Getting ready to do brakes again

[hunterdan]

Getting ready to do brakes on my 19 classic again. I'm not happy with the stopping power/performance. They're underwhelming at best. They've been on the truck over 2 years now and it's just time. Powerstop is almost always the top recommendation, and for good reason. But, I saw these pads when browsing rockauto and they caught my attention. Mevotech, specifically their TTX line, has usually been pretty solid. Then I saw these had a brake in coating on the pads similar to EBC. (EBC Green stuff pads were some of the best pads I've ever ran on a vehicle). Plus, you look at everything they give you in the kit, caliper hangers, a tube of lube, new bleeders, all brand new hardware. Literally everything you need to rebuild the calipers besides the pistons and the seals. So, I ordered their premium metallic pads, which are their mid-tier pads. I don't tow a lot, I don't haul a lot of heavy stuff. Seemed like a good balance. So I ordered them and power stop OE replacement rotors (I have drilled and slotted currently and I'm over it). In the rear,no went with a set of centric pads and rotors. Figured the fronts are the most important since they do most of the work. But, centric makes decent stuff at decent prices.
Ordered yesterday morning, came in today. 110lbs of brake parts according to rockauto. Opened up the mevotech pads. They look great. The pads themselves are HEAVY! I was supposed to be working on my ex's van this weekend, but USPS dropped the ball on getting the oil pressure switch here today, so guess I'm putting brakes on my truck instead.

 

[hunterdan]

Pretty nicely packaged.

 

[04fxdwgi]

What are you doing as far as the rotors? The standard is either get them turned or replace. Would never put new pads on a worn / glazed rotor, the pads won't seat properly, especially the new composition pads..

 

[hunterdan]

What are you as far as the rotors? The standard is either get them turned or replace. Would never put new pads on a worn / glazed rotor, the pads won't seat properly, especially the new composition pads..

Powerstop OE replacement front and centric rears.

 

[hunterdan]

Knocked out the brakes this morning. Fronts had about 30% pad life left. Rotors were showing signs of wear. The stuff I was replacing was from r1 concepts.

Fronts went nice and smooth, super easy, less than 45 minutes to knock everything out, get everything cleaned out and lubed and all new hardware put back in. Rears fought me some, had to loosen the parking drum adjuster to get the rotor off, but wasn't a huge issue. Then one of the caliper bracket bolts fought me, but other than that, not too bad. Decided to use Alfaobd to bleed the brakes using the abs pump after I pumped the brakes up. I managed to get some air out of the lines and feels like it did firm the pedal up a bit more. I may repeat it again as I think there's still some room for improvement. Quick drive to bed them in and every stop I could feel them biting harder. Old pads were definitely glazed over. See how these hold up. The powerstop geomet rotors are definitely some nice pieces. The centrics are nice, but the powerstops are definitely a grade above.

 

[hunterdan]

Update on the mevotech pads:
They suck. Hitting the brakes felt more like a suggestion. Just installed a set of bendix fleet Metlocks and it's a night and day difference. Pads actually bite and grab. And the harder I press the harder it wants to brake. Plus, they were only $25.

 

[Mojo88]

Update on the mevotech pads:
They suck. Hitting the brakes felt more like a suggestion. Just installed a set of bendix fleet Metlocks and it's a night and day difference. Pads actually bite and grab. And the harder I press the harder it wants to brake. Plus, they were only $25.

Yeah man, it's amazing how various pad materials can affect stopping power. I'm like you, I want brakes that "bite and grab". On my previous truck (Chevy Silverado), I went through 3 or 4 sets of pads before I got some bite. But that truck only had 12" rotors, so braking power was underwhelming no matter what. I eventually upgraded to 13" rotors and that helped a lot.

Of course, my 2019 RAM 1500 has 15" rotors, and that (larger diameter rotors) makes a world of difference. Lots of braking power.

 

[EdGs]

Always had good results with Wagner Thermoquiets, the semi-metallic ones.

I've heard their ceramic OEX series are great, but haven't used them.

Bendix has been around forever as well, glad you found something with good results.

 

[Burla]

OEX are great and even on the rav 4 now maybe ten years of which first 8 drives far daily. I have had zero dust, as in zero, they don't dust and surprisingly stopped better then the Toyota oem metal pads that dusted a lot. I cant imagine anything performing better unless you tow heavy or drive it like you stole it.

 

[hunterdan]

If these have decent pad life, I'll probably be buying these again for future vehicles because 1, I know they work. 2, they're cheap.
I tried oex on my Silverado and wasn't crazy about them. Maybe it was the ceramic formulation, but they were uninspiring.

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Update on the mevotech pads:
They suck. Hitting the brakes felt more like a suggestion. Just installed a set of bendix fleet Metlocks and it's a night and day difference. Pads actually bite and grab. And the harder I press the harder it wants to brake. Plus, they were only $25.

Those

Bendix Fleet Metlok pads look good from my research - specific for towing and hard use vehicles. I wonder how those with the Metlok rotors would perform.​

 

[hunterdan]

Those

Bendix Fleet Metlok pads look good from my research - specific for towing and hard use vehicles. I wonder how those with the Metlok rotors would perform.​

So far, initial impressions with powerstop geomet oe replacement rotors is positive.

 

[hunterdan]

Well, had someone in a Tesla pull out in front of me from a stopped lane while my lane was clear to try and get ahead of a tractor trailer and had to slam on the brakes. They definitely brought the truck to a stop way faster and easier than the old pads and even the brakes before those. I wasn't all the way mashed down and I could feel the tires starting to fight for traction. Last 2 sets of brakes I had it definitely had trouble getting the abs to engage. I want to say I was somewhere between 50-75% applied with the brake pedal. I believe I'd have nailed that Tesla had I not switched pads the other day. I'm now a firm believer in these pads. I'm seriously contemplating putting them on the rear now as well.