[Rollo`]

Long story short: installed M Performance brakes, had gray sliders, dust amount increased 1000%, was going to use the M Performance pads for at least a year but I can't stand it so I started looking for low dust alternative.

Found several posts mentioning the Brembo Ceramics, went to Brembo site to see vendors, they have a Brembo online store. Located the ones to fit and was looking at them for a few minutes and got a pop up code for 10% off (CHECKOUT10).

I got a full set of front and rear Brembo ceramic pads for $136.33 shipped. Bought them Sunday and received them today.

These are the same pads that fit the blue M Sport brakes. Just thought I should pass the info on.

[CozyF22]

what's the website you got from

[PeterWT]

I got mine from Rock Auto for $132 delivered.

I haven't installed them yet because I haven't decided what I want to do about the rotors, which look fine:
Use as is? The new pads may not 'bed' properly, resulting in reduced effectiveness and/or noise.
Resurface (cut) them? I've heard varying opinions on this.
Replace them? Expensive and maybe unnecessary.

Rollo` , what did you do with your 'used' rotors and how were the results?

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by PeterWT

Resurface (cut) them? I've heard varying opinions on this.

The compound rotors used on the M240 & M235 (aluminium hat / cast iron rotor) should not be recut due to the lateral flex between the riveted hat and rotor not likely to give a precise enough location when cutting to stay within 0.01mm run-out tolerances. This is indicated in the BMW TIS: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...rakes/Gg0mEIUE. Other single piece rotors on the 228 and 230 can be machined without a problem, as per the instructions in the TIS.

[PeterWT]

Originally Posted by aerobod

The compound rotors used on the M240 & M235 (aluminium hat / cast iron rotor) should not be recut due to the lateral flex between the riveted hat and rotor not likely to give a precise enough location when cutting to stay within 0.01mm run-out tolerances. This is indicated in the BMW TIS: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...rakes/Gg0mEIUE. Other single piece rotors on the 228 and 230 can be machined without a problem, as per the instructions in the TIS.

Thanks aerobod. That's what I suspected.
In the past, I would never put new pads on a 'used' (shiny) rotor, because I was concerned about the pads not bedding properly. But, maybe I was just being over cautious.
What's your thoughts/experiences on putting the new pads on 'used' rotors, assuming of course that they are above minimum spec and do not have any big grooves/ridges?

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by PeterWT

Thanks aerobod. That's what I suspected.
In the past, I would never put new pads on a 'used' (shiny) rotor, because I was concerned about the pads not bedding properly. But, maybe I was just being over cautious.
What's your thoughts/experiences on putting the new pads on 'used' rotors, assuming of course that they are above minimum spec and do not have any big grooves/ridges?

No problem in putting pads on used rotors if the surface of the rotor has only cosmetic circumferential ridges (flat but some visible lines), no sign of surface heat marks (usually discolored hard spots) and are above the wear limit of 1.6mm total thickness loss (they allow up to 2.4mm for another set of pads to wear the rotor down an additional 0.8mm).

I've had as little as one set of pads per rotor on a couple of BMWs and as many as 3 sets of pads on one BMW and 2 BMWs with 2 sets per rotor, all with no issues when I've just measured the rotor thickness before changing the pads and kept to the spec.

[TonM3]

Originally Posted by PeterWT

Thanks aerobod. That's what I suspected.
In the past, I would never put new pads on a 'used' (shiny) rotor, because I was concerned about the pads not bedding properly. But, maybe I was just being over cautious.
What's your thoughts/experiences on putting the new pads on 'used' rotors, assuming of course that they are above minimum spec and do not have any big grooves/ridges?

Someone previously posted the OEM supplier Pilenga part number for the 2 piece rotors that were half the price.

[PeterWT]

Originally Posted by aerobod

No problem in putting pads on used rotors if the surface of the rotor has only cosmetic circumferential ridges (flat but some visible lines), no sign of surface heat marks (usually discolored hard spots) and are above the wear limit of 1.6mm total thickness loss (they allow up to 2.4mm for another set of pads to wear the rotor down an additional 0.8mm).

I've had as little as one set of pads per rotor on a couple of BMWs and as many as 3 sets of pads on one BMW and 2 BMWs with 2 sets per rotor, all with no issues when I've just measured the rotor thickness before changing the pads and kept to the spec.

Thank you sir. Mine look fine. I'll measure them and if they're above minimum I'll put the new pads in. Any recommendation for properly bedding a new ceramic pad on a 'used' rotor?

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by aerobod

No problem in putting pads on used rotors if [they] are above the wear limit of 1.6mm total thickness loss (they allow up to 2.4mm for another set of pads to wear the rotor down an additional 0.8mm).

As far as the front brakes are concerned, is this newtis page the source of the data you present:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...kes/1VnXuTBEfk?

The reason I ask is I'm reading that our "M vehicles" (Brembo brakes) are to have their rotors replaced at 1.6mm of wear, while non-M vehicles (base brakes) will tolerate 2.4mm of wear.

Perhaps you can explain this, too: in the case of non-M vehicles, why does BMW require a wear reserve of 0.8+mm before replacing pads?

Thanks.

[Rollo`]

I thought I was on the brembo official web site but was instead on brembostoreusa.com according to my invoice. Sorry about the misinformation. (turns out that was the official site, see post below)

I just received them and have had my rotors and current pads on for less than a month so I will be just replacing the pads.

