Recommendation needed: stock 2002 brake pads

[schwarz75]

It's time (after eight years) to replace the front pads on my stock '75 '02. What brands are OEM or similar to the OEM pads for this car?

A friend supplied me with Taxtar brand pads, but I notice that they are semi metallic. Didn't think that this car would use a semi metallic pad as a replacement for an original brake pad. Thanks for any help. - Larry

[Paul7002]

(nt)

[Napes]

I respectfully disagree w/ the recommendation for PBR Deluxe pads. I got them my mistake once and they screched so loud I pulled them off and got what I've used many, many times on all my ' 02s; PBR Metalmasters. They do not harm your rotors and you'll get little, or no, squeel outa' them.

Bob Napier

[c.d.iesel]

I love my BMW Original Teile - the TEXTAR compound is the BMW OEM part you should use - and measure your brake rotors for MIN. Thickness - which you will find stamped on the rotor at the hub area. Buy at any BMW dealer.

New pads of any make are krap if your rotors are grooved, uneven,

or too thin.

[TobyB]

I also like the Textar, with the caveat that they are kind of messy.

They grab well on the street, and if I don't drive the street car like the race car,

they even work well on the track.

I'd go one further than CD- if it's been that long, treat yourself to a new set of rotors. They're cheap, you should regrease your front hubs anyway, and nice, round rotors... well, it beats the shakes!

t

[Paul7002]

(nt)

[Zenon]

Another vote here for Textar as my fave (with a dust caveat). No fade in heavy use, great pedal feel, less effort, no problems when ice cold. They won't last as long as Metalmasters but they are easy on rotors. Better to have quick wearing pads in a 2002 anyway, I think - it keeps the pistons moving.

My direct personal experience with the PBR/Axxis/Repco pads on a stock 2002 system is that the Deluxe compund fades far too easily and the Metalmasters are sometimes scary on the first stop on a winter morning and generally suck for pedal feel and effort compared to the Textar. Neither Deluxe nor Metalmaster fit the calipers well so there is often a pronounced click/clunk when changing directions fwd/rev. To their credit, they produce very llittle dust. But maybe in this case dust=performance. In other applications they may be better - Deluxes were perfectly fine on my ex's 325e.

ATE and Pagid are also decent choices but I have only experienced them on other people's '02s. I've never tried Mintex pads since they are not a stock item where I shop, but they are also supposed to be good.

This is all with spirited street use and once-in-a-blue-moon autocross in mind.

regards,

Zenon