i've read many people hear complain about brake wear. but, i wonder if it is more prevelant on MT's or AT's.

Please post your comments and mention your tranny types.

If you are MT, please mention if you downshift to help slow car down or not.

Thanks

04 6mtC

 

I have a 6MT coupe with 11,000 miles on it. I replaced all 4 brake pads this weekend because I could not stand the dust anymore. I was surprised to see that all of the brakes were in excellent condition; there was plenty pad left. No, I do not downshift to slow the car.

ZEX wet kit 140 WHP
ZEX remote opener, bottle heater
Denso iridium 2 steps
Z tube, Amsoil filter
JIC-Magic traction rods
BFG Drag Radials 265/40/18
12.85 @ 108.5

 

MrElussive:

Did you BED your Brembos and if not do they squeak?

 

MrEllusive - I installed Hawk HPS pads. Today is the first I've driven the car since the install and bedding, so there hasn't been enough driving for me to really comment on the dust; after 60 miles= no dust.. As for performance, I cannot tell a difference.

ZEX wet kit 140 WHP
ZEX remote opener, bottle heater
Denso iridium 2 steps
Z tube, Amsoil filter
JIC-Magic traction rods
BFG Drag Radials 265/40/18
12.85 @ 108.5

 

StudlyMobile,

All else equal, an AT transmission vehicle will tend to wear brakes more than a MT vehicle.

Downshifting certainly helps (which even AT drivers can do now), although in a MT car, downshifting to save brake pad life is at the expense of the clutch and throwout bearing and related parts. Personally, I'd rather skip most downshifting (for braking) and use the brake pads, intead of the clutch components.

But either way, a MT car usually has longer brake pad life than an AT car, all else being equal.

 

That's very true. A brake job is cheaper than a clutch job. You should only use lower gears for braking on long downhill descents, to avoid overheating the brakes.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

i live in NJ and was driving out to PA this weekend. while on highway the thought came to me. i read much about brakes wearing and rotors in need of replacement. then i wondered....

MT or AT.

still looking for more feedback.

aside.. if you downshift properly, and when you have plenty of time to slow down, will it still cause damage?

i read where a study showed americans wore clutches faster because they didn't push it all the way down.

04 6mtC

 

StudlyMobile,

Theoretically, you can downshift properly and cause zero wear on the clutch. But in real life, that is almost impossible to do on a consistent basis.

Plus, if you think about it, every single time you press down on that clutch pedal, you're creating wear on various components.... most importantly, your throw out bearing (aka clutch release bearing). So, to use a commen sense approach, does it make sense to downshift every time you want to stop, or should you just use your brakes to stop? The answer is fairly obvious to me, although I'll admit downshifting can be a lot of fun.

Don't get me wrong-- I still downshift sometimes.... just not all the time.

 

i've never really tried measuring between brake wear and clutch wear. i down shift just because i've been driving exclusively sticks for the past 6 years, and it seemed natural.

yes, when you have to slam on the brakes, you don't always have time downshift.

04 6mtC

 

I got caught in some stop and go traffic on the way home yesterday...these pads squealed so loud I thought I was watching a scene from Deliverance! Horrible!!

ZEX wet kit 140 WHP
ZEX remote opener, bottle heater
Denso iridium 2 steps
Z tube, Amsoil filter
JIC-Magic traction rods
BFG Drag Radials 265/40/18
12.85 @ 108.5

 

still looking for more feedback

04 6mtC