Back to OEM brakes?

[bricew25]

I've never had luck with aftermarket rotors and pads. Even growing up, I always remember my dad's vehicles pulsing as we came to a stop because of the rotors and pads that were put on.
2 years ago I put on Centric rotors and pads on the front and within a month I could feel the vehicle pulsing. It sounds like other people have luck with these, but at this point, I can't stand the jolting when I brake.

Does anyone else have luck with aftermarket?

 

[y=mx+b]

I've never had luck with aftermarket rotors and pads. Even growing up, I always remember my dad's vehicles pulsing as we came to a stop because of the rotors and pads that were put on.
2 years ago I put on Centric rotors and pads on the front and within a month I could feel the vehicle pulsing. It sounds like other people have luck with these, but at this point, I can't stand the jolting when I brake.

Does anyone else have luck with aftermarket?

Are you bedding the brake properly? Improperly bedded brakes can leave an uneven deposit of brake pad material along the rotor and give a false warped rotor feeling

 

[eleven14]

I've never had luck with aftermarket rotors and pads. Even growing up, I always remember my dad's vehicles pulsing as we came to a stop because of the rotors and pads that were put on.
2 years ago I put on Centric rotors and pads on the front and within a month I could feel the vehicle pulsing. It sounds like other people have luck with these, but at this point, I can't stand the jolting when I brake.

Does anyone else have luck with aftermarket?

I run Centric Rotors and Akebono pads on two vehicles with no issues. They replaced the OEM Honda stuff which had warped terribly, especially pronounced under load (to the point of being dangerous).

That said, seems like you've got an underlying issue. When you first put on the Centric rotors/pads, did the problem go away? Calipers were functioning?

 

[MikeinNH67]

I am also running Centric with Okebono and seems to be fine after more than a year. As mentioned, try the bedding procedure. It's the first thing I do after new brakes on a vehicle.

Something else you can try that is more time consuming is to pull the rotors and sand them with a fine sand paper. If they run smooth after then you had some pad material making it pulse...back to bedding them. Here's one site that explains it.

Bedding In Brake Rotors

One thing I now do (and tell the driver's in my family to do) is if I have a hard braking episode to continuously creep after stopped so the pad material won't stick in one spot.

 

[bricew25]

Sounds good, Ill give that bedding process a try. I don't believe I followed it. Before these pads/rotors everything was smooth, just warn out.

 

[eleven14]

One thing I now do (and tell the driver's in my family to do) is if I have a hard braking episode to continuously creep after stopped so the pad material won't stick in one spot.

This should be gospel. I do the same, the heat build up after hard braking fuses the two materials.

 

[bricew25]

I am also running Centric with Okebono and seems to be fine after more than a year. As mentioned, try the bedding procedure. It's the first thing I do after new brakes on a vehicle.

Something else you can try that is more time consuming is to pull the rotors and sand them with a fine sand paper. If they run smooth after then you had some pad material making it pulse...back to bedding them. Here's one site that explains it.

Bedding In Brake Rotors

One thing I now do (and tell the driver's in my family to do) is if I have a hard braking episode to continuously creep after stopped so the pad material won't stick in one spot.

Good idea, id rather try sanding than jumping to replace them.

 

[bigmoose]

I went with Power Stop when I did mine. I'm really happy with the performance as I do a lot of towing. Love 'em.
PowerStop Extreme Truck & Tow Brake Kits | PowerStop

 

[Bluesky 07]

I went with Power Stop when I did mine. I'm really happy with the performance as I do a lot of towing. Love 'em.
PowerStop Extreme Truck & Tow Brake Kits | PowerStop

This. I've had the Z36 kit for years and it's been terrific. Getting the kit with calipers next time; found one of mine was frozen during the brake job and thus had to source it locally. Note: link is to the kit for the Sport Edition 338mm rotors. As with any parts, be sure to check fitment before purchasing.

 

[riverwolf]

Did you make sure to clean the hub face of any rust/crud before installing the new rotors? Do you use a torque wrench to install your lug nuts? My personal opinion is shops using air guns to reinstall lug nuts either overtightened or unequally tight is one of the leading causes of rotor warpage. Can just as easily do the same at home with a breaker bar.

My personal story is I had some front rotor warpage by 50,000 miles on my factory set. Early in my 4R's life, I lived in an apartment and let the dealer do my routine oil change/tire rotations. I think it was their use of air guns that lead to the rotor warpage. I went ahead and replaced all rotors/pads with Centric\Akebono ceramics around 80k. Now, almost 100K miles later and using a torque wrench any time the wheels come off, I'm still vibration free. I now do all of my own service and most repairs, but on the occasion where I have to let someone else touch the rig, like new tires, I immediately loosen\tighten them again with a torque wrench once I get home. YMMV.

