After the fire....

[gavsdavs]

Due to the incineration of an almost brand new set of brake pads last weekend at Blyton (and subsequent damage of discs), I've thrown money at the Rogue shop and got new Carbotech Pantherplus pads and discs all round:



The discs from Rogue were a lot heavier than the discs that came off. Not because they are bigger, or that the other discs were as thin as bottletops - I suspect they are a different material. Anyone got info on that ??

They are absolutely perfect for sitting in central london traffic jams, which I do a lot of.

Note also new rev 5 sleep flaps

Shiny

[pistol pete]

good work buddy.. ready for the next track outing then...
feeling better for them brakes now

[gavsdavs]

good work buddy.. ready for the next track outing then...
feeling better for them brakes now

Yes, it feels better having brakes

Quite a lot of bite so far from what I can tell - starting to show how soft my suspension actually is - quite a dip at the front when they're biting hard.

[MartinF]

What pads did you previously have?

[Peter Gidden]

If you're regularly tracking the car, get rid of the back plates behind the discs.

[gavsdavs]

What pads did you previously have?

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/brake-p ... 42101.html

Don't think they'd bedded in or hardened up properly. Had done less than 1000 miles on the set - mainly motorways and certainly hadn't been properly hot.

Got black flagged at Blyton in about 10 laps (wet tarmac) because "sparks and flames" were coming from the front wheels. By the end of the day all the pad material had gone.

The pads before that (also the same Blue Prints) put up with 10K+ miles and were finally worn out by a day on Bedford. The wheels got hot, but they didn't catch fire.

[gavsdavs]

If you're regularly tracking the car, get rid of the back plates behind the discs.

I wouldn't say regular - but yes it will go on a track from time to time.
Was thinking about cobbling up some cooling ducts to the back plates - but whatever touches them has to put up with the heat.

Whats' the _downside_ of removing the back plates ? Why did they put them on ?

[synXero]

Whats' the _downside_ of removing the back plates ? Why did they put them on ?

I read something about this recently totally by accident. Apparently brake backing plates are generally there to keep brake dust off your wheels, and keep rain/water ingress from the discs structure and surfaces. That said, I doubt they are tremendously effective at either.

[gavsdavs]

I read something about this recently totally by accident. Apparently brake backing plates are generally there to keep brake dust off your wheels, and keep rain/water ingress from the discs structure and surfaces. That said, I doubt they are tremendously effective at either.

I have this urge to buy a 3d printer that can print metals. Not sure they're available for consumer money yet. Some bespoke metal inner ducts would be cool. If you know what I mean. Ha Ha

[Magic Beans]

Glad you've opted for some decent pads etc. I couldn't believe you'd chewed through the whole set of fronts so quickly last weekend

The Carbotechs I ran on mine were brilliant. Dusty as hell but the performance was absolutely what you wanted from a brake.

[craig]

I've got Carbotech pads on mine. Fantastic brake pads! Highly recommended, as above, pretty dusty though!

[gavsdavs]

.., pretty dusty though!

Dust is preferable to flames and soot.

Anyway, I'm into the grubby car look

[gavsdavs]

If you're regularly tracking the car, get rid of the back plates behind the discs.

Do you have any spares ?
I have a cunning plan....

[gavsdavs]

OK...I need some feedback from other carbotech users.

The pads do not sit inside the caliper completely snug.
All the retaining springs and clips are in place, but there is a bit of space at each end of each pad which permits it to move.

This manifests itself as a 'clunk' when the brakes are first engaged (and cold).

Is this to permit the pad to expand under heat ?

Have other people seen this, and if so what was the problem ?

Gavs.

[pistol pete]

I wouldn't have thought it would move bud

[gavsdavs]

I wouldn't have thought it would move bud

Agree, usually its because a spring/clip is missing, but I am assured the pads moved in the caliper with all of them in place on first installation.

Is this an inexperienced mechanic or a carbotech pad size thing?

[gavsdavs]

I suspect I need new springs:

[gavsdavs]

So the clunk persists. There is nothing wrong with the springs (but now I have a spare set).

The difference is that the carbotech pantherplus FRONT pads appear to be about 2mm narrower than a stock pad - which fits snug not permitting movement (I saw this comparison today).

Have I been sold the wrong pads ?

[pistol pete]

Might be worth giving specialist a ring who fit these all the time

[gavsdavs]

The pads are a different width

I will have a go at checking/replacing all the springs myself after its back from getting a new exhaust.

I have found there is a bit of variance around the width of front pads available for the MR2 - some are 114.0mm wide, some are 114.5mm, I haven't found/measured the exact dimensions of the carbotechs yet.

Might still be springs, but I might actually need some way of faking an increase in width in the pad to stop them from clunking in place.

Have a vid of it which I will post up later.