[Rollo`]

Originally Posted by Rollo`

Well, it seems I was duped. I thought I was on the brembo official web site but was instead on brembostoreusa.com according to my invoice. Sorry about the misinformation.

I just received them and have had my rotors and current pads on for less than a month so I will be just replacing the pads.

Actually I was on the brembo site and I did buy from the somewhat recent (April 2019) brembo online store. Also missed them somehow on Rockauto so I guess this isn't as good a deal as I thought.

https://www.bremboparts.com/america/...es-live-116789

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by dradernh

As far as the front brakes are concerned, is this newtis page the source of the data you present:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...kes/1VnXuTBEfk?

The reason I ask is I'm reading that our "M vehicles" (Brembo brakes) are to have their rotors replaced at 1.6mm of wear, while non-M vehicles (base brakes) will tolerate 2.4mm of wear.

Perhaps you can explain this, too: in the case of non-M vehicles, why does BMW require a wear reserve of 0.8+mm before replacing pads?

Thanks.

The standard BMW wear limit on all the rotors I have looked at is 1.6mm wear from the nominal thickness (this is stamped into the rotor), if above that limit with standard rotors you can still replace the pads without having to replace the rotors, but once the rotors have worn to 2.4mm below the nominal thickness, they have to be replaced, no matter whether the pads are worn or not.

In the case of some ///M rotors (such as the ones I had on my Z4M), they likely don’t allow more wear due to the risk of cracking of the cross drilled holes. They may just assume ///M rotors are used more aggressively, so the risk of cracking is higher with the standard additional wear limit.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Rollo`

Actually I was on the brembo site and I did buy from the somewhat recent (April 2019) brembo online store. Also missed them somehow on Rockauto so I guess this isn't as good a deal as I thought.

https://www.bremboparts.com/america/...es-live-116789

Thanks. Your link led me to discover that Brembo sells M Perf dimpled and slotted 370X30 rotors: https://www.brembostoreusa.com/produ...30-f22-f34-f36.

[Rollo`]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Thanks. Your link led me to discover that Brembo sells M Perf dimpled and slotted 370X30 rotors: https://www.brembostoreusa.com/produ...30-f22-f34-f36.

Awesome...a little payback for your most excellent advice re M Performance brakes.

[TonM3]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Thanks. Your link led me to discover that Brembo sells M Perf dimpled and slotted 370X30 rotors: https://www.brembostoreusa.com/product/09c39413-brembo-front-left-or-right-disc-m-perf-brake-rotor-brembo-for-bmw-f20-f30-f22-f34-f36.

Is that the size that goes with the blue caliper brakes?

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Rollo`

Awesome...a little payback for your most excellent advice re M Performance brakes.

You are too kind, good sir.

Originally Posted by TonM3

Is that the size that goes with the blue caliper brakes?

No, it goes with the M Performance Brake Kit, which has a front rotor size of 370X30, while the M Sport brake system (the blue caliper brake system) on M235s and M240s has a front rotor size of 340X30.

I swear, someday a bright college student will earn an advanced degree after being the first person to fully explain, in plain English, what is possible with each BMW model in terms of OEM braking components. Pending that, we have this: https://www.bimmerworld.com/About-Us...-Sport-Brakes/, including this caveat "This page is evolving as we continue to find exceptions and changes made in the middle of production."

Kudos to Bimmerworld for making the effort to keep all of this straight for us. They are more than worthy of our business. No affiliation, simply a very satisfied customer.

[PeterWT]

Does anyone know the correct process to bed these Brembo ceramic pads properly on the used rotors? Gentle & slow or hard & fast?
Thanks!

[Rollo`]

I installed the Brembo ceramic pads today and they are great so far. Initial bite is actually better and since I don't track the car I will probably not know what I am missing regarding the M performance pads likely better fade resistance.

I bedded them gentle and fast, I did some medium pressure high speed braking from 80 down to 30 and avoided any hard full stops while driving around today and they seem to be fine.

[PeterWT]

Originally Posted by Rollo`

I installed the Brembo ceramic pads today and they are great so far. Initial bite is actually better and since I don't track the car I will probably not know what I am missing regarding the M performance pads likely better fade resistance.

I bedded them gentle and fast, I did some medium pressure high speed braking from 80 down to 30 and avoided any hard full stops while driving around today and they seem to be fine.

Good to hear that you're happy with them.
Thanks for sharing your approach to bedding them.
I've never replaced the pads on this car. Any tips I should be aware of before I do it? Or is it pretty straight forward, just: remove springs, remove pins, remove sensors, grease contact points on new pads and then reverse procedure for install?

[Rollo`]

Originally Posted by PeterWT

Good to hear that you're happy with them.
Thanks for sharing your approach to bedding them.
I've never replaced the pads on this car. Any tips I should be aware of before I do it? Or is it pretty straight forward, just: remove springs, remove pins, remove sensors, grease contact points on new pads and then reverse procedure for install?

I used a small drill bit as a punch to get the pins out and yes that is all there is to it, well actually you remove the pins or one pin at least, and then the spring clips. These fixed piston brakes may be the easiest I have ever changed and I have been doing my own brakes for decades.

I didn't even change out the sensors since these had been installed for less than a month so that made it even quicker for me. Super easy process.