Brake system

[Sean d]

Hi and welcome from Lincolnshire, I'm running Mtec drilled and grooved with Brembo pads all round, they are pretty good

 

[ukcerb]

Thanks for the welcomes!
Steve, I've been looking at standard discs but upgrade pads to EBC.
Got Green stuff pads on another vehicle and they are great for road use

 

[oldcarman]

Hi from central Canada!! Good luck getting your brakes sorted out!! JIM

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[ukcerb]

Thanks Jim !

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[t-tony]

On my Z4 I have M-Tec drilled/grooved discs and EBC Ultimax pads all round. S/Steel braided hoses and fluid change. They stop really well. Oh, and welcome from Orlando Fla.

Tony.

 

[Bonzeau]

from Bonzo and Z3lda in Norfolk. A 2.8 litre! A great choice! I have standard discs, Yellowstuff pads and ATE TYP 200 brake fluid. I find this combination very good for normal and fast road driving from cold.



Bonzo.

 

[Low Rider]

Welcome

 

[Jjim]

Hi, welcome from Mansfield.

On my silver Z3 I’ve upgraded the front calipers to the 3.0ltr ones, and run MTEC grooves and drilled discs all round with EBC Ultimax 2 pads. Happy with the setup.

On my blue Z3 they are currently all standard and have a fair bit of life left in them. I’ve already purchased some E46 330 front calipers and these will be going on shortly with some MTEC discs and EBC pads.

Just managed to get hold of some E36 M3 Evo front calipers, hubs and knuckles so that’s a job for the winter

 

[Davyhoogy]

Welcome from Sunderland.
Another option if you choose to stick with 2.8 calipers would be to repace the piston and paint the caliper.

I have brembo pads and discs, not grooved or drilled. They are fine for daily and a bit of fun but if you will be pushing them then I would go for better.

 

[Nodzed]

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.

Oh you've put me right off the predator pads now I know the black diamond disks and red stuff pads are fantastic as thats what are on the Titan (though do work much better when warm) which is the point if you drive hard, I didn't have any trouble fitting the predator pads on the Imola though?? went straight in. That's interesting Steve it will be interesting to see how they work when she is on the road. Did you do a brake fluid change when you fitted the new kit?

 

[Bozzy]

Oh you've put me right off the predator pads now I know the black diamond disks and red stuff pads are fantastic as thats what are on the Titan (though do work much better when warm) which is the point if you drive hard, I didn't have any trouble fitting the predator pads on the Imola though?? went straight in. That's interesting Steve it will be interesting to see how they work when she is on the road. Did you do a brake fluid change when you fitted the new kit?

Don't let it put you off mate, yes new brake fluid before new brakes were fitted and the front calipers were less than a year old.
@t-tony worked some magic on them, he put a chamfer on the pads and put some decent silicon lube on the slider pins, which improved them. They do work ok now, seem to improve as the pads wear.
I don't use the brakes hard through normal road use. Would like to try another track day now I've put poly flex bushes on the rear of the front control arms, just to see if it eliminates the awful vibration under hard braking.
Will be interesting to see how yours perform.

 

[Nodzed]

Don't let it put you off mate, yes new brake fluid before new brakes were fitted and the front calipers were less than a year old.
@t-tony worked some magic on them, he put a chamfer on the pads and put some decent silicon lube on the slider pins, which improved them. They do work ok now, seem to improve as the pads wear.
I don't use the brakes hard through normal road use. Would like to try another track day now I've put poly flex bushes on the rear of the front control arms, just to see if it eliminates the awful vibration under hard braking.
Will be interesting to see how yours perform.

I'll let you know Steve

 

[Mint]

Hi @ukcerb, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire.

 

[FRANKIE]

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

Welcome to the forum from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Haven't done any brake work on mine yet. I think I need to get out and drive it more first..................Frankie

 

[Pingu]

DOT 5.1, but only if you replace your fluid regularly. It is more hydroscopic that DOT 4. Buy a hydroscopic tester, they are only a couple of quid.

Also, if they are handed, make sure that you fit them correctly. My EBC ones were wrongly marked up.

Cure any run-out errors at the same time by making sure the hub-face is spotless. I reduced my run-out (measured at the edge of the disc) from 0.012" to 0.003". It now freewheels for ages - better than fitting slotted discs

 

[Pingu]