top6491

Based on comments from the forum, I purchased R1 Concepts premium drilled rotors and the Hawk HPS pads combo for my front brakes on my 545. After switching from OEM rotors and Axxis Deluxe pads, the pedal feel was suddenly quite soft. The car stopped fine towards the end of pedal travel, but I no longer had that initial bite I love. So, I had the brakes bled, thinking maybe there was some air in the lines somewhere causing the softness. They still feel the same, and I am not comfortable with it. The Axxis pads created very little brake dust, so that is not a factor in this decision, pedal feel is. Is anyone else experiencing a marked decrease in bite after switching to the HPS pads?

Also, my Axxis pads have a ton of life left. Is it advisable to switch back to the Axxis pads and see if that increases the initial bite I want back, or will it damage the new rotors somehow? If I can, then someone can have my HPS pads, cheap.

Thanks...

pjinca

I did the same switch as you. I feel the same mushy pedal, however, I think the problem is that I need to bed in the Hawks again. The R1 concepts rotors seem to come with a particularly resilient e-coating to resist rust (which is good), but the flip side is that the e-coating takes longer to burn - so it seems.
When I bed-in my brakes I take my car to a nearby industrial area of warehouses that is typically empty at night and on weekends. Then I do 12-14 runs of 10mph - 60mph - 10mph - 60mph, never coming to a complete stop and continuing until I can smell the brakes. Then I let them cool down and they should be good after that. I did this when I switched to hawk pads on my stock rotors and the initial bite was AMAZING. I suspect the resilience of the e-coating is keeping the pads from biting quite as well as they should.
BTW, we bled my brakes 5 times just to make sure and I am positive there is no air in the lines. I also upgraded to stainless steel brake lines.

525iEnjoy

my joints hurt just reading this LOL

pjinca

You and me both Bro, still a little sore, but it was well worth it.

top6491

I did the initial bedding with several 60-10 and 70-10 runs, but I'll try again. Did the SS lines make a big difference?

pjinca

They haven't yet, but, as I said, I think at this point it has more to do with the coating on the rotors than the pads/lines.

acuteperformance

You have to drive the car for a few hundred miles before the brakes are at full potential.

Michael
Owner
Acute Performance

pjinca

I figured as much Michael, plus, 525iEnjoy also said the same. I was just hoping to speed the process along a little with another break in run

acuteperformance

That works too.