Ok.. I need to check someone elses brakes

My '98 M3/4 has Ziimmerman rotors and Hawks HPS pads and the pedal is soft! The brakes were bled 3 weeks ago and are hardly better... I have not driven an M3 with stock brakes since 3 months before I bought mine in November, so I cannot recall what they feel like..

If anyone (CyrusM3??) in the San Jose area has an E36 M3 with stock brakes and would be kind enough to let me drive it around the block (regular speeds, I WILL baby your car!) I would so appreciate it.. then you could drive mine and tell me what you think if you want...

Thanks in advance!

Serg

Serg this is hilarious.

Today (saturday) I started getting pissed about my brakes being so soft so I decides to change my front pads. Well that didn't go so well, so I'm considering taking it to a midas next weekend.

I bought all the equip needed from the http://hock.net/m-brake-pads-step-1.php DIY to do my front pads. If you think you need to change some stuff out I'd LOOVEE to get together and have a brake-party.

Sorry I can't help you with the "feel" though. I'll ask a couple friends around here with e36 m3s though.

You could try mine (stock brakes/pads) but I'm not sure when I'll have time, there are the two NFL playoff games tomorrow but maybe I could fit it in somewhere... I'll check back here sometime tomorrow and see if anyone else has stepped up first.

You may want to review some of the older posts about aftermarket pads, and there are a million of 'em. Some pads, and I think the Hawk HPS, are supposed to work as well or better but a common observation is that they don't have as good an initial "bite" as the factory pads. Could that be what you're feeling? Some also apparently work better once they're thoroughly warmed up.

If they're making you nervous though, I'd get them checked by a professional. Brakes are one of those components you really don't want to fail you at the wrong time.

Well no one has stepped up to the plate.. no rush.. I would just like to find someones car to look at.. I might go to a dealer on Stevens Creek today to drive one and see.. he he...

Serg

you work on Monday? I'd be game for a mutual swap-ride... cant today (Sunday).

You might try to re bleed your system. Make sure to use a mallet and tap around the caliper to free any trapped bubbles then go from the farthest caliper to the reservoir to the closest. A quick way to see if you have air in the system is to apply a quick pump of the brake and then a full application as you come to a stop. If the second app. is firmer then there is air.
Hope it helps
Jason

If you want to try my brakes PM me before 11am tomorrow. I've got to drive from where I work in south San Jose up to Los Gatos at lunch so I could probably meet up then. Otherwise you may want to check with Art.

Maybe bring it by MotorSpeed West in Santa Clara instead of the Dealer.. Those guys are very knowledgeable, and will be able to answer just about anything.

MCorpse..

Motorspeed West did all the work on my last BMW for 5 years.. Bill and Ken are great.. The recommendation from Dynospot this morning was to add SS lines (which I wanted to do anyhow) and flush it completely and then go from there.

Serg

Well Art and I met up today and I got to drive his Techno Violet 'Vert M3 while I followed him in my car..

The brakes in his car felt a little better than mine, but not as good as I think they should be.

Anyhow the guys at DynoSpot Racing recommended SS lnes (which I wanted to do anyway) so I will do that next and see how it feel with that and a full brake flush.

Thanks again Art for letting me drive your car...

Serg