Re: Can anyone tell the difference between rotors and pads (truthfully)?

I found out from another thread that brake rotors can't warp and it seems
> nobody on this planet can really (reliably) tell the difference

between

brake friction materials (because there are no standards whatsoever) > according to >
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> So, since I have horrible brake-induced wobble in my Toyota 4Runner, how > DOES anyone buy the right parts given there are no regulations or > standards to protect us? > > We may as well close our eyes and choose randomly for all the lack of > standards. Which leaves me to my most important question, having to trust > in your judgement and experience (which I don't have). > > Where would YOU buy a good quality rotors & pads for a Toyota 4Runner? > > Stu >

Wow that is a great web site with a load of CRAP.

Brake rotors warp all the time, so do drums. Want to see it happen, drive down a long hill using the brakes to control your speed, hit a puddle at the bottom and guess what happens? Warpage is real easy to define. Relative motion in a sample plane. Uneven heating, or mechanical stress can cause it easily.

There are standards for what the brakes do and how they are made. The problem is that those standards are REALLY old. Basically anything can be used that provides the ability to stop the vehicle in a prescribed distance. Modern brakes are designed to reduce the problems associated with the way the brake performance degrades due to the environment and design.

Personally I run Performance Friction carbon metallic pads. I use rotors from NAPA. No problems with their performance other than the fact that they work VERY well so it does take a bit of time to get used to the better brakes.