Brake Pad reviews??

boostalot717 · Post by **boostalot717** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 2:24 am

Looking for some opinions on the available brake pads out there. from the average auto store pads to performance pads. What do you guys like or dislike about them. What I am looking for is something that isn't going to tear up rotors on the street but still can bring the car down from around 135 quickly and without much fade.

Also has anyone done a custom brake setup? I will be looking into this as i would like something that I can still get a 13" wheels over. Possibly a set of Wilwood calipers with a custom mounting setup.

thanks for any and all opinions.

OB · Post by OB » Fri Jul 01, 2011 2:42 am

I've used Hawk HP+ pads up front on stock rotors, EBC greenstuff on EBC slotted and dimpled rotors, and I have Adaptive One (NAPA Premium) ceramics on my gf's 05. I only have experience in the rear with Hawk HPS. I loved the Hawks, much sharper bite and they stayed consistent over the years. The EBC's have a different feel, but they have excellent overall performance. I imagine they would do well on stock rotors too. The ceramics have a much lighter feel, less initial bite, but they are dead silent compared to the rest. Very smooth pedal feel. It all comes down to what you want and what you are willing to compromise (noise, cost, etc).

I have yet to see a custom brake setup, though the Wilwood BBK is pretty popular for the race guys. IMO these cars have very good brakes from the factory, so some DOT4 high temp fluid, stainless lines, and performance pads and rotors are more than enough for anything short of a race car.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 5:05 am

I have Hawk pads on two of my cars, and I like them. I think they are a very good street performance pad. I'll be sticking with them unless I cannot find them for my cars anymore.

boostalot717 · Post by **boostalot717** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:47 am

thanks guys. Where are you getting your Hawk pads from, Modern?

The wilwood kit would be nice but with its larger rotor I will no longer be able to get my 13" wheel over the caliper. I will have to do some research on this. I really don't want to go to 15" slick simply because of the short sidewall.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:17 am

Hawk pads make a huge difference over stop. I personally think the cars stock stop like shit. But the hawk pads really make a huge difference.

Slotted rotors and Hawk pads all the way around on my SRT and it stops amazing.

My hawk pads have always come from modern.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:59 am

I got two sets of pads on clearance for ~$20 from Pep Boys

You can get the part number, go to Google "shopping," and it'll show you the cheapest prices.

boostalot717 · Post by **boostalot717** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:31 am

I assume you guys are running the street pad and not the race pad, correct?

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:35 am

Wilwood

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:45 am

Raybestos Professional Grade pads. Some people hate them, but they work for me. Stop on a dime and are as quiet as a mouse. They don't like continual hard stops, but they're pretty good for a daily driver. The brake dust isn't too bad either; about the same as you'll find with any normal pads.

Post by **racer12306** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 7:40 am

Glad to see those are working out for you Jeff.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:24 am

racer12306 wrote:Glad to see those are working out for you Jeff.

Thanks to you, Franklin.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:02 pm

EBC Greenstuff on the stock rotors on the SXT and I love them. They're not super dusty and they make zero noise. Hawk HP Street pads on the SRT and I hate them, dusty as hell although quiet and I really didn't notice a huge difference in performance with them. Once they're worn out enough I will replace them and I'll never buy another set of them. I had Hawkhead pads on there before that and ADORED them.

jmoney14 · Post by **jmoney14** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:11 pm

i sell a TON of the napa adaptive ones for a lot of applications. have them on my neon. love em. good feel super quiet and zero dust

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:08 pm

2004 Dodge Neon SE.

What type pads do I go with? ceramic or semi-metallic? (i don't want any noticeable dust.) I go with Akebono on my other car (camry), but the one for the Neon is pricey.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:33 pm

If you want zero dust, ceramic will do, but they like to be hot to work better.

I have tried numerous types on my XJ, because the brakes on that make neon brakes look like Brembos.

Hate to say it, but the cheapo Duralast pads work far better than anything yet...

But that is on the Jeep.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:24 pm

I've been running the cheap Duralast pads as well, seem to work well for me. It's the only set of pads I've had in 4.5 years so that's not saying much. They are starting to squeal after about 30k miles so I guess I should try some better brands.

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:00 pm

What type is the OEM?

occasional demons wrote:If you want zero dust, ceramic will do, but they like to be hot to work better.

I have tried numerous types on my XJ, because the brakes on that make neon brakes look like Brembos.

Hate to say it, but the cheapo Duralast pads work far better than anything yet...

But that is on the Jeep.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:09 pm

Oem is probably an organic/semi metallic type of material. Don't hold me to that tho. AFAIK, they were original on mine when I bought it at 69000 miles. I think I had the rotors turned at around 86,000, as they actually had enough left to turn.

But I tossed them when I replaced everything with new Mopar parts when I rebuilt the car after it was totaled. (I ordered a shit load of parts online, so the cost was very reasonable.)

But the pads couldn't have been too aggressive if the rotors were still thick enough to turn.