Brake Pad Material?

[EddieC]

What would be the preferred brake pad material for quiet and clean performance?
Getting tired of my front wheels looking like they came from a german car due to deposits.

 

[B-train]

OEM stuff or good quality ceramic pads

 

[OR VietVet]

Exactly what @B-train said. The semi-metallic pads leave the residue but tend to last longer. There are trade offs.

 

[Foggy]

Ceramic pads. Ceramics were the original I believe

 

[OR VietVet]

Are you saying the current pads are the original pads? Yes, typically first pads/oe pads are ceramic. If you look at RA for brake pads and look at the pads listed that are ceramic, you will see them state that ceramic pads are the oe pads.

 

[Geotrash]

I prefer Akebono ceramic when I can find them for my application. No dust. Both semi metallic and organic pads generate the dust.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

I just put some powerstop ceramic pads on and I’m very happy with them

 

[Doubeleive]

What would be the preferred brake pad material for quiet and clean performance?
Getting tired of my front wheels looking like they came from a german car due to deposits.

ceramic will make the least amount of dust

 

[EddieC]

OEM stuff or good quality ceramic pads

OEM part number doesn't seem to specify material (unless I missed something)

Ceramic pads. Ceramics were the original I believe

I can't seem to confirm that the originals were ceramic. When I look on the GM parts sites using the vin there is a mishmash of parts for many vehicle brake options that come up and semi-metallic does also show up. I'd have thought that their computers are connected enough to relate to my vin if it asked for it but apparently not.

 

[EddieC]

It seems like the consensus is ceramic.
My last set was a Raybestos Hybrid Element 3 set that reads as ceramic and semi-metallic in the same pad. They stop, are quiet but they are dirty.

I guess it's one of those choices: You can have good performance, quiet and clean, but can only get two of those things at the same time.

 

[Doubeleive]

It seems like the consensus is ceramic.
My last set was a Raybestos Hybrid Element 3 set that reads as ceramic and semi-metallic in the same pad. They stop, are quiet but they are dirty.

I guess it's one of those choices: You can have good performance, quiet and clean, but can only get two of those things at the xame time.

I would just get some autozone premium ceramic they generally run $60-70, they have a lifetime warranty, when they wear out you take them back and get brand new ones for free as long as you own the vehicle.
oem ceramic are costly I think around $200 and they do not have a lifetime warranty.
if you installed both and went and drove it you would never feel or notice any difference between the two of any kind.

 

[EddieC]

I would just get some autozone premium ceramic they generally run $60-70, they have a lifetime warranty, when they wear out you take them back and get brand new ones for free as long as you own the vehicle.
oem ceramic are costly I think around $200 and they do not have a lifetime warranty.
if you installed both and went and drove it you would never feel or notice any difference between the two of any kind.

Wow. That's some warranty if it covers wearing them out, not just failure.

 

[Doubeleive]

Wow. That's some warranty if it covers wearing them out, not just failure.

ya it's a bargain if you own your vehicle for many years like I do and I tend to wear out brakes faster than 99% of the crowd so I have exchanged them a few times also works if you get another vehicle that happens to use the same pads lol

 

[salisburyv]

Akebono. they sell em on RA. i have used them on other vehicles in the past. Ceramic. very consistent feel. my .02

 

[Geotrash]

Had some pulsing when braking on long grades when I was hauling the camper around the northeast a few weeks ago with our 2012. The front brakes are original with 135K on them so this thread reminded me that it was time to order new parts. I have a set of 4 Powerstop rotors on the shelf and I ordered a set of Akebono pads for front and rear from RA this afternoon. Going to to a 4-wheel brake job in a few weeks.

 

[Fless]

Akebono. they sell em on RA. i have used them on other vehicles in the past. Ceramic. very consistent feel. my .02

A few weeks back I installed some Akebono ceramic pads on my DD and they're absolutely great. No dust, no noise, and great stopping power on OE rotors.

 

[B-train]

I vote OEM pads and rotors od a Power Stop kit from Ebay or Amazon. They are drilled and slotted with really nice pads that bite well and have very low dust. I put a set on my 2007, 2009, and now my 2017. Worth the money in my book so far

 

[EddieC]

A few weeks back I installed some Akebono ceramic pads on my DD and they're absolutely great. No dust, no noise, and great stopping power on OE rotors.

I recently read some comments elsewhere with complaints of squealing, particularly before warming up. Have you noticed that?

 

[Fless]

I recently read some comments elsewhere with complaints of squealing, particularly before warming up. Have you noticed that?

Not at all, they're very quiet. I do lightly lube the caliper pistons edges where they contact the pads, and the caliper ears on the other side, and make sure the slide pins are free.

 

[EddieC]

Not at all, they're very quiet. I do lightly lube the caliper pistons edges where they contact the pads, and the caliper ears on the other side, and make sure the slide pins are free.

Thanks.
Do you recall if you used the ProAct or Performance version of their ceramics?