Ceramic brake pads for my truck?

[Baz]

Requesting opinions on ceramic pads. I've not used them before but understand they work really great.

Application is my work truck - '02 Silverado 1500 ext. cab with long bed.

Would probably buy from my FLAPS.

TIA!

[rusnak]

I have the PBR ULT brake pads on my Carrera, and bought some last year for my 1-ton truck. They really are very good. Expensive, but they stop like the dickens.

[LWJ]

I used PBR on a Land Cruiser. Supposed to be the only thing that gives respectable mileage on the LC. Worked well but had a different modulus - if that makes sense. They were not hard to drive but the friction came on in a non-linear manner. I thought it weird. Didn't bother me however.
Larry

[look 171]

What year LC and how long did they last?

[CHICKS]

Are you sure your truck didnt come with ceramic pads from the factory? IIRC my 2003 did. If it did, just buy the OEM ACDELCO pads.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I have the PBR ULT brake pads on my Carrera, and bought some last year for my 1-ton truck. They really are very good. Expensive, but they stop like the dickens.

OK I think those are metal masters aren't they? Look to be about half the cost of ceramics. Good feedback to know - thanks!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by CHICKS

Are you sure your truck didnt come with ceramic pads from the factory? IIRC my 2003 did. If it did, just buy the OEM ACDELCO pads.

Didn't buy the truck new and am not sure what was factory spec but what's on there now isn't as great as I'd like - especially noticeable with a load.

Thanks for your input!

[sammyg2]

I used to buy aftermarket ceramic pads from the FLAPS but had nothing but trouble.
On my first tundra the damn things would build up on the rotor causing vibration and also fade like no one's business, almost lost it going down cajone pass one time.

Now I go straight to the dealer to buy pads and install them myself.

I'm one of the cheapest SOBs you'll ever run across and I'm willing to pay stupid money for the right pads, that tells you how strongly I feel about the subject.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Baz

OK I think those are metal masters aren't they? Look to be about half the cost of ceramics. Good feedback to know - thanks!

No, they used to be called Ultimate Ceramic. I believe PBR, Centric, abd Metal Master are all the same company. I might have a picture of the box somewhere.

[Joe Ricard]

Porterfield R4S
That's all you need to know.

I have them on everything from F250 Super Duty to my ICC Shifter kart and Mini Cooper S.

Low dust, great cold friction, stable braking to 1000 degrees. Quiet as a mouse and easy on rotors.

[flipper35]

Had them on the Durango and they were great. Good stopping power, pedal feel and little fade when towing or hotfooting on the backroads. Went with an off brand and they suck. Going back to the others before these wear out.

[Baz]

Some good feedback here - thanks everyone!

Sounds like my problem was using cheap pads last time - maybe I should just try a good name brand this time and the ceramics are not necessary.

I too believe in paying whatever it takes for stopping power but like everything else you get what you pay for too.

I'll post the final outcome when I get this done - next week probably.

Thank you again for your feedback and comments!

[azasadny]

This is a timely thread as I'm going to be looking for new brake pads for my 2010 MazdaSpeed3 very soon. The factory pads stop the car just fine but the brake dust is unbelievable!

[TimT]

I got the Autozone store brand ceramics for my F250 PSD.... and hated them... I took them out and replaced them with pads from EBC

The store brand pads, just never bedded or hooked up.... I would have to stand on the pedal to slow down

Granted my truck weighs in at 6600# but the stock pads worked better than the Autozone branded ceramics...

[onewhippedpuppy]

I put the top of the line Autozone ceramic pads on my wife's Nissan Armada, a big SUV known for eating front brake pads at a rapid pace. Over 30k later they're still going strong. Good stopping power, low noise, reasonable dust. Lifetime warranty so if they ever had worn out I would have gotten new ones for free.

[rusnak]

with all due respect, the phrase "top of the line" and Autozone are mutually exclusive.

Pay some extra dough, go to Napa and get the premium PBR Ceramic pads. Those are the ones to get if you have a gvw of over 6,000 lbs or tow around 20,000 lbs like I do.

[Palum6o]

I just replaced the stock pads on my Q7 - they did a good job stopping the heavy beast, but they generated a lot of noise, squealing, and would turn the wheels black after a day or two. I got a set of Hawk Ceramic pads when I bought my tires from Tire Rack. So far they are excellent, less dust and noise. They slightly less grippy than the stock pads, but overall they work great.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by rusnak

with all due respect, the phrase "top of the line" and Autozone are mutually exclusive.

Pay some extra dough, go to Napa and get the premium PBR Ceramic pads. Those are the ones to get if you have a gvw of over 6,000 lbs or tow around 20,000 lbs like I do.

Top of the line for Autozone. I've used their ceramic pads on multiple heavy vehicles and always been pleased, but I also don't do much towing. We don't have Napa in Wichita so it's not even an option.

[David]

Originally Posted by Joe Ricard

Porterfield R4S
That's all you need to know.

I have them on everything from F250 Super Duty to my ICC Shifter kart and Mini Cooper S.

Low dust, great cold friction, stable braking to 1000 degrees. Quiet as a mouse and easy on rotors.

+1. They were great on my '01 Silverado and I just put a set on my '08 Silverado yesterday and they feel great.

Before the R4S pads I tried a bunch of high priced over the counter pads and they all sucked.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by David

+1. They were great on my '01 Silverado and I just put a set on my '08 Silverado yesterday and they feel great.

Before the R4S pads I tried a bunch of high priced over the counter pads and they all sucked.

Good input....I'll check on a set of these then...I know the brand from my track days.....just didn't consider they were also made for street. Thanks Joe and David!