hello

97 1.4 8v

I've just refurbbed and bled my front brakes but to be frank the new pads are awful. The cold bite feels non existent, it reminds me of my old school mini!

The new pads I fitted were Apex or Apec? they were from the local motor factor but I'm very disappointed. They are however much better when hot but lets face it, I drive on the road not a track so warming my brakes before the lollipop lady decides to jump in front of my car during my commute is not a realistic option. I am however pretty sure I bedded them in correctly, i followed the manufacturers instructions to letter.

In past cars I have fitted various fast road pads and their cold bite had been much improved over standard makes. Can someone from experience recommend a good option? The pads are the type wi the pressed metal bracket / springs fixed to them

Any tips appreciated

russ

You don't say if you have fitted new discs, if not, it may well be that they are not fully bedded in yet.

The best way to bed in new brakes is to use them as lightly as possible in, say, the first 100miles, this applies even when new discs are fitted.

If you do a lot of heavy braking, you will tend to glaze the friction surface of the pad, which then takes much longer to bed in and fails to give the best of braking.

If you think that the pads may have glazed, the best plan is to take them out and rub the friction face over some emery cloth or 'wet or dry' placed on a flat surface, this will remove the glazing.

Regards.