which brake pad from rockauto (or elsewhere)?

[andylawcc]

so I am browsing Rockauto for some replacement brake pad on my daily driver (1999 Nissan Sentra). I stumbled upon tons of brands (Bendix, Raybestos, Beck/Arnley, AC Delco, Monroe) and then tons and tons of model. Which one to choose? Or just grab whatever that's available at Pepboys/Autozone/O'Rielly?

 

[foghorn67]

What you want to do is get as close to OEM as possible. You might have to dig for the friction and heat rating. For example FF. First letter is the friction rating while cold, the next is when it's warmed up.
If you can't find that, I prefer Warner or AC/Delco for OEM type applications. Performance brake shoes tend to wear faster and some tend to throw out a lot of brake dust. Stick with OEM type pads.
I would prefer any of those brands from Rock Auto than any fromPep Boys/Autozone/Oreillys.

Now, having said that. You can't go wrong with NAPA Gold or Premium Gold. Hopefully you have a NAPA store or authorized NAPA store. Call ahead and make sure they have your shoes in stock. Some smaller ones have to get a courier to get it from a bigger store or have it shipped in.

 

[andylawcc]

ya, there's a NAPA near me. thanks

 

[twinrider1]

Noticed something on Rock Auto. Interesting if you're budget conscious.

WAGNER Part # PD668
$15.51 if you choose the warehouse closeout stock. And Wagner has a $15 rebate going right now. Almost free pads.

And don't forget the 5% Rock Auto discount code. (I don't have one handy, but they're usually floating around the web.)

 

[Jimzz]

Look for a ceramic pad. If you want local then look at the Gold pads from advance, coupons make them a good price. For rockauto.com look at centric or raybestos.

 

[NutBucket]

Japanese? I would defer to akebono if available.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Akebono are fabulous but pricey.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, not cheap but I figure brakes and tires aren't worth cheaping out on.

 

[Jimzz]

Yeah, not cheap but I figure brakes and tires aren't worth cheaping out on.

There is a big difference in tires but for street cars brake pads will not matter much from one good brand to another, esp ceramic.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Japanese? I would defer to akebono if available.

I've had great luck with Akebono as well. I always try to go for those.

Also don't skimp out on Rotors....

 

[Meghan54]

Look for a ceramic pad. If you want local then look at the Gold pads from advance, coupons make them a good price. For rockauto.com look at centric or raybestos.

Why ceramic specifically? I do understand they dust less, make less noise, and can wear rotors less, but ceramic pads certainly aren't the be-all and end-all of brake pads. (Of course, those are some of the primary reasons car manufacturers moved to ceramics.....rotors lasted longer, pads dusted much less and made a lot less noise.)

I think EBC put it best.....

Ceramic brake pads are just a non metallic type pad and essentially a buzz word and you need pay no more attention to people pushing them as a eutopic solution to brake problems as green cheese.

Source: http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/ceramic-brake-pads/


(And pardon my ignorance, but I tend to think EBC knows a little bit about brake pads.)

 

[silicon]

so I am browsing Rockauto for some replacement brake pad on my daily driver (1999 Nissan Sentra). I stumbled upon tons of brands (Bendix, Raybestos, Beck/Arnley, AC Delco, Monroe) and then tons and tons of model. Which one to choose? Or just grab whatever that's available at Pepboys/Autozone/O'Rielly?

I was told by a parts guy once that pads made in japan are the best quality and will cost a few more bucks. I must say the pads i bought seemed to last a long, long time. And the ceramic are the best of all the brake pads.

 

[SeventySeven]

I have liked Wagner Thermoquiets for a few years now... Been using the semi-metallics on SUVs and cars - I like the price (especially when they have rebates) and I like the bite... plus the dust isn't bad (better than the OEMs in each case). About to try my first set of ceramic Thermoquiets on the back wheels... We'll see if just doing the backs makes a difference in the feel

 

[mike2fix]

I won't use anything but Akebonos anymore, low dusting alone makes them worthwhile in my mind.

 

[phucheneh]

Why anyone uses Thermosqueals, I have no idea. They're on par with the cheapest parts store pads.

Akebonos are damned good and typically the OE supplier for Acura, Lexus and the like for good reason.

