Brembo or Tarox brake discs?

[chris watton]

My wife asked me to ask you guys which are better for her 2004 Cooper S, as the discs need changing. She would like new callipers too, but I think they would be too expensive....

[steve-5snwi]

Brembo will be fine, GSF and Euro car parts will stock them and I think nextdaybrakes do too. Also check with Mini as they lowered the prices on service parts recently.

Calipers, if they work then there is no need to replace them.

[chris watton]

steve-5snwi said:

Brembo will be fine, GSF and Euro car parts will stock them and I think nextdaybrakes do too. Also check with Mini as they lowered the prices on service parts recently.

Calipers, if they work then there is no need to replace them.

Cheers, I'll tell her to go for Brembo. There may be something wrong with one of the callipers, so may have them refurbished..

[steve-5snwi]

You can buy seals and refurb kits on ebay, otherwise the likes of APEC, Pagid and Brake Engineering all sell refurbished calipiers. Pagid woul be my first choice, although if the pistons push back easy then just a clean should suffice.

[SlimJim16v]

Tarox are just clever marketing and I've had an issue with Brembos being poorly machined.
Get Pagid or EBC which I always use now.

Edited by SlimJim16v on Sunday 15th April 00:29

[R53rider]

If you need to deal with a caliper, you could consider going R56 S fronts? I've just done it - all new calipers and carriers (TRW) with Brembo PVT Vented Discs 09.A047.41 and Mintex M1144 MDB2816 pads. I didn't think it would make that much difference ........ but it has, really, really impressive stopping. I'm delighted. They provide a lot of 'feel' as well in day to day driving.
I've not tracked my car but did "Minis at Dunsfold" last year (driving the Top Gear track) and my standard R53 brakes just gave up. I had braided hoses already. The pedal didn't go to the floor ........ just virtually no stopping. Looking forward to doing it again on 2nd June this year to compare. Think the R56s will be fine.