Ceramic brake pads?
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Senior User
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From: W. Michigan
Ceramic brake pads?
I need to put new pads on the back of my 98 EB. I want ceramic as I have aftermarket wheels. Can you guys give some recommendations? I don't want to spend a fortune on them $50 is my limit. Thanks
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Just did a brake job on my '04' 4X4 about 4000K ago. I was talked into trying AutoZone's Duralast-Gold Semi-metalic pads, and have to tell you they are definately worth the price. My daily commute is right at 100 miles, and have yet to notice any brake dust, rattles or squeels. Funny, but I have always paid the big bucks for brake pads, and these are a mere $29.99 with a lifetime guarantee. I have no problem recommending them.
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Well ceramic brakes are definately worth their weight in gold if you are towing or frequently travel up and down hills/mountains. They last a real long time compared to that of semi-metallic and other bakes. The only think with ceramic brakes is that they don't come with a lifetime warranty. They come with a 2-year warranty and they will last well longer then 2 years if you drive like a normal person. So it's really up to you, on my old cars I had ceramic on my minivan and semi-metallic on my grand prix. I changed my brakes 3 times and in 4 years have yet to have to change my ceramic brakes and I drive the minivan much more then I did the grand prix. Good thing I had a lifetime warranty on my semi-metallic.
One more thing about ceramic is they will wear through your rotors quicker if you don't have good rotors as the ceramic is stronger then your rotos.
One more thing about ceramic is they will wear through your rotors quicker if you don't have good rotors as the ceramic is stronger then your rotos.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: NYC
I recently put on Akebono high performance rear ceramic pads. I think I paid $50 for them and had my mechanic install them. After only 1000 miles of use i got one word to describe them: AWESOME!
I just came back from the Poconos and all of the hills and deescents were no chore for the brakes, with practically unnoticeable fade.(The Expy was loaded up with 8 people and some luggage!) The Camelback mountain roads were handled with ease and confidence, although I think my New Bilsteins had something to do with that. Anyways I recommend these Akebono pads to any expy enthusiast who requires alot from his braking system.
I just came back from the Poconos and all of the hills and deescents were no chore for the brakes, with practically unnoticeable fade.(The Expy was loaded up with 8 people and some luggage!) The Camelback mountain roads were handled with ease and confidence, although I think my New Bilsteins had something to do with that. Anyways I recommend these Akebono pads to any expy enthusiast who requires alot from his braking system.
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Senior User
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From: W. Michigan
Thanks all, I am quite brutal on brakes and I plan to do brake jobs every two years (or earlier). I won't spend tons of $$$ on vented/drilled/cryogenic rotors as I'd rather chew them up with ceramic pads and replace them. Where do I get Akebono's? Mgt. will let me spend that much.
The "lifetime warranty" brake pads usually last me a year so If I want to do brake work that often I use them. I'll go every other year with better performance.
The "lifetime warranty" brake pads usually last me a year so If I want to do brake work that often I use them. I'll go every other year with better performance.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Round Rock, TX.
Rotors
Originally Posted by blahboo
Well ceramic brakes are definately worth their weight in gold if you are towing or frequently travel up and down hills/mountains. They last a real long time compared to that of semi-metallic and other bakes. The only think with ceramic brakes is that they don't come with a lifetime warranty. They come with a 2-year warranty and they will last well longer then 2 years if you drive like a normal person. So it's really up to you, on my old cars I had ceramic on my minivan and semi-metallic on my grand prix. I changed my brakes 3 times and in 4 years have yet to have to change my ceramic brakes and I drive the minivan much more then I did the grand prix. Good thing I had a lifetime warranty on my semi-metallic.
One more thing about ceramic is they will wear through your rotors quicker if you don't have good rotors as the ceramic is stronger then your rotos.
One more thing about ceramic is they will wear through your rotors quicker if you don't have good rotors as the ceramic is stronger then your rotos.
Thanks
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: NYC
You could try to search on ebay for Akebonos, but I purchased mine through a privately owned Autoparts wholesaler which supplies mechanical shops in Brooklyn.
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Originally Posted by austinjorg
This really seems to be the question, the rotors. We all know how well the originals were (03,EB/5.4). Mine were shot in no time and now my back ones need replacing. Any particular rotors to get or any to watch out for.
I just put Brembo's/pads on the front of my '01 Expy this weekend, so no long-term results yet, but I expect good results based on past experience on other vehicles. This time I tried some slotted/dimpled rotors from SportBrakes.com. They start with standard Brembo rotors then slot/dimple (or cross-drill) them depending on what you want.
--Dan
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I put slotted rotors on the front of my '01 expy with new semi-metalic pads, having to replace the pads in less than 15k miles/little over a year. What pads do you anyone suggest, looking at putting ceramic pads on. Any suggests
