From digest.v4.n817 Mon Jul 8 13:20:48 1996
From: "Carl Buckland" <buckland_at_>
Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 11:48:13 +0000
Subject: Brake dust and sways

> From:          CurtAinSB_at_aol.com

> Date:          Fri, 5 Jul 1996 21:52:48 -0400
> To:            buckland_at_
> Subject:       BMW questions

> Hey Carl-
>
> I was navigating the web and came across your name on the... was it
> the BMW Enthusiasts' page? You wrote a small section on brake pads.
> I have a '95 M3, love the performance, but HATE the brake dust.
> Hate is definitely the word here. I plan to keep my car forever and
> don't plan to autocross or race it. I would be willing to sacrifice
> a bit of performance for a nice, quiet, low wear, NO DUST set of
> brake pads. Any suggestions on brand and where to buy them? Thanks
> for the help!!
>
> Curt Allen
> CurtAinSB_at_aol.com
>
> P.S. Any experience with sway bars (brand, price, etc?)

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Dear Curt,

I find the Repco- now PBR, pads to be somewhat better than the stock Jurids in stopping power. The rotor wear seems about the same (either non-existent or minimal), and the dust VERY minimal.Some dust is a fact of life with brake pads. DON'T put on after market dust shields, as they inhibit cooling.

I bought my PBR Deluxes from BMP, at 1-800-648-7278. Ask for Anthony, and tell him I sent you. They are not only inexpensive, but even less expensive than the stock pads.

I think that the PBR Deluxes are more than adequate for the occational autocross, and ok for the track. NO street pad will work really well after it gets hot, but careful monitoring of their heat (let them cool off after a few laps by slowing down, using the brakes less for a while) will help you avoid fade. Get them REALLY hot, and they not only don't work, but then you have to worry about rotor warpage. NEVER set your emergency brake when they are hot, and try to go that last few laps of the drivers school without using your brakes at all, so they can cool down before parking. Even drive off the racetrack grounds, and *slowly* cruise for awhile if you can.

For autocross, I use Hawk Y-5's, and Hawk Blues for the track.

SWAY BARS I recently bought the Racing Dynamics bars (27mm front, and 22 rear) to use in conjuction with my current set up of H&R springs and Bilstein rear shocks, and Koni front adjustables(I don't have, but this is what I would recommend). I will soon have adjustable coilovers from H&R instead.

The sways make a HUGE difference in car balance under hard cornering. I am not sure that I would recommend them for a stock setup. I will defer to others for that, because I wouldn't even consider changing sways until after the springs and struts and shocks had been changed. There is one school of thought that advocates stiffer (and adjustable) sways even BEFORE shocks and springs.

I set my rear bar at full soft, and front at the medium of three settings. I will not mess with success-this setting seems to be perfect. May want to vary for various applications.

Regards,

Carl

Carl Buckland
1000 Boston Bldg
Nine Exchange Place
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
801-531-6686
Fax 531-6690
E Mail buckland_at_