semi-metallic or ceramic pads, also best rotors
 

'02 PSD. I used to always go for the semimetallic pads but the ceramics are comparably priced. what are the advantages of either?

also what is the best bang for the buck on rear rotors?

subscribing... looking at doing the brakes in the next week.

Stock rear rotors will do the front are the ones that get the beating. My dads got Hawk SD fleet pads all around with cryo powerslots up front and stock rotors out back. I was surprised at how the brakes grab when they get heated up good and don't fade near as easy as the stock setup. Make shure the slide pins are in good shape and you flush the system also. Bedding in the brakes after the install is also important.

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Not to hiJack but what does Bedding refer to?

There are two objectives for bedding- in performance brakes. First, heating up the brake
rotors and pads in a recommended manner, so as to promote the transfer of an even or
uniform layer of pad material onto the new rotor discs; and the maturing the pad material,
so that the resins used to bind and form them during manufacturing are ‘cooked-off’ the

pads.

What are good pads/rotors if purchased from a local parts store? Bendex, Wagner? Still very curious about the semi-metallic and ceramic question.

Your basically breaking in or seating the pads to the rotor. I know the Hawk pads have the bedding procedure on the box. You start with low mph light peddle pressure stops and slowly work up in mph and peddle pressure. Of course you give the brakes a little time to cool down between stops. Take 10 minutes on a back road or large parking lot to bed in your brakes and they will give you a long service life.

I was told the ceramic are more of a performance based pad, not to be used if towing is your main use. I put severe duty pads and there was a noticeable difference over the standard heavy duty pad. I used Carquest gold severe duty pads and they were good. They repalced the Carquest blue that had been done by the previous owner. If you tow, I would go for the semi-metallic.

I have the NAPA ceramic pads on my truck and noticed a much better stop. I tow a boat (3500lbs) with my rig once a month and have not had any problems.

I am sure the ceramic pads work fine especially in your case.Your only towing once a month and the weight is #3500. I use my truck almost exclusively for pulling a #9000 travel trailer and was advised that in my case the semi-metallic would be better for the long run. I am not knocking the ceramics, they are supposed to be great pads.

Ceramics will keep your wheels cleaner too.