Front Brakes - recommendations?

[NC_John]

My front rotors are getting close to being ready for replacement (I feel a wiggle every once and a while under light braking).

Anybody have any luck with a decent rotor/brake pad they can recommend? I was thinking of getting GM factory replacements but remember there being problems with them wearing funny on new trucks (my sierra rotors had to be turned real early). I don't want to buy some offshore junk either and have to do this job again in a few months.

anybody got anything to recommend?

 

[Sasquatch]

I installed EBC slotted rotors with hawk pads on my yukon about a year ago, I probably have about 5-7K on them without a problem and there is a noticeable improvement in braking over stock.

 

[The 'ER]

I know that the cross drilled and vented rotors that I will be putting on here for my next set are only about $40 more per. I put them on my Mustang and what a difference it made.

 

[07Burb]

Give clkelley a shout man!! He's got some nice stuff and high quality

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

R1Concepts offers several great choices for drilled, slotted, drilled and slotted rotors, ceramic pads, etc. Both their Premium Series and Eline Series rotors are direct bolt on replacements and offer outstanding improvement over stock brake performance on these trucks. The Posi Quiet ceramic pads come pre scorched to eliminate break in periods and offer outstanding low dust performance while also being an affordable option when compared to other name brand pads out there.

If I can be of any assistance feel free to let me know. Also, to check out other choices in their catalog or to take immediate advantage of their Memorial Day Sale, Save 15% by clicking the link in my signature and using Promo Code MS15 before May 31st.

 

[NC_John]

R1Concepts offers several great choices for drilled, slotted, drilled and slotted rotors, ceramic pads, etc. Both their Premium Series and Eline Series rotors are direct bolt on replacements and offer outstanding improvement over stock brake performance on these trucks. The Posi Quiet ceramic pads come pre scorched to eliminate break in periods and offer outstanding low dust performance while also being an affordable option when compared to other name brand pads out there.

If I can be of any assistance feel free to let me know. Also, to check out other choices in their catalog or to take immediate advantage of their Memorial Day Sale, Save 15% by clicking the link in my signature and using Promo Code MS15 before May 31st.

Thanks. I just put a new windshield in the 'hoe today so can't take advantage of any sales right now. I bookmarked the site for when I'm ready.

---------- Post added at 08:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 PM ----------

I installed EBC slotted rotors with hawk pads on my yukon about a year ago, I probably have about 5-7K on them without a problem and there is a noticeable improvement in braking over stock.

Cool- great specs on them. Definitely not the made in china shit.

---------- Post added at 08:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:40 PM ----------

Give clkelley a shout man!! He's got some nice stuff and high quality

thanks...

---------- Post added at 08:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 PM ----------

I know that the cross drilled and vented rotors that I will be putting on here for my next set are only about $40 more per. I put them on my Mustang and what a difference it made.

10-4! Thanks.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

No worries, keep in mind that these 15% off sales come along for major holidays, but I offer a forum member discount of 10% all the time. So just let me know when you DO get ready and I will fill you in on how to take advantage one way or the other.

Also, since it came up; 99% of the rotors from R1Concepts, although NOT cast in the USA, they are cast in Europe and Canada, not China. Just for the record. There are times of EXTREME shortages or back order situations when they have no choice but to get them from China, but it is literally a last resort for them.

As for performance, I installed the Eline Series and Posi Quiet pads on the front of the wife's Denali in November and the on the back in February. Since November we have put 5K on it since then and they still look and perform like new. I did have to flush the power steering and brake fluid for a spongy pedal today, but it was the fluids that were at fault, that's what I get for going to Carquest for them in November instead of ordering the Amsoil fluids and waiting a few days for the install.

I run the Premium drilled and slotted and Posi Quiet Ceramic on the Dmax and as I have posted in other threads, they not only were up to the task of handling the extremely heavy Christmas tree loads I haul with it, they were are also still on the truck after two and a half years and about 35K miles and have about 75% meat left on the pads as it sits right now.

 

[mmeachem]

No worries, keep in mind that these 15% off sales come along for major holidays, but I offer a forum member discount of 10% all the time. So just let me know when you DO get ready and I will fill you in on how to take advantage one way or the other.

Also, since it came up; 99% of the rotors from R1Concepts, although NOT cast in the USA, they are cast in Europe and Canada, not China. Just for the record. There are times of EXTREME shortages or back order situations when they have no choice but to get them from China, but it is literally a last resort for them.

