COBALT FRICTION TECH.: High-Performance BMW Brake Pads

[cobalt]

As a new supporting vendor on BimmerForums.com, I would like to introduce the online BMW community to our company: Cobalt Friction Technologies.

Cobalt specializes in high-performance brake systems, brake pads, and related products, from daily-drive street cars to GT-spec and formula cars. You can find out more about who we are and what we do by visiting our website at:

www.cobaltfriction.com

Cobalt is pleased to offer an introductory special to BimmerForums.com members. From now until the end of September, BimmerForums.com members will receive a 15% discount on Axxis Ultimate brake pads.

The Axxis Ultimate is a very high-performance street and auto-x brake pad. It has far less dust than the OEM BMW compound, runs quiet, has 15% more braking torque over OEM BMW, with excellent wear rates. Additionally, it is very affordable. Cobalt has many customers who use the Axxis Ultimate for street and auto-x use, as well as light track duty.

Examples of pricing for BMW follows:

D394 FRONT E36 M3 $76.35 LIST
D493 FRONT E30 325- AND 328- SERIES $56.85 LIST
D558 FRONT VARIOUS 3-SERIES $72.75 LIST
D396 REAR VARIOUS BMW REAR $50.85 LIST

From these LIST prices, you will receive 15% off!

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BRAKE PADS
Axxis/Bendix, Hawk, Performance Friction, Ferodo, and Mintex

BRAKE FLUID
Ate Super Blue & Typ200, Motul 600, AP Racing 600, Castrol SRF

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If you have any questions, please feel free to call me toll-free at 877.562.9237 - ask for Andie Lin, or send e-mail to info@cobaltfriction.com .

With Best Regards,

Andie Lin

[jsp98m3]

Nice selection of pads and fluids.

I need to check the pads on the M3 again, it's been awhile. For people like me with aftermarket brakes, do you carry other pads? For instance, I have the Movit kits front and rear.

[psk145]

I have porterfields R4S's in the front on M3 brakes. How do the Axxis pads compare? I still use stock pads in the rear, so I was thinking of beefing up the back some.

[cobalt]

jsp98m3: If your Mov'it kit is using the Porsche calipers, then yes, I have a variety of compounds for that caliper, all depending on if you're driving on the street, auto-x, track, etc.

psk145: The Axxis Ultimate is similar to the Porterfield R4S in performance, but with a lower (in most cases) dust and noise level. Most of my BMW customers do the front and the rear in Axxis Ultimate with excellent results.

Sidenote: Porterfield has been known to take existing brake pads and either cut them down, reshape them, or repaint them and sell them as R4S or R4...other vendors share this experience.

HTH...

Please feel free to send me e-mail with _any_ questions you may have. As the Honda/Acura community has found, I am always available for my customers...most e-mails will receive a response within and hour. Also, AOL IM is "cobaltfriction".

-Andie

[psk145]

sounds good. I'll be in touch soon!!!

[hccyong]

The prices look good. I'd like to confirm a few things that are still open concerns for me right now. There were some small issues with MetalMasters before, and I'm wondering if they have been addressed in the Ultimates.

I have heard of them rattling in the rear calipers of the E36 and also, on some other applications, the pad seemed to be sized slightly smaller such that they would shift into position and click upon the first braking application in each direction.

How are the Ultimates in this respect? Thanks.

[cobalt]

The Axxis MetalMaster, as you mention, aren't exactly what I'd consider to be a good high-performance brake pad.

The Axxis Ultimate is a completely different product, and has been used by many of my customers on the street, auto-x, and track with excellent results. It's actually very popular with the Honda/Acura and Mazda Miata crowd for this type of driving.

I use the Axxis Ultimate in BMW's as an excellent OEM replacement pad, as it has far less dust over OEM, runs quiet, and also has about 15% more braking torque, while still being rotor friendly and maintaining all the characteristics of a good street pad. Since it is also very fade free, it can be used on the track as well.

