M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: strad on January 31, 2009, 10:45:38 PM

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: strad on January 31, 2009, 10:45:38 PM

Anyone have experience with this company?  I'm looking for something that will stand up to no more than daily driven use.  Last time I did E30 brakes (my cabrio) I was able to get Brembo blanks for the front and ATE for the rear.  Now my choices are between balo and ATE all around.  Is balo safe or should I spend the extra on ATE?  I'm kinda leaning towards the latter.  What say ye?

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: cecotto on February 01, 2009, 12:58:39 PM

for daily driving it's my opinion that you can get away with the cheapest you can get your hands on.

When my 318is was stock, i changed my brakes every second year when it was up for inspection. (they are wery cheap here). And i have never experienced any problems. Even though i like braking, and have always been hard on them.

I started getting warped discs when i changed my entire suspension and brakes to M3. Even though i installed Zimmermann which is a brand name. I then changed to Jurid discs. They warped too... I then changed the left caliper after some investigation, and installed my old Zimmermanns which i had had turned down. Since that i have had no problems.

It's my experience that the most problems with brakediscs on daily drivers are with hanging calipers super heating the discs. And not the discs them selves. So you should be okay with what everyou find.

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: monty23psk on February 01, 2009, 10:08:34 PM

Balo is the best OEM spec rotor in my opinions. Big with the e28s also. They hardly warp. If you want good quality and stock performance, Balo is the best. have them on my car and no issues after 3 years.

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: tjts1 on February 01, 2009, 10:23:08 PM

I wonder how long my $6 JY rotors will last.

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: strad on February 02, 2009, 02:49:18 PM

Quote from: tjts1;65764

I wonder how long my $6 JY rotors will last.

Haha.  I could go that way I guess, but I'd have to find a set that wasn't worn to minimums so that I could turn them.  And then I'd have to pay to have them turned, plus the time to take them there and pick them up.  

I ended up ordering the ATEs, along with a set of Mintex pads.  I have those pads on my cabrio and they work just fine for the way I drive.  Real happy with them actually.  I'm also replacing all the (original :eek:) brake hoses with new from ATE.  Originals are visibly worn and/or cracked.  Rather not have a failure lol.

Title: balo brake disks.
Post by: tjts1 on February 02, 2009, 04:54:06 PM

I don't blame you. It was dumb luck that I found a car in the yard with brand new rotors but I have no idea of the brand. The rotors still had the sanded on finish from the factory. They probably didn't more than a few hundred miles on them before car was run into a tree. Always bleed your brakes I guess.