I need to place my brake pads on my 04 mini. Besides going stock, what
brand would you recommend ? I would like to get pads that will work with the brake pad sensors.

 

Try reading some threads in the Tires/Brakes section.

I use Axxis brand pads support the brake pad sensors front and rear. See thread here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=156703


Hawks do not support the sensor in the rear IIRC. Mintex is another popular brand but no idea about the sensor support. Try searching.

 

I usually don't mind paying for a premium pad (for some of my other cars,) but I just got these for the mini front...

Monroe DX939 Dynamic Premium Brake Pad on Amazon .com

$30-$20 rebate (=$10 I'll give them a try.)
Semi Metallic, came packaged nicer than most pads I've bought.

 

A really common replacement/upgrade from stock brake pads would be the Hawk HPS street pads or the Hawk Ceramics.

I replaced my stock pads with the HPS back in 2004. The HPS are a low dust street performance pad with a little more bite than the stock pad and have a longer life. I had these on my car for 25k miles with a lot of hard driving and loved them.

The Hawk ceramics are another popular pad; several of the guys in my club run these. I have never used them, but they are supposed to be very similar to the HPS. I've been told the brake dust from these pads is a brown sand-like material.

OutMotoring always gets my order perfect, has great customer service, and usually has the best prices so...

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...rake_pads.html

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...mic_brake_pads

Finally, there are hundreds of older threads with the same basic question with many good responses, so try searching some of those.

 

Becareful because the stock rotors are soft. (It seems that way to me)
If you run the Ceramic they will chew rotors as well.
Ive found it prudent to steer away from the bargan sort of pads after a bad exprence from a set(I set them on FIRE three times.)

 

Carbotech Bobcat (1521) pads are easy on rotors, VERY low dust, quiet, long life, and perform very well for street pads. I had the Hawk Ceramics (which I liked a lot) and I consider the Bobcats I have now a definite upgrade. They can be ordered with or without the sensor slots.

 

I agree with Cooper99, Hawk Ceramics are terrific. In performance, long life and definitly exteamly low on dust. I replaced my rotors at the same time with TSW Slotted. Great combo.

 

+1 for the carbotech bobcats. They are like stock when cold and bite really hard with just a little heat. As long as you are not going to heavily track them, they are great. They take a lot of heat, just don't smoke them...it will make them squeak until you wear the surface down a bit. Oh and practically no dust. I have the mintex on the back and they have twice as much dust as the carbotech on the front. Bobcats are great pads.

 

The CT 1521 pads come with the sensor slots, but can be ordered without them if you ask.

The 1521's are not track pads. I have run them very hard at the Dragon, and other such roads and have never had fade. Just FYI.

 

I agree, the Carbotechs are great pads.