Cool Carbon Brake Pads

[TiAgX5]

Check Brake Lining message just came up, I will be going with the Cool Carbon Ceramic S/T pads front and rear.

Searched everywhere and the best deal is just under $200 on BavAuto, with their 20% off special (retail is $230 everywhere else I looked). When I repaced the pads on my E46 330i Perf Pkg 4 yrs ago the pads were $130. WTF??? A $100 increase in price over 4 yrs during a down economy???? FYI, Cool Carbon prices their pads at $117.50 fronts and $112.50 rears regardless of model application.

I guess the word got out just how good these pads are and I may have helped that.

Anyone here seen any deals on these pads I may have missed during my search?

[admranger]

I'm using Akebono ceramic pads all around. The pedal feel is not nearly as nice as stock, but the near invisibility of the brake dust makes it worthwhile.

I got mine at tirerack.com

BTW: at first I only used them on the fronts and I had "weird" braking feel. Really weird. It dawned on my the stock rear pads had a higher initial 'bite' and different 'release' characteristics. Switching to the same compound all around made a world of difference.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by admranger

I'm using Akebono ceramic pads all around. The pedal feel is not nearly as nice as stock, but the near invisibility of the brake dust makes it worthwhile.

I got mine at tirerack.com

BTW: at first I only used them on the fronts and I had "weird" braking feel. Really weird. It dawned on my the stock rear pads had a higher initial 'bite' and different 'release' characteristics. Switching to the same compound all around made a world of difference.

Had the Akebono pads on the E46 prior to the Cool Carbons and found I could get the Akebono to fade in around 7 or 8 hard stops back to back from around 80 mph in 90deg heat. The Cool Carbons use a hollow caramic formula that reduces fade (better heat dissapation), after 12 hard back to back stops from 80 mph without fade on the Cool Carbon, I knew what I would continue to install on fast and/or heavy vehicles. The Cool Carbon pads actually performed better on rotors that where thinned down while wearing out the Akebono pads. With the reduced heat sinking effect of thinner rotor I expected the Cool Carbon pads to fade sooner.

I've read E46, E90, E39, M5....... owners have post similar findings in other BMW forums too, so it's not just me.

Might be why BMW uses Cool Carbon pads in all their big brake upgrade pkgs too.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Had the Akebono pads on the E46 prior to the Cool Carbons and found I could get the Akebono to fade in around 7 or 8 hard stops back to back from around 80 mph in 90deg heat. The Cool Carbons use a hollow caramic formula that reduces fade (better heat dissapation), after 12 hard back to back stops from 80 mph without fade on the Cool Carbon, I knew what I would continue to install on fast and/or heavy vehicles. The Cool Carbon pads actually performed better on rotors that where thinned down while wearing out the Akebono pads. With the reduced heat sinking effect of thinner rotor I expected the Cool Carbon pads to fade sooner.

I've read E46, E90, E39, M5....... owners have post similar findings in other BMW forums too, so it's not just me.

Might be why BMW uses Cool Carbon pads in all their big brake upgrade pkgs too.

Interesting!

Linky to the last bit about the big brake upgrade using cool carbon pads.

[srmmmm]

I have to vote for the Akebono pads. My last set of four was about $155 from FCP Groton. They put together a good package for me with Brembo rotors first time around and I got over 130,000 miles on those pads. I've got 39,000 miles on this set, with still no measurable wear on the rotors at all.

As others have noted, the initial grab is not as tight as OEM, but total stopping power is just as good. I've never experienced any fade problems towing a PWC in Texas heat.

2002 X5 3.0 241,000 miles
2004 325i 107,000 miles

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by admranger

Interesting!

Linky to the last bit about the big brake upgrade using cool carbon pads.

In speaking with a Sr tech at Bert Smith BMW in St Pete about pad I was informed that BMW is using 2 pad suppliers for their big brake kits, Brembo and Cool Carbon.

Will see if I can find a link.

[bcredliner]

The question being where you can buy want at a lesser price than you have found rather than what you should buy--- I just purchased new rear pads and rotors. Along the way I took note of Cool carbon prices even though I was searching for best price on another brand I have on the front. I don't recall a price as good as you have found.

Check to see if AutoAnything carries the pads you want. I have a 15% of discount certificate I can PM you the code.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The question being where you can buy want at a lesser price than you have found rather than what you should buy--- I just purchased new rear pads and rotors. Along the way I took note of Cool carbon prices even though I was searching for best price on another brand I have on the front. I don't recall a price as good as you have found.

Check to see if AutoAnything carries the pads you want. I have a 15% of discount certificate I can PM you the code.

Thanks Brian. They don't carry the Cool Carbon pads at AutoAnything. Doubt they would sell many sets seeing that Cool Carbon only produces pads for BMW, Porsche and Stoptech from reading the application data on their website.......

Cool Carbon Performance Brake Pads

[TiAgX5]

Best deal currently out there is BavAuto, 15% off full F/R set with free shipping (and no tax). $195.45 for the pads and $15.95 for rear wear sensor. Ordered today.

[ChesapeakeX5]

I put the CC's on my 4.4 along with Centric rotors and would not do it again. Was very happy with the rotors, but disappointed with the pads. Only slightly less dust than factory pads which was a disappointment.

Less fade than OE which was nice but not worth the cost, especially since they didn't cut down on the dust. Could not get them to stop making noise when I was backing up....odd. I've done 20+ brake jobs in 35 years and this was the first that I couldn't solve a noise problem which I attribute to the pads. They were quiet in forward.

I've used posi quiets on other trucks and was happy with those for stopping and low dust and they'd be my next pad on the X.

My 2 cents