First a rant. Then a question

[badfish888]

My buddy has an 07 silver ado with rear drum brakes. He took it to the islands only shop to have the tires rotated. He left $600 later with new wheel bearings ball joints and tie rods. C. The also told him his front and rear brakes were shot.......everything. Pads rotors And his calipers were bad. He left the brakes and asked me to look at em.

Fronts needed pads. And rotors were grooved. So I told him to go get new ones from napa (our only parts store). While there. They sold him from pads and rotors. They asked if he had single or dual piston rears, when he didn't know. The guy walked to his truck. Looked at the back tire. And told him the drums and shoes were shot. I'm not sure. But I'm pretty dam sure your can't tell the shoes are shot by looking at the drum.

So. That is y I do all the work myself



And for the question. My brakes are on my cross country prep list.
Rotors are fine, I refuse to by from napa here, so what are you guys running for pads. I don't tow heavy all that much

 

[Egress]

I use Wagner pads, can get them just about anywhere. Think i paid around 100 bucks for a full set when i bought them, but you can get a much better deal and probably free shipping from amazon

 

[PostalTwo]

I'm also a fan of Wagner brakes their thermo quiet at pads are the best I've used

 

[14hemiexpress]

I have used Wagner thermoquites they seemed pretty good. I have herd good things about hawk but they are more of a performance pad, and I have herd good things about ebc. Just remember a more agressive pad will eat at you rotor more and make them more prone to warping.

 

[KarL45]

Food for though, if you plan on towing, possible consider the ceramic pads. Also, make sure you examine the old pads "Prior to removal". See if both pads are worn equally. If one is down to metal and the other has I/8 inch of lining left, there is a strong possibility that the caliper is sticking. DO NOT just replace the one that's sticking. Replace them in pairs. Now to the purchase , if calipers are required, ask for the "Loaded Caliper". Comes with the pads included. May be cheaper.

 

[Egress]

Semi-metallic are preferred over ceramic for towing (heavy towing). Ceramics are generally more expensive and cause more wear to brake rotors than metallics but last longer, create less dust, and are more quiet

 

[BlownGP]

I have used Wagner thermoquites they seemed pretty good. I have herd good things about hawk but they are more of a performance pad, and I have herd good things about ebc. Just remember a more agressive pad will eat at you rotor more and make them more prone to warping.

I'm also a fan of Wagner brakes their thermo quiet at pads are the best I've used

I use Wagner pads, can get them just about anywhere. Think i paid around 100 bucks for a full set when i bought them, but you can get a much better deal and probably free shipping from amazon

x4.. Run thermo quiets on all my cars.. LOVE THEM, especially when they have the rebates.

 

[coolidge]

Years ago brake jobs were repair shops most profitable service, you got a brake job whether you needed it or not. Someone maybe 60 Minutes did an investigative story on repair shops visiting shops across the country using a vehicle that had been gone through thoroughly. They would pull a vacuum line then visit the shop. They ended up with like a 6x6x4 foot pile of repair parts. Something like 22 fuel filters. Some shops quickly identified the problem...then sabotaged some other system and charged them for the repair.

 

[Egress]

true.

TODAY revisits chain auto repair shop investigation - Video on TODAY.com

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ytmN7T_HEI

 

[BlownGP]

Years ago brake jobs were repair shops most profitable service, you got a brake job whether you needed it or not. Someone maybe 60 Minutes did an investigative story on repair shops visiting shops across the country using a vehicle that had been gone through thoroughly. They would pull a vacuum line then visit the shop. They ended up with like a 6x6x4 foot pile of repair parts. Something like 22 fuel filters. Some shops quickly identified the problem...then sabotaged some other system and charged them for the repair.

I've heard of that happening, so they keep getting your business.

 

[wsutard1]

Pardon my ignorance here...what is wrong with factory mopar pads?

 

[crazy_luck]

Pardon my ignorance here...what is wrong with factory mopar pads?

Cost vs longevity...


When I did brakes on my Charger, I looked at the factory parts and what they cost. I then bought a full set of performance front and rear pads and slotted rotors from R1 Concepts for the cost of just the OEM front rotors.