Brake system

[ukcerb]

Hi all.
Just taken the plunge with a Z3 2.8 and first job is to replace the brake calipers discs and pads. Any suggestions for anything else I should do at the same time would be appreciated, brake pipes etc?
Had a look online and there is such a choice and huge price differences too.
Any suggestions as to a good setup, I don't mind cost if quality is good. Don't really want to pay just for the name.
Thanks

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. Depends on how spirited your driving is really, I've got standard all round on my 2.8 at the mo and I think they are fine for day to day though I suffered a bit of brake fade on a flat out run in Wales last year so yellow stuff pads could be a good option. Steel beaded brake hoses and new fluid helps. I'd also take a look at your rear handbrake shoes to see how they are. Loads have upgraded their brakes so I'm sure somebody will be along soon

 

[ukcerb]

Thanks for the welcome and useful info. Certainly agree about yellow stuff pads.

 

[Nodzed]

to the forum from Gloucestershire

There is a huge choice out there depending on how you want to drive and the depth of your pocket. I've used Black diamond grooved disks on 3 zeds now and really like them, I'm currently use red stuff pads (very good) but unless you are driving hard you don't need them, some of the lead footed members recommend yellow stuff, even on track. Have just got some predator fast road black diamond pads to try (I think @Bozzy has tried them so could comment on how good they are.) Braided flexible lines are well worth the money too.

Niall

 

[ukcerb]

to the forum from Gloucestershire

There is a huge choice out there depending on how you want to drive and the depth of your pocket. I've used Black diamond grooved disks on 3 zeds now and really like them, I'm currently use red stuff pads (very good) but unless you are driving hard you don't need them, some of the lead footed members recommend yellow stuff, even on track. Have just got some predator fast road black diamond pads to try (I think @Bozzy has tried them so could comment on how good they are.) Braided flexible lines are well worth the money too

Thanks Niall, appreciate your comments and I'll take a look at the Black diamond grooved discs.

 

[pgunter]

Go for Brembo discs and pads if you want to stay as near to standard. Upgraded brake hoses are the next step. If you want to go a little bit further I would get the brake calliper carriers to enable you to fit the bigger 3.0 brakes. You would go from a 286mm disc to a 300mm disc. That’s a bigger surface area on four sides of braking on the front. Makes a lot of difference. If as Niall has mentioned you are a bit of a faster more spirited driver I would upgrade the pads to EBC yellow or red stuff.

Happy motoring.

Thanks for that Info. Brembo were my preferred choice but wasn't sure if I was just paying extra for the name.

 

[Nodzed]

Thanks Niall, appreciate your comments and I'll take a look at the Black diamond grooved discs.

Forgot to say ... grooved discs can be noisy under hard braking, its the air being forced out of the grooves. But the difference in braking performance over OEM is night and day

 

[pgunter]

If you shop around you should be able to get a good deal on your bits. Be cheeky and ask for a discount. Never hurts.

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome,

I'm running MTEC grooved discs with EBC Yellowstuff pads on my Z4, works well enough holding back the 255 horses. Although with a 30 minute track session at Silverstone a week or so back, I'll probably be looking for performances discs to match - likely the matching EBC ones.

Cheers, Gaz

 

[Ryan]

Welcome to the forum. I'm waiting to run down my existing brakes, but when done, i'm going for some brembo drilled discs and matching pads. Priced up on Carparts4less and it looks to be £250 to do all 4 corners. That's total cost, not each.
Maybe clean up and paint the calipers whilst you're at it? I also had an issue with a speed sensor, so whilst in the area you can remove, clean and refit. Help to keep the life.

 

[g8jka]

Welcome, I upgraded to 300mm 3.0 discs on the front of my 2.8. Mtec drilled and grooved discs all round with EBC Ultimax 2 pads and braided hoses which work pretty well. I don't track the car so don't need to go for yellowstuff or redstuff pads like others but the reports on them are decent. Whilst doing the brakes it worth giving the calipers a good service as they get sticky on the fronts with age and then get them painted up with your colour of choice.

 

[ukcerb]

Thanks for all the helpful info and welcomes

 

[Stevo7682]

Hi and welcome from me in Scotland

 

[ukcerb]

Hi. Looking forward to bringing the Z3 there some time next year, good brakes essential !

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London

 

[mwpe]

Hi and welcome from Surrey. I have got EBC Red stuff pads wth EBC grooved discs. Good performance and liitle dust. So far they have done 3 Euro trips and many miles in the UK, still going strong.

 

[ukcerb]

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Bozzy]

to the forum from Gloucestershire

There is a huge choice out there depending on how you want to drive and the depth of your pocket. I've used Black diamond grooved disks on 3 zeds now and really like them, I'm currently use red stuff pads (very good) but unless you are driving hard you don't need them, some of the lead footed members recommend yellow stuff, even on track. Have just got some predator fast road black diamond pads to try (I think @Bozzy has tried them so could comment on how good they are.) Braided flexible lines are well worth the money too.

Niall

Welcome @ukcerb
As Niall said I fitted Black Diamond drilled and grooved disks with matching predator pads.
Had trouble getting the pads in as they so thick and when got them all fitted, they didn't work. No braking effect at all, frightening. But i now think it was simply because of the pads being too thick, the pistons in the calipers couldn't get enough pressure behind them, i could be wrong on this, but as the pads eventually wore thinner they worked as they should.
To be honest they don't feel any better than standard. Even on a track day they weren't great and created violent vibration through the steering after a few laps. Although i have since replace the front control arm rear bushes with poly flex which has improved the front end feel.
My opinion is I simply wouldn't bother going down the performance route for road use, they're a pain, some pads need heat in them before they'll work etc but standard pads work from cold just fine .

Steve.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi, and welcome from me in Cardiff.