76 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

If the manufacturer says they are suitable for rallying, then they are saying they are suitable for the road. After all, you can't change the (now red hot) pads to drive say 10 miles from the end of one stage to the beginning of the next, then change them back and Mintex and all other pad manufacturers know this. If it were not so it would be a case of 'suitable for rallying, but don't use them for rallying'.
Anyway, you guys do as you think best, I have to run race pads in my rally cars or risk having a very big accident, as do all competitors and these cars are used on the road as they have to be. Rally cars are required to be road-legal.
Frankly, in 51 years of rallying I've never, ever heard this as an issue and I've been involved with brake pad selection for different cars and had direct with Mintex and Questmead over the years.
How can Mintex say that the 1144 is aimed at road use on hot-hatches, then say they are not suitable for the road.

Edited by Cooperman, 09 November 2011 - 08:08 PM.

[Sleepy Stu]

If the manufacturer says they are suitable for rallying, then they are saying they are suitable for the road. After all, you can't change the (now red hot) pads to drive say 10 miles from the end of one stage to the beginning of the next, then change them back and Mintex and all other pad manufacturers know this. If it were not so it would be a case of 'suitable for rallying, but don't use them for rallying'.
Anyway, you guys do as you think best, I have to run race pads in my rally cars or risk having a very big accident, as do all competitors and these cars are used on the road as they have to be. Rally cars are required to be road-legal.
Frankly, in 51 years of rallying I've never, ever heard this as an issue and I've been involved with brake pad selection for different cars and had direct with Mintex and Questmead over the years.
How can Mintex say that the 1144 is aimed at road use on hot-hatches, then say they are not suitable for the road.

Meh at the end of the day its like this.

The pads will be absolutely fine for road use.

For whatever reason Mintex have now decided to cover their own ass as all manufacturers do and say they are not suitable. Therefore they offer you the pads which will be fine but at the same time are saying any problems dont come to us about it.

It couldnt be much simpler, you decide whether you put them on or not, Mintex have told you where they stand on the matter.

Edited by Sleepy Stu, 09 November 2011 - 08:14 PM.

[minimissionary]

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[Cooperman]

This being a public forum I'll just say that if that is what Mintex are doing then it's 'effing' ridiculous. The sale of goods act precludes a vendor from selling a product which is not suitable for the purpose for which it is sold (or advertised for sale). So, to sell a pad as suitable for road use on, for example, hot hatches, then say it's not suitable for road use on the box is a breach of the Sale of Goods Act. Similarly with pads suitable for rallying.
So, if rally pads are not suitable for the parts of the event which are on the public highways, what pads am I supposed to be using?

[minimissionary]

I'm not saying you shouldn't use them for rallying. I've watched rallies where cars with less than 4 wheels limp to the end of the stage, just so they can finish. Not everything in rally is going to be entirely "road legal" but I think in the interest of sport a blind eye is turned. My immediate concern is that there is no mark on these brake pads to indicate that they meets to the regulations that it MUST do so to be road legal.
http://whisky-online...an-of-worms.jpg

By the way, why am I getting links instead of pictures?

Edited by minimissionary, 09 November 2011 - 08:26 PM.

[redhotminilewis]

There is no ECE Reg 90 markings on the back of that pad.

It could be 4 things;
1) The markings are under the shim,

2) This pad was made before 1999 (very unlikely)

3) The markings are on the box (should be on both box and pad though)

4) This reference is not Reg 90 Approved.

I'm trying to find a place where mintex have said it is Reg 90 approved because all im finding is people on forums saying it is which isn't very official, just people saying it is because they think it is.

[minimissionary]

http://www.mintex.co...id=97&lang=enuk
"Mintex brake pads and shoes have the E mark and approval number inkjet printed onto the backplate to make it clearly visible."
There are no other numbers on the box or pad.

[redhotminilewis]

http://www.mintex.co...id=97&lang=enuk
"Mintex brake pads and shoes have the E mark and approval number inkjet printed onto the backplate to make it clearly visible."
There are no other numbers on the box or pad.

There is no E mark on the back of those pads. Ill have a bit more of a look into it tomorrow cause Its modern warfare 3 time now

[minimissionary]

I'm gonna call Mintex myself tomorrow. In the mean time, it makes no difference, since I've still got a broken leg |

[Cooperman]

See if you can get Mintex to email a reply, then you can post it on here. That would be helpful.

[minimissionary]

Will be sure to. Wish I hadn't started looking into this. "Ignorance is bliss" n all that...

[Cooperman]

Really don't worry about it.
I've looked on some other sites and the Lotus Elise specialists are recommending M1144 for fast road use. A Subaru site also recommends 1144 and 1155 for fast road and track day applications. Questmead will sell you any Mintex comp pad for road (rally) use.
I've never, in over 50 years, heard of anyone having their brake pad material tested after any sort of crash. The inspector might check how much pad material is remaining on the pad and that the hydraulic system works, but beyond that one can't see it being an issue. It's no more an issue than using after-market wiper blades, ultra-white headlight bulbs, grooved brake discs, poly suspension bushes, or any of the other things which make the car safer or easier to drive.
If you look on the various web sites for different brakes you'll see the Mintex M1144 recommended for road use on everything from Lexus, Jaguar and Audi to Peugeot, Renault, Ford, Lotus 7, Mazda, et al. So there must be thousands and thousands of those brake pads in general road use.
I, for one, ain't gonna worry about it so long as my Mini stops well and passes the MoT.I guess my AP600 race brake fluid is also not road legal, but it doesn't boil like the standard stuff.

[minimissionary]

Good point well made. I just can't help meddling

[Cooperman]

Good point well made. I just can't help meddling

Fit & forget. It'll stop just so well you'll be glad you fitted them.
Compared to the old Ferodo DS11 asbestos/copper pad which we used to use in the 60's & 70's, these modern pads ae simply fantastic.

[Ethel]

Could the Mintex pads be intended for a market that doesn't need the markings? If they're a good price it might explain why.
On the legalities, I reckon the insurers would have to prove firstly that you intentionally fitted illegal pads and secondly that they contributed to the accident. You're not supposed to drive over the speed limit, when drunk, or without exercising due care & attention - they still pay out if you were committing those offences when you ploughed into the other car.


You shouldn't need new calipers by the way. The pistons don't touch them, only the rubber seals. If they did touch they'd lock solid with just a little bit of heat expansion. That said, sometimes there's little price difference compared to a full overhaul.