I'm getting ready to do my wife's front brakes again on the 1999 T&C Minivan. It has 69K miles and this will be the third time the front pads and second time the rotors have needed to be replaced. The last couple of times I've gone with Raybestos Quiet Stop pads and their PG Plus rotors (I got away with resurfacing them last time around). Despite carefully torquing all the wheel lugs each and every time the wheels have been removed, they have not worn particularly well and with just 27K miles the pulsing has become unbearable, the stopping distance is absolutely terrible, and the pads are worn down so will need replacing very shortly. (I plan to do it when I get time come early September...)
I'd like to hear opinions/experiences on the Wagner line of Severe Duty front disc pads as well as the Raybestos Brute Stop and Super Stop compared with the current Quiet Stop pads I have been using. Also, any feedback on the Wagner rotors as compared to the Raybestos rotors would also be appreciated.
The van sees a lot of short haul stop and go driving and adding to that is the fact that my wife is pretty hard on the brakes to begin with... To be clear, I would like to accomplish the following in priority order: 1) provide minimum stopping distance as this van is too heavy and does not stop well to begin with, 2) eliminate/minimize the disc squeal when braking, 3) minimize time before rotor warpage/pulsing, 4) maximize time between pad changes and rotor resurfacing, and 5) minimize brake dust staining on the chrome wheels. Thanks in advance to all for their thoughts.
Bob