North American Motoring

Mini Cooper 2001-2006: Brake Pad Reviews

Having good brake pads in your Mini Cooper can completely change your brake performance. Read on to learn about the most popular brands on the market.

By Bassem Girgis - May 26, 2016

This article applies to the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S (2001-2006).

The brake pads are critical components in your Mini Cooper's brake system. These little pads clamp up to the rotors when you step on the brake pedal, which is what stops your car. The aftermarket world is full of different brands of pads that are manufactured to do different things. Whether you are interested in pads that produce no dust, ones that are silent, or you want the pads that were designed for the ultimate performance, this guide will shine some light on all the popular brands for your Mini Cooper. Read on to learn about the pads that fit your style and budget the most.

Brake Pads
OEM
Hawk HPS
StopTech Street Performance
EBC Redstuff
EBC Yellowstuff
Price
 $74 $104 $76 $80 $111
Noise Level
 Low Low Medium Medium Low
Intended Use
 Street Track Street/Light Track Street Track/Drift Racing
Lifespan
 50,000 Miles 50,000 Miles 50,000 Miles 50,000 Miles 50,000 Miles+
Dust Level
 Low Low Low Low Medium
Best Quality: Hawk HPS

Best Value: Hawk HPS

OEM

Price – $74

Noise Level – Low

Intended Use – Street

Lifespan – 50,000 Miles

Dust Level – Low

OEM brake pads are what the factory recommends for your Mini Cooper. It can be said that you can't really go wrong with the OEM pads. These pads fit the old saying, "jack of all trades, master of none." These pads can do everything, and they do it well, but you can't say they're the best at one thing. These pads are designed for regular everyday driving. They are comfortable, have good stopping power, and when it comes to dust and noise, they get the job done without being too messy or too loud. Although they work well, their stopping power is considerably less than that of the aftermarket competitors. Although the factory claims these pads can last you for 50,000 miles, this is only true if you baby your brakes. The average Mini Cooper driver would be lucky to get 30,000 miles out of these. Recommended if you're looking for basic brake pads.

Hawk HPS

Price – $104

Noise Level – Low

Intended Use – Track

Lifespan – 50,000 Miles

Dust Level – Low

Hawk HPS is a popular brand among forum users. These pads are designed for performance and high heat operation, which means even though the factory claims they will last you 50,000 miles, it's different than the 50,000 the OEM pads offer, because this is 50,000 miles of performance braking. These pads are designed to withstand a higher temperature than the OEM pads, which allows it to not only last 20% longer, but also protect the rotors. The manufacturer claims these pads will give you 40% better stopping power than the OEM ones, and that's a lot of stopping power. These pads are designed to produce very low dust; however, if you go to the track and use the brakes in an extreme way, expect some dust on your rims. Although these are performance pads, some extreme track experts claim that even though these work on the track, they start to wear after a heavy track day. Recommended if you're looking for basic performance pads.

StopTech Street Performance

Price – $76

Noise Level – Medium

Intended Use –Street/Light Track

Lifespan – 50,000 Miles

Dust Level – Low

The StopTech brake pads are designed for street use; don't expect too much of them when on the track. The high temperature compound on the pads allow the pads to wear evenly, which can ensure a healthy brake rotor. These pads come with scorched surface, which allow them to grip in both hot and cold temperatures. Many customers claim these pads enhanced their brake pedal feel over the OEM pads. There have been some complaints, like how these pads tend to lose a lot of stopping power after the break-in process. Some even claimed that they don't bite as well as the OEM pads; however, everyone agreed that they produce much lower dust than most competitors. Recommended if you're looking for pads with very low dust.

EBC Redstuff

Price – $80

Noise Level – Medium

Intended Use – Street

Lifespan – 50,000 Miles

Dust Level – Low

EBC Redstuff is a popular brand for the Mini Cooper. The company claims these pads will produce 80% less dust than the average brake pads, which are the OEM level pads. There have been numerous complaints about their noise; however, some have gone as far to describe the noise as being "terrible." Although the company claims these pads could last you up to 50,000 miles, most users claimed that they do not last anywhere near that number. A lot of people praise these pads, claiming they work extremely well during emergency stops. Most users agree that these are not for track use, but then again, the manufacturer never claimed them to be. Recommended if you're looking for a slight upgrade from OEM pads.

EBC Yellowstuff

Price – $111

Noise Level – Low

Intended Use – Track/Drift Racing

Lifespan – 50,000 Miles+

Dust Level – Medium

Although most brake pad manufacturers claim their pads last 50,000 miles, this can change based on your driving style. For instance, if you use the EBC Yellowstuff for regular, gentle street use, they can last for up to 70,000 miles. These pads are designed to be extreme track pads, even as extreme as drift racing. These pads feature a center line slotting, which allows the heat to escape, thus keeping the pads cool and performing at the highest potential. These pads come powder coated, which ensures they don't rust, which is especially beneficial if you live in an area where rust is an issue. These are a huge upgrade from the Redstuff pads and can last twice as long. Some users claimed these pads started squealing at the beginning, but after a few hundred miles, they went completely quiet. These pads do produce quite a bit of dust, so if that is one of your pet peeves, then consider a competitor with low dust pads. Recommended if you're looking for high performance pads that are quieter.

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