Great info Neil...read an article about this a few days ago :thumbup:

Good suggestion.

I assumed he would have known this by now. There are MANY threads regarding this floating around here.

You're right. The pros and cons have been debated over and over.
I believe the pads are "Akebono's" They were installed just to overcome
some of the dust problem. I was informed when they were installed
that they would have a different feel. Maybe even a softer, less
grabbing feel. At this point though it's all good. I may go back to OE just
for the sake of the more aggressive gripping feel.

:bustingup

I was actually just referring to the bedding in your brakes suggestion.

Yes I know. I was agreeing with you Thats why I said
"The pros and cons have been debated over and over."
Thanks for the suggestion.

O.K. I am just not aware of any "cons" when it comes to properly bedding in your brakes.

BMW needs to get to work and design a pad that works well and doesn't have that annoying dust.

I wonder what is next for brakes. The rotors in use now are huge and heavy things to have bouncing around out there, robbing fuel economy, performance, ride and handling.

They are cheap to make and serve as a profit center for dealers...

Maybe everything will be electric with the motors also serving as brakes. Of course, replacing four electric motors might be a tad more expensive than rotors and pads at your friendly dealer...

Or, maybe something like some sort of high-tech drum brake might make a comeback. Years ago, Pontiac had an option of alloy wheels with built-in drums. It was so cool. Then there were those huge Buick finned aluminum drums that were polished up and used on many hot rods. If I built a rod I would consider them for a dramatic retro look.

I remember reading about some sort of "conical" drum system developed by GM. Supposedly they were super good, light and simple, but I haven't heard anything about them.

Formula One technology is dependent on exotic materials to get light weight and super performance. You would think that maybe consumer versions might have trickled down by now, but aside from the $10000 ceramic brake option from Porsche (are they actually lighter, or just better?) nothing seems to be happening.

Maybe some forum members are more up to date on this subject.

I remember seeing something that peaked my interest in the short run Discovery channel show "Smash Lab" where they were making elevator style fire escapes using high powered magnets over a fixed aluminum beam. Something about the aluminum going through the magnetic field caused it to slow dramatically as a contactless braking system and lowered the loaded platform effortlessly in a slow controlled manner.

I'd bet solid aluminum rotors with high powered electric magnets run through pulse width modulation would make a functional braking system, but you would still need some physical brakes as a backup and to get you to a full stop once slowed.

But we are far away from technology like that to make into the automotive world... I'd think just one huge brake disc setup at the transmission output (between the transmission and transfer case) like used on drag cars would provide braking evenly through all wheels, but you would lose wheel specific anti-lock capabilities.

There are benefits and draw backs to all braking system options, and the main drawback to the current system is merely brake dust accumulation which is just a cosmetic appearance problem. :dunno:

That is interesting technology. Or, take MB's idea of a chassis air bag and use a gigantic full length drop-down tire tread that would have 1000X the contact area of the biggest tires. Heck, you could use it to stop spins and sliding off the road as well.

Someday there will be unknown (nano?) technology tires that have almost unlimited grip, to where a full and sudden application of the required super-brakes would be fatal to the humans in the car unless there was some sort of of deceleration system for them.

In any event, the weight of the rotors used today is a big problem. A lot of money has been spent developing aluminum motor parts, transmission cases and silly aluminum hoods and the like, but nothing for the brakes. The dust is an annoyance, but the weight actually decreases the efficiency of the vehicle.