Z4, and having them fade on me several times at the start of my Z4 ownership.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Did have another slight issue in Scotland at the weekend, think I may keep the disks and swap the pads back to OEM, worst I ever had with those was some fade, nothing as bad as I've seen with the Green Stuffs even under similar conditions.

what other issue did you have ?

They went off really quickly, started juddering and became generally quite ineffective. Then squealed for a long time after, but were okay when they cooled down again, fine by the time I got home (about 11 hours later).

Pawn, you may want to try Ferodo DS-2500 or Mintex 1155's. These are also very good Fast Road (occasional Track) pads. Id almost go so far as to recommend Red-Stuffs having never had fade from them. They are however, quite un-responsive in the cold, fortunately a non issue at this time of year.

I really wouldn't recommend the OEM's either after reading many reviews of the Z4, and having them fade on me several times at the start of my Z4 ownership.

Thanks Ed, I'll check those out. My OEMs on the smaller callipers were actually a lot better than the Green Stuffs - they did fade, but it was gradual, the Green Stuffs so far have gone off far too suddenly - don't fade, just go from normal to rubbish in a couple of corners. Was put off Red Stuffs for the reason you mention.

 

[pvr]

And Axxis? Not had any fade with those on the X5 which is rather heavy.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Have had a look at the suggestions and the Axxis pads like a good fit, but they don't appear to be widely available in the UK... PVR where did you buy yours?
(Web search show CA but I'd rather not use them at the moment)

EDIT: Ignore that, found a supplier.

 

[Shooter]

Went to the track 2 weeks ago with my Redstuff setup, no problem at all during the day (redstuf + USR discs all around).
A friend of mine drove my car for some laps, he told me however that my braking is bit on the soft side. But i never had problem of fading or anything. And my pads dont squeal.

I may be going for Carbone Lorraine RC5+ for my next setup, given i have confirmation of the "no squeal" issue.

 

[Shooter]

OK bad news !

I was satisfied with RedSTuff, but not anymore.
Two weeks ago, the brake light on the dashboard went on. It was the rear pads. Since i had a spare set of rear Redstuff pads and since i was going to the Nurburgring the following week-end, i changed them immediatly.
The Ring went OK, but since that.... i am experiencing the dreaded "rattle". And oh my god it's rattling yes !!!!
I checked the left outer pad this evening, with a screwdriver through the rim, i can make the pad move inside the caliper, just like on the video found on page 2.
I also found that this set of pads seems to be generating a bigger amount of dust than the previous one.

I don't have the package of these pads anymore, but i bought front pads at the same time. I checked the label on them, it's the same as the rear pads (except for the pads type, of course ).
Here is the complete label of the front pads, which i believe to be of the same compound and same "batch" of pads than the rear ones :
DP31211C (so Redstuff front pads for Z4)
E11
21923 16.80
90R-01156/1973
*6 AF88/85
If it can help people here....

Question is : i will remove these pads as soon as possible. But what pads can i use ?

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Id almost go so far as to recommend Red-Stuffs having never had fade from them. They are however, quite un-responsive in the cold, fortunately a non issue at this time of year. I really wouldn't recommend the OEM's either after reading many reviews of the Z4, and having them fade on me several times at the start of my Z4 ownership.

I've had no problems with my yellow stuff pads wrt to excessive noise, but I find these too may be a little unresponsive on first application, especially when cold.
The pads which were on my ///M when I bought it performed remarkably on a track day which had a hairpin at the end of a 120-130 mph straight, and began to fade only towards the end of the day. That said, they were utterly consumed and showed evidence of previous overheating when replaced. I presume these were OEM as the car was maintianed at BMW and had no aftermarket modifications before I purchased it.

 

[sk93]

My redstuffs are perfectly happy, and they're now bedded in happily with 5k on them!
I do get a bit of squeel, but it's really nothing - especially if you've heard carbon brakes being used in town.

No rattle, no vibration or other issue.
(no decrease in brake dust tho either).


I reckon it must be a dodgy batch?

 

[Dreamer]

EBC, Axxis, Ferodo, mintex they're all pretty average.

If you want decent pads, which is what will make a massive difference to stopping power over bigger discs etc then spend the money and buy Pagid blues.

They are terrific from cold and will take more punishment than you can ever deliver. A few months ago a friend and me clocked up 130 miles in a day round Bedford Autodrome hammering it and there was not even a hint of fade. A LOT more impressive than all the other pads we have tried.

 

[Shooter]

If you want decent pads, which is what will make a massive difference to stopping power over bigger discs etc then spend the money and buy Pagid blues.

They are terrific from cold and will take more punishment than you can ever deliver. A few months ago a friend and me clocked up 130 miles in a day round Bedford Autodrome hammering it and there was not even a hint of fade. A LOT more impressive than all the other pads we have tried.

On "massive difference" : the price. Pagid is on the expensive side of the force.... but at least they do seem to deserve their price.

What about noise, especially the squeal at low speed, when braking at a trafic light in town ?

 

[Dreamer]

No noise at all Shooter. Mind you ive never tried them on my zed just our track prepped Golf. Will be fitting them soon though so i'll tell you then.