I'm looking for input on disc brake replacement pads. What brake pads do you feel, gave you the best feeling of safety? as far as stopping when you might need it most. Not asking about driving hard, and needing lots of high speed brake fade protection...just good strong stopping, and feeling safe. I'm working on my 3700lb ride. Trying to improve stopping safety. I know I'll get input about try this/ or that on brake componets (MC/ pedal ratio/ booster/ etc...) But if all that were to be good. What disc pads seem to make a REAL difference, in how your cars stops ?
I use Car Quest products. They have several grades brake parts, right up to interceptor that are used on Police vehicles.
Right now I have Advance auto parts GOLD preminum semi metalic. On new speedway rotors. I'm looking for more bite, better stopping distance. When I put on these pads last summer I realy did not see much improvement.
Most manufacturers have a top of the line grade, buy the best and forget the rest is my practice. You will get quality and long life pads.
i've sold auto parts for years. was at napa now i'm at carquest. i know both products well. go with the carquest CXD series or "red box" pads. thats our mid grade ceramic pad should be around $40 or so. i sell lots of brake pads every day to most of the shops in town. i've never gotten one complaint. the "police" pads would be over kill in my opinion. they're about $80. part number CXD52
years ago i put some lifetime brakes from one of our local suppliers, lasted less than a year, went back they gave me junk, i went to our local ford dealer and brought there pads, no problems its hard to beat dealerships parts, may be not the best but worked for me
Pad life is not a big concern ( its a street rod, just how much do you drive it), stopping distance...".some texting jerk, late for the half price sale" does not look and pulls right out in front of you ..when you least expect it...and you have to stop NOW!!!
That's easy, EBC Yellow Stuff. http://www.ebcbrakes.com/automotive/yellowstuff_brake_pads/yellowstuff_brake_pads_4000_index.shtml
I have tried many different grades of pads, there seems to be a trade-off between long life versus rapid stops. Cheaper pads work better but don't last long. High metallic has less fade, last longer but seem to need more pressure to stop as quickly.
I use Hawk pads on every thing from the tow vehicles to the race cars, stopping power and longevity can not be beat.
I made the huge mistake of putting Duralast (Autozone) pads on my daily driver and they dust like mad. I can't keep the front wheels and whitewalls clean for over one day. They are going to come off and I am going to go with some quality ceramic pads, like Raybestos. I just need to do it because I can't stand cleaning my front tires every few days. They have only been on there for about a year and I bet from all the dust I am seeing they are almost worn out anyway. Don
I couldn't find the 'Red Box' or CXD anywhere online. Have you got a link? I always went with the organic pads because they had good stopping power and didn't eat the rotors. But now it's Kevlar or ceramic so I go with the ceramic.
I like the idea of going to the dealer for parts but sometimes thay never seem as good as what came on the car originalie. When I buy brake pads I go with the middle of the road pads. The ceramic and metalic seem to be to hard. You could shop around the swapmeet and look for some new old stock stuff that had asbestos/
So do you think the organics stopped better than semi mets/ kevlar/ or ceramics ? Organics... what do you guys think ??? for stopping power ? sure would be easy on rotors.
FWIW FWIW I am very interested in this discussion as I am trying to increase the braking effectiveness of my Ford. Back in early 80s, I was into 442 convertibles. On one of my projects, I changed brakes to high performance pads and shoes, and the car would not stop!! Discussed the problem with a local Oldsmobile service manager that was a hot rodder. His suggestion, the Olds was not compatible with the metallic pads and suggested organic (asbestos) pads. Changed to organic pads and immediately had brakes. On my current project, I installed metric GM calipers front, Explorer rear and 7/8" master with 7" single diaphragm booster. Had soft pedal, I then removed the booster after discovering insufficient 14" vacuum and gasoline in the booster vacuum line. Converted to 1" Corvette MC without booster and am changing the front calipers to Wilwood metric calipers with 2 3/4" pistons and organic pads. Brake kit used Aspen rotors of 80s vintage so expect similar results to the 442 brakes with organic linings. I would like to find out who has the softest and highest friction coefficient pads available. Jack
As Jim said. I use Hawk pads on everything from my Harley to my Hiboy to my OT daily driver Silverado. The only problem I ever had with them was when I changed pads on my Harley and kept the old rotors. When I was at SEMA I talked to the Hawk people and they told me the rotors have to be cleaned of the old pad material. Too true. I think this is probably a good idea on any pad swap when the rotor does not need to be machined.
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