HTH... -Andie

[hccyong]

I realize that the Ultimate is a very different pad, but being from the same manufacturer, I do want to find out if the issues I listed above still exist. I do not doubt that the Ultimates are better for my use, but I do want to get these questions answered. Thanks.

[cobalt]

I failed to see your ending questions.

On the E36 M3, using the D396/D692 brake pad in the rear, many manufacturers use different specifications for their pads, often times interchanging the D396 for the D692. In fact, BMW from year to year, will often switch from D396 to D692, while the caliper hardware is the same. Go figure.

For all intensive purposes the D396 can be interchanged with the D692, as both have the same width dimensions. The only difference is the absence of an insulator lug on the D396...probably not a source of your problem with the old set of MM's you used.

I only sell the Ultimate, and not the MM, and can only say that I have never received a comment from a customer that their rear D396 pad fit loosely.

The other option is to use the Ferodo DS2500, which I know is made to factory BMW specs. This pad is in the same category of performance as the Axxis Ultimate, and exhibits the same performance properties. In fact, the DS2500 and Axxis Ultimate compounds can be swapped front to rear with no problems whatsoever. I have set up many cars with DS2500 in the front and Axxis Ultimate in the rear, and vice-versa, with excellent results, as both compounds have such similar performance. The reason for doing this is not one of convenience (i.e. what is in stock), but rather that not all fitments are made by Ferodo and/or Axxis in some cases, and where the rear is no made by the front compound manufacturer, it becomes necessary to find a suitable/comparable/compatible rear pad to match the front setup. Mixing brake compounds should not be done on a whim or haphazardly...you really need to know what you are doing before doing this.

So, the choices I have for you are either the Axxis Ultimate in the front and the rear, or the Ferodo DS2500. Both will work very well, and I am very confident about fitment on both.

Please feel free to call me at 877.562.9237, or 954.240.3896 afterhours, or send an e-mail at andie@cobaltfriction.com with any questions you may have. Cobalt is experienced in setting up vehicles ranging from daily-driven street cars, to GT-spec and formula race cars.

-Andie

[hccyong]

For all intensive purposes the D396 can be interchanged with the D692, as both have the same width dimensions. The only difference is the absence of an insulator lug on the D396...probably not a source of your problem with the old set of MM's you used.

Could you kindly explain the use of an insulator lug? Thanks.

[cobalt]

The insulator lug to which I refer is essential just on the backing plate to attach a shim to. It does not affect braking performance, etc.

HTH... -Andie

p.s. Of all the brake companies out there, for high-performance pads, using the D396 shape as a replacement for the D692 is the norm. For example, Hawk lists the D396 and D692 as the same Hawk part number. All others follow this.

[hccyong]

Sorry, I am not familiar with this lug, so I have another question. Without the lug, can one not attach a shim? What shims do people usually put here? Is it for anti-squeal purposes? Thanks.

[cobalt]

Factory shims are for sound reduction purposes only. Other sound reduction methods are slotting of pads and chamfering of the leading edge of the pads. Axxis Ultimates are chamfered on the leading and trailing edge of the pads, and have an integrated elastomer shim, thereby making the factory shim unnecessary.

-Andie

[hccyong]

I am not aware of a factory shim for my application. Does the anti-rattle clip take care of it?

[cobalt]

If your factory pads do not have a shim, and was installed by a dealer, then that would imply that they do not specify for a shim. In some BMW/MB vehicles, Ihave seen metal shims, and in some cases even two shims on each pad. Depends on the vehicle.

Your anti-rattle clip maintains pressure on the pad itself so it doesn't move around in the caliper when you are off the brake pedal...this also does help reduce squealing a bit, but is not the primary purpose of this "device".

The Axxis Ultimate is an inherently quiet-running brake compound/pad, and the use of chamfered edges and the elastomer shim further reduces chances of squealing.

HTH... -Andie

[hccyong]

Yes, that helps, thank you. I am just wondering why there would even be pads for insulator lugs if there are no shims for this application (at least according to the pars catalog).
By the way, I sent you an email.