[Shotimes] Brake Upgrade time... again

[Donald Mallinson]

Carl,

Check out the Akebono pads for your BMW.  I put them on my 540 for the 
brief period I had it and did a two day track event at Gateway (turn one 
is from 120+ mph to 90, then turn to drops immediately down to 45 or 
so).  Zero problems, almost no wear, very little dust.  Tire Rack has 
them.   They don't recommend them for track days, but my friend that 
runs a very good german(and other brands ) import repair shop recommends 
them for track use and I have used them now on my 96 and my son's 95.  
There may be softer more aggressive race pads, but for a street/track 
combo, the Akebono is very hard to beat.

Don Mallinson

Carl Prochilo wrote:

>Back from Wilma...
>
>Until I did the Road Atlanta event at the '99 convention, I had never
>given the brakes much thought other than the constant warping of the
>rotors I endured.  To prep for the track event, I installed PFCM pads
>and new rotors.  In the second session, I had the car at about 110
>going down the long straight.  When the brake pedal sank straight to
>the floor I had a very bad feeling.  Fortunately pumping the brakes a
>few more time gave me enough hydraulic pressure to slow the car down. 
>That's why when I had the opportunity to do the 96 brake upgrade I
>never blinked.
>
>I just don't understand the design decision to put 10" brakes on the SHO.
>
>By contrast, the 330i I have now has 13" brakes!!!  I think I'm set on
>this car.  The only thing I might consider is going to ceramic pads
>after I do some more research on them.  Apparently BMW pads are known
>to wear out after only 20K miles.  But man do they stop hard.