Brake Pads verdicts ?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,247
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
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.
I traded my work Ram 1500 in with around 80k and it still had the factory brakes on it.

We bought the 01 Highlander I drive now in 2008. It had 88k miles on it. I think it may have had brakes..I'd have to go back and look over records I think we had on it. But anyway it now has 235k on it and I have not done brakes on it at all. My wife quit driving at about 190k then I took over. So it's not the driver...it's not like she's the reason the Sequoia is wearing out fast. They all do it for some reason. I just don't think the brakes were designed beefy enough for the application.
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,247
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
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.
Yep they were asbestos pads originally. But there is a superior product these days. If it was something that I could no longer get a rotor for and was a play driver I would run an organic pad but not on a daily. One week the tires and rims look like a carbon factory exploded. Wash it not enough and it's very hard to get on, seems to promote corrosion on surfaces it builds up on o we time. And the fade can be a dangerous thing, for those in the mountains or who tow much.
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,601
Reaction score
58,396
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
Anyone have a PN for the Powerstops for the squares? After seeing you guys rave about them, I looked around and anytime I found what looked like they would fit, it would say they weren't applicable. One site alone had nothing for them older than like 98-99.

I think Rock has them but would notate for 11" rears and I have 13's. ?!

Great thread.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Yep they were asbestos pads originally. But there is a superior product these days. If it was something that I could no longer get a rotor for and was a play driver I would run an organic pad but not on a daily. One week the tires and rims look like a carbon factory exploded. Wash it not enough and it's very hard to get on, seems to promote corrosion on surfaces it builds up on o we time. And the fade can be a dangerous thing, for those in the mountains or who tow much.

All very good points, but I will in the past, and not that long ago at all I ran organics on all my trucks, and yes I live in the hills, tow and haul. The biggest thing I think is to know what your brake system is capable of and adjust accordingly. Slower down hills, and shift down primarily. But sure going from ceramic to organics and expecting them to resist fade as well is a recipe for disaster, or at least a serious situation.
 

Salty Crusty

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Posts
211
Reaction score
231
Location
Texas
First Name
Gary
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c1500
Engine Size
565
AC Delco Ceramics. It's all I have bought since the first set I tried.
Last long time, zero dust, stops great.
 

Camar068

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Posts
4,276
Reaction score
3,299
Location
Kentucky
First Name
David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
Engine Size
10 yrs Air Force
Thx for post, Powerstop Z23's on order for the front. Started squeaking yesterday.
 

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,477
Reaction score
4,444
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
I Personally like metallic brakes. Wish I could still get asbestos... my experience with ceramic brakes is that I replaced rotors every time almost because they tore them up. I don't mind changing them a little more often. Napa had a fleet plus line that lasted like stock.
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,101
Reaction score
7,186
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
I Personally like metallic brakes. Wish I could still get asbestos... my experience with ceramic brakes is that I replaced rotors every time almost because they tore them up. I don't mind changing them a little more often. Napa had a fleet plus line that lasted like stock.
Right, you can't get asbestos pads, but you should still be able to buy organic pads. Do they work as well as ceramics or metallic, no. Last as long, no. Do they warp or tear up the rotors, no they don't.

I miss not having organic pads on my GMT800. Organics are all I ran on my squares. Yes change them a little more often, but not the rotors.
 

oldretiredafguy

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2020
Posts
1,417
Reaction score
3,221
Location
N. Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1988, 1988, 1991, 1983
Truck Model
GMC V-Jimmy, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC-2500 CrewCab
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350
Full metallics for my 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. When I'm hauling a 19,000 5th wheel or 11 round bails, I could care less about dust or noise.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,886
Reaction score
25,136
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
Full metallics for my 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. When I'm hauling a 19,000 5th wheel or 11 round bails, I could care less about dust or noise.

You must be registered for see images attach
How much do those 11 rounds weigh w/o the trailer?
 

oldretiredafguy

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2020
Posts
1,417
Reaction score
3,221
Location
N. Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1988, 1988, 1991, 1983
Truck Model
GMC V-Jimmy, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC-2500 CrewCab
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350
How much do those 11 rounds weigh w/o the trailer?
Each round bale in this photo weigh 1100-1200lbs. (11x 1,100=12,100). After a couple of days of loads like this, found a broken in half (not cracked) leaf spring on the truck. Replaced both sides as a precaution, and scaled back my loads to 8 bales total. Safety over greed!

2002 Dodge 3/4 T, 5.9 Cummins 24 valve, 5spd NV4500. Quality 36' open pit car hauler with 2x 7,000 Dexter axles.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
43,936
Posts
946,048
Members
35,982
Latest member
jake26104
Top