The Stoptech Street pads that you can get from Rockauto are a nice mild performance upgrade. But more likely to be noisy.

 

[Jimzz]

Why ceramic specifically? I do understand they dust less, make less noise, and can wear rotors less, but ceramic pads certainly aren't the be-all and end-all of brake pads. (Of course, those are some of the primary reasons car manufacturers moved to ceramics.....rotors lasted longer, pads dusted much less and made a lot less noise.)

I think EBC put it best.....


Source: http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/ceramic-brake-pads/


(And pardon my ignorance, but I tend to think EBC knows a little bit about brake pads.)

Most good ceramics use a similar formula in their material and use copper to handle the heat.
Ceramic are less dust and noise. semi-metallic handle heat better but make more dust and noise.

For a normal driven street car that does not track or tow ceramic makes the most sense. I use those on most of my customers cars and metallic on my 73 Chevy and truck.


There is new regulation to remove copper from ceramics so I have only seen a few that kinda meet that spec so expect changes in the next year or 2 while those come on. Formuals will adjust over the next couple years so will be harder to just say use "ceramic" as there will not be a general formula at first.

 

[andylawcc]

sorry to be a naysayer, but i had akebono
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
on my civic previously, and the bite is seriously lacking (i bled the brake lines too). On the bright side, it stops really smooth

 

[andylawcc]

you know what, just because everyone said it's good, i will give Akebono a try once more.

 

[NutBucket]

If its bite you're after try a high performance pad like Hawk HPS.

 

[phucheneh]

you know what, just because everyone said it's good, i will give Akebono a try once more.

Did you bed them in properly? On either new rotors that were properly cleaned, or decently-turned ones?

They're not very aggressive pads, but I can't imagine someone saying they don't stop good unless they're comparing them to 'performance' pads. And the latter actually get a lot more of those complaints due to needing a little extra pedal pressure when cold.

 

[nitrous9200]

Another vote for Akebonos here.

I'm not an aggressive driver, but their stopping performance seems to be very good, although they bite better after being warmed up.

Where they really shine is in the brake dust department, as mentioned by others in this thread.

Any ceramic pads will probably be close enough at a lower price, but I think you can't go wrong with the Akebonos.

 

[BUTCH1]

Most good ceramics use a similar formula in their material and use copper to handle the heat.
Ceramic are less dust and noise. semi-metallic handle heat better but make more dust and noise.

For a normal driven street car that does not track or tow ceramic makes the most sense. I use those on most of my customers cars and metallic on my 73 Chevy and truck.


There is new regulation to remove copper from ceramics so I have only seen a few that kinda meet that spec so expect changes in the next year or 2 while those come on. Formuals will adjust over the next couple years so will be harder to just say use "ceramic" as there will not be a general formula at first.

I went to all-ceramic as well, my 1st re-pad I cheaped out on the rear's, (figured they don't do much work anyway) and had to deal with filthy wheels for 4 years, defiantly not worth the $12-14 I should have spent for ceramics.

 

[jagec]

I think EBC put it best.....


Source: http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/ceramic-brake-pads/


(And pardon my ignorance, but I tend to think EBC knows a little bit about brake pads.)

Yeah...I put EBCs on the wife's Civic. They stop OK, but they're noisy and throw an incredible amount of dust. For a grocery getter, I'm going with ceramic for the next set of pads.

 

[Zivic]

you know what, just because everyone said it's good, i will give Akebono a try once more.

these are what I have been buying the last few yrs

 

[andylawcc]

If its bite you're after try a high performance pad like Hawk HPS.

I wasn't expecting a huge auto-x level of bite, I was comparing to the pads before I change to the Akebono; while I do not know what pads they were from the previous owner, but I reckon they won't be Hawk or anything high end.
so, it leads me to:

Did you bed them in properly? On either new rotors that were properly cleaned, or decently-turned ones?

They're not very aggressive pads, but I can't imagine someone saying they don't stop good unless they're comparing them to 'performance' pads. And the latter actually get a lot more of those complaints due to needing a little extra pedal pressure when cold.

i didn't turn the rotors, and how do i bed them in properly?
in retrospect, i am guessing i got some air in after i bled the brakes.