Best Way to Go on Brake Pads

It's a judgement call. I say it all depends on how you drive and how long you plan to keep the vehicle. I always have $500 cars so I always buy the cheapest parts I can get ... since the car is going to end up in the junk yard, anyway, and I don't know when it's going to go.

Go with the semi-metallic pads. Those would be the mid-grade.

The cheap ones would be organic, which do wear out fast, and the high end will be metallic which will make noise.

If you change the pads yourself and you don't have the rotors turned, at least sand the surfaces of the rotors putting a swirl into them.

And don't forget that crap that goes between the pads and the caliper!!!!

I think the cheap ones stop better, but they might not when they fade. I really do not care for high-end pads made to last forever. I have had some cars that I felt didn't have adequate brakes with those slick bricks on there.

My NAPA Pro-Link shows six (6) grades of front pads available for a 1996 Plymouth Voyager, they are; (listed same order as their page)

"True stop" Cheap economy pads usually preferred by used car lots or people who anticipate selling the vehicle. High iron content, they are hard as hell and often break apart in a few years because they're so brittle. I'd only use 'em if there was nothing else available and then toss 'em as soon as a real brake pad -was- available.

"Safety Stop Metallic" Better quality, may make noise but will last longer than the true Stops.

"AE Metallic" Premium quality, often referred to as OEM equivalent, may make noise like any other metallic, slightly rough on rotors.

"Safety Stop Ceramix" Good quality, good wear characteristics, gentle on rotors, no rust colored dusting, though they may dust black. Quiet when installed properly. Priced in-between the safety Stop metallics and the AE metallics, an excellent value.

"Ceramix" Top gun pad, premium priced. No reason to use them if the Safety Stop Ceramix are available since they look virtually identical.

"Severe Duty Metallic" Aimed at the HD fleet market and/or towing or other heavy use. Almost guaranteed to make noise, but who cares since it's a fleet vehicle being driven to death.

My choice is almost always the Safety Stop Ceramix, they are quiet, don't chew up rotors, don't break apart, come with the shims attached. Haven't had a complaint after installing dozens and dozens of sets. One big advantage "Ceramix" have over the metallics is that as they wear, much less metal (iron) is sloughed off to accumulate on the related brake hardware, thus much less chance of the calipers, slides, pins and bushings becoming seized and bound up by accumulated rust. This is a big advantage in brake pad longevity and future problems.

I was leaning toward the mid-- best of both worlds (longer wear w/ less noise).

I am doing it myself so I'll take your advice on sanding the rotors.

Yeah, I remember my dad used to say, "Oh, you don't that." That was until my mom made him take apart recently installed brake pads and add it because she couldn't stand the squeaking.

Thanks, all, for the help.

-- Christian

Do you have to brake "for others" often each day? Around here, people have learned that they don't have to follow the law, and they run most signs and some lights. Then I have to brake, as they are spilling through their stop sign into the highway. My shop put on organic pads, lying to me. Next time I will procure the pads myself, getting semi-matallic. You need that grinding hiss up front to cover for the quadrature sinner coming up ahead! Rotors are cheap, any are cheaper than the "accidents" one must prevent during one's daily toil. :( :) Spend a lifetime braking for others. or die.

Apparently the local NAPA only carries three. I'm pretty sure I ended up with the Safety Stop Ceramix so sounds like it'll work out. Already have them on. Stopping is solid and quiet.

-- Christian