As for performance, I installed the Eline Series and Posi Quiet pads on the front of the wife's Denali in November and the on the back in February. Since November we have put 5K on it since then and they still look and perform like new. I did have to flush the power steering and brake fluid for a spongy pedal today, but it was the fluids that were at fault, that's what I get for going to Carquest for them in November instead of ordering the Amsoil fluids and waiting a few days for the install.

I run the Premium drilled and slotted and Posi Quiet Ceramic on the Dmax and as I have posted in other threads, they not only were up to the task of handling the extremely heavy Christmas tree loads I haul with it, they were are also still on the truck after two and a half years and about 35K miles and have about 75% meat left on the pads as it sits right now.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Damn that's a big load you probably had a shit load of brake dust after that adventure

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

Normally, in years before installing that brake combo, yes, the rims would be black and the pads and rotors would be metal to metal and groovin' BAD at teh end of the season. But honestly, although there WAS dust on the rims after the first season with that set up, it was NOTHING even remotely close to years before. I actually took pics after the season was over because I had to diagnose the ABS sensors only to find that I had a bad hub bearing, I have posted a couple of pics below of what the brakes looked like after the first hauling season with them on the truck where I ran between 6-7K miles in I think it was 12 or 13 days.

---------- Post added at 10:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------

Below is what the truck would look like after a season with regular brakes on her...

 

[Bikeboy80]

How do the pads compair to hawk pads, like the lts?

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

Honestly, I have never run the Hawk pads. The Posi Quiets are a full ceramic "Pre-Scorched" pad with no need for a break in period, etc. As for cost, for the Posi's you would be at around $55 an axle set where the Hawk's (R1 offers those as well) are about $90 an axle set. For the money, and with the experience I have had with them, I will be running the Posi's for quite some time. They are currently all the way around on the Duramax and Denali and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Bikeboy80]

Thanks, book marked for when I need them!

 

[coop]

which rotors are those on your truck clkelley? thx

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

I have the Eline Series on the wife's Denali, but I have the Premium Series cross drilled and slotted rotors on the Dmax...

---------- Post added at 09:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 AM ----------

Oh, and Welcome to the neighborhood!

 

[07Burb]

I have the Eline Series on the wife's Denali, but I have the Premium Series cross drilled and slotted rotors on the Dmax...

How do the Elines do on the Denali? I'll be ordering brakes for my Suburban from you in a few months and I'm assuming your wife's driving habits are probably very similar to my wife's

 

[coop]

Thanks!

Did you notice any performance difference on the two rotors? I know you wanted to get max performance with towing with your dmax but, just curious if you noticed any worthwhile normal driving performance differences between the two.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

I have the Eline's and the Posi Quiet pads on it, and YES, my wife is one of those that waits until 10 feet from a stop sign or turn to even begin braking. The only thing I advise is to make sure and keep the power steering/ Hydroboost flushed on vehicles equipped with hydroboost. I just flushed it in hers in November and had to flush it again this month. In November I flushed it with Carquest brand fluid and this time with Amsoil PS fluid, we will see now if the Amsoil will last any longer. But, with the Eline's, etc, the thing truly stops on a dime, if you hit the pedal hard it will give you whiplash...lol

 

[coop]

last question...

real difference in ceramic and the extended life pads?

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

Thanks!

Did you notice any performance difference on the two rotors? I know you wanted to get max performance with towing with your dmax but, just curious if you noticed any worthwhile normal driving performance differences between the two.

Well, the thing there is that honestly I would be comparing apples to oranges with the difference in weight, etc. But the short answer is, not really. Both set ups perform amazingly well. Better than I would have expected actually. I honestly believe that the main advantage to running the Premiums on a Tahoe/Yukon/Burb/etc would be overall longevity.

That being said, the key to long brake life in these trucks is to stay on top of the fluids, brake fluid and power steering fluid break down faster than any other fluid in the vehicle. With hydroboost equipped trucks, you should ALWAYS perform a full flush of the power steering fluid as well as the brake fluid whenever installing new rotors and pads to ensure that you get the best possible results. As the ps fluid wears out you will begin to notice a softer pedal that gives the impression of "fading", meaning it takes more pedal power to actually stop, but once you reflush the ps fluid, you will have the full pedal feel back.

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 AM ----------

last question...

real difference in ceramic and the extended life pads?

Extended life pads are harder and have a mostly metallic composition. The name is actually misleading, when using the Ceramics on the drilled and slotted rotors, etc. They should last as long as if not longer than the extended life pads in my opinion, mainly because of creating less heat than the harder pads. The Ceramic pads will also create less dusting on the rims.

 

[ktmhans]

Are these brakes good enough to not do the 06 caliper and rotor swap?