Brake Pads verdicts ?

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JTWard

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Ok, so after 8 years, the brakes on my 1990 Silverado are asking for some help. the passenger side rear are hanging up every once in a while, so I bought new shoes and hardware kit for them, and Now I believe I should pay some attention to the front brakes, specifically the brake pads. I put on a set of drilled & Slotted rotors on and they seem to holding nicely, but what's the opinions on brake pads. I'm leaning towards :

Bosch QuietCast™ Premium Disc Brake Pads

What do you think of these ?

And what's you opinion of semi-metallic over Ceramic ?


Thank you !
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Grit dog

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If you like keeping your truck clean, low dust ceramic ftw.
If you like brown brake dust covered wheels, get organic or semi metallic.
 

custodian

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I use Power Stop Ceramic brakes on all my vehicles. Very low to no dust. Long lasting.
 

SirRobyn0

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what's the opinions on brake pads. I'm leaning towards :

Bosch QuietCast™ Premium Disc Brake Pads

What do you think of these ?

And what's you opinion of semi-metallic over Ceramic ?

At the shop when we have a vehicle that we are concerned about noise we either put Acubono's or Bosch quiet cast on it. My wife's minivan is a perpetual squeaker and the Bosch quite casts are the only thing that runs quiet on it even after she heats them up on the hills. Nearly everything about ceramic brake pads is better than semi-mets. They take higher temps, wear slower and generally are quieter. The one down fall is the cheaper ceramics will glaze if overheated badly enough, unlike semi-mets once a ceramic gets hot enough to squeal they are usually noisy for life after that. Basically the take away is if your going to buy cheap pads get organic or semi-mets, if your going to go up to ceramic get good ones, and yes I think the Bosch is a great choice and that is what is on all my vehicles.
 

80BrownK10

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I started useing ceramics on everything about 10 years ago. WAY less dust. Some brand ceramics seem to leave more dust than others. I have tried about all the major brands in different applications. Tried Advance gold's, several different tiers in Raybestos line, Centric, Weaver and probably a few that I can't remember.

Our first gen Sequoia eats brake pads for some reason. Seems like I'm doing a brake job every 25k to 30 k and most our miles are even highway rural ones. It came factory ceramic in 04.
 

Matt69olds

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I second the Power Stop Z series


I agree. I got 60k out of my factory Ram brakes, replaced them with Carquest top of the line pads. I couldn’t get more than 25-30k tops, and the brakes never felt as good as the OEM stuff.

I replaced everything with power stop at around 140k, the brakes are better than ever and still look great.
 

GXPWeasel

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Ceramic, and Powerstop for the win.
I tow HEAVY with my '15 half ton (within 185lb so of my max GCWR) and they work great. Also did Powerstop on my Traverse when I had it, and towed with it. Wife loved the shortened stopping distance. When my '82 goes back together here next spring-fall, it will be getting powerstop brakes. I'm even considering replacing the brakes on my wife's 2020 Atlas Cross Sport which only has 3,500 miles to Powerstop this winter. They are worth every dollar.
 

Swearbody

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Ive used power stop on several scca builds. 2 Mazda mx6 turbos ,a BMW E30, and they do well for autocross. You have to beat the hell out of them to get an noticeable fade.. and Yes the cars are light but believe me I abused the brakes. Also used them on 2 squares and will be putting them on the current project when the time arrives.
I like their pads and the rotors as well. I have cracked a brembo cross drilled and slotted rotor in half at the track after maybe 3 races and had powerstops last 2 seasons.
 

SirRobyn0

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https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ebc-dp61145/year/1990/make/chevrolet/model/c1500

Put this on a friends 77 k5. Felt like nearly ripping off the front axle when doing a hard stop. I don't know how long they last, they are on the car since 6 months.

Well we haven't talked about organic pads until this post. All of our trucks came factory with organic pads, back in the day that meant asbestos, depending on the country greenstuff manufactures their pads in it may still have asbestos in it, or it maybe other asbestos replacement organics or some of both. Advantages to organic pads, after broken in they run quiet under pretty much all conditions even if they have been hot. Disadvantages, depending on the quality of the organic pad they will get to hot and fade at the same or lower temp than semi-mets. Shortest brake pad wear life of the three types we have discussed. This maybe an advantage or disadvantage to some but organics will generally have the most grippy initial feel, especially when cold.

I just looked at the EBC website and it does say non-asbestos, but still they make organic pads for all sorts of vehicle even many that came factory with semi-mets. Never know when I might need an old fashion style pad, so I appreciate this info. Organics will be as close to an original type pad for these trucks that is made today.
 

Grit dog

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https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ebc-dp61145/year/1990/make/chevrolet/model/c1500

Put this on a friends 77 k5. Felt like nearly ripping off the front axle when doing a hard stop. I don't know how long they last, they are on the car since 6 months.

Greenstuff EBC's are VERY good quality. Not sure if they're quite as good as their price, but have a set on a 3/4ton truck that hauls a truck camper/trailer. I gross close to 20klbs combined when the camper and boat are hooked up. Have about 50,000? miles on them now, bit less maybe, over 50% hauling camper or towing something and they still grab better than OE and have minimal wear, probably 75% pad left.
(I do use the exhaust brake liberally though, so I'm sure that helps on brake life a bunch)

Edit, forgot, have had 3 different sets of EBCs on differnt vehicles all low dust ceramic and all have been 100% quiet. Powerstop Z26 pads I put on the SRT8 always squeal coming at the first 2 low speed applications, backing out of the garage and turning at the end of the driveway. Then no noise after that.
 

Turbo4whl

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Well we haven't talked about organic pads until this post. All of our trucks came factory with organic pads, back in the day that meant asbestos, depending on the country greenstuff manufactures their pads in it may still have asbestos in it, or it maybe other asbestos replacement organics or some of both. Advantages to organic pads, after broken in they run quiet under pretty much all conditions even if they have been hot. Disadvantages, depending on the quality of the organic pad they will get to hot and fade at the same or lower temp than semi-mets. Shortest brake pad wear life of the three types we have discussed. This maybe an advantage or disadvantage to some but organics will generally have the most grippy initial feel, especially when cold.

I just looked at the EBC website and it does say non-asbestos, but still they make organic pads for all sorts of vehicle even many that came factory with semi-mets. Never know when I might need an old fashion style pad, so I appreciate this info. Organics will be as close to an original type pad for these trucks that is made today.

I have found organic pads don't warp or groove rotors like other pads sometimes do. Yes, do not wear as well, but D52's are so easy to change.
 

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