 

[JONBOY345]

This. I've had the Z36 kit for years and it's been terrific. Getting the kit with calipers next time; found one of mine was frozen during the brake job and thus had to source it locally. Note: link is to the kit for the Sport Edition 338mm rotors. As with any parts, be sure to check fitment before purchasing.

Do they offer a kit with their own calipers? Looking at the kit for my 09 with the bigger brakes on Summit, it states that the Powerstop calipers are remans, which I assume means Toyota parts that they remanufacture?

So they're OEM Toyota calipers remaned and powder coated red? Or am I missing something?

 

[Bluesky 07]

Do they offer a kit with their own calipers? Looking at the kit for my 09 with the bigger brakes on Summit, it states that the Powerstop calipers are remans, which I assume means Toyota parts that they remanufacture?

So they're OEM Toyota calipers remaned and powder coated red? Or am I missing something?

From their core return guidelines, it appears they remanufacture whatever they get back. So my take is that it's not necessarily, maybe even not likely, that it's a Toyota caliper. Which could be a good thing I guess. LOL

The fact that PowerStop only guarantees their calipers for 3 years or 36K bugs me a bit since AutoZone for example has a lifetime warranty. And now on reading this more closely, does DIY installation void the 3/36 warranty or just the 60-day exchange? How do you guys interpret this?

==
POWERSTOP BRAKE KITS WITH CALIPERS (KCL KITS WITH Z16, Z23, Z26, Z36, OR Z37 PADS), PURCHASED AND INSTALLED AS A KIT:
If a customer is not satisfied with the quality and performance of a kit for any reason within 60 days of the invoice date or the installation date by a professional technician (an invoice from the installation shop is required), and the required break-in procedure was implemented, PowerStop LLC will provide a one-time exchange of the kit for a new one. This no-questions-asked, 60 day warranty must be facilitated by the authorized PowerStop retailer.

PowerStop LLC warrants this product to be free from defects and poor workmanship for 3 years from the purchase date or 36,000 miles of use, whichever occurs first. The product, when properly installed on the type of vehicle prescribed, and in which a defect in workmanship and material is found, will be exchanged free of charge if returned to the seller who is authorized to give this warranty. PowerStop LLC is not responsible for its products when they are subjected to misuse, abuse, improper application, improper installation, or accident. This warranty includes rotor cracking. Normal wear is not covered by this warranty. Failure of components due to using non-approved DOT 5 Silicone brake fluid is not covered by this warranty. This warranty also excludes stripped bleeder and banjo bolt holes caused by over-tightening. The 3-year/36,000-mile warranty excludes failure of components due to disc thickness variation (DTV*), usually indicated by brake pulsation.
==

 

[meltdowner]

This. I've had the Z36 kit for years and it's been terrific. Getting the kit with calipers next time; found one of mine was frozen during the brake job and thus had to source it locally. Note: link is to the kit for the Sport Edition 338mm rotors. As with any parts, be sure to check fitment before purchasing.

Powerstop... made in china crap.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Powerstop... made in china crap.

Have any evidence, references, citations, anything? And/or a recommendation based on what you’re running and why you chose it? Because such comments are incredibly useful with substantiation and an utter waste of time otherwise.

 

[weaves]

Powerstop... made in china crap.

Apple...made in China crap.

Powerstop makes decent brakes and their customer service is top notch. I installed them on my Excursion which was my dedicated towing vehicle and I put on well over 50k miles with them. I liked them so much I installed a set on my 4Runner.

 

[zguy1]

I replaced my front rotors and pads several months ago on my 2008. After a bunch of research I went with Akebono pads (ACT976) and Centric rotors (12044129). I have driven about 11k miles so far and have done a 6k mile road trip out west. The trip included a bunch of mountain roads with very steep grades. I'm pretty happy with my choice. No noise or pulsation so far. Knock on wood...

 

[Drcoffee]

Carquest rotors lifetime warr and Akebobo pads. Ceramic pads dont need bedding but the rotors should be new or resurfaced.

On our sienna, the rotors kept warping, so i changed them for power stop drilled and slotted and akebono, 40,000 miles later and no warping.

 

[ExpeditionBill]

I have Centric Rotors and Akebono pads

Upgraded the fronts to 2010 rotors, calipers and pads.

Rear was still above but 2003 ones

4 yrs in - front rotors warped.
Lasted 5 years (around 40k miles) and back pad snapped in half?
On year 6 - front rotors feel warped again and caliper sticking i think and making the pulsing or squeaking sound when I hit brake and slow down.

 

[meltdowner]

Have any evidence, references, citations, anything? And/or a recommendation based on what you’re running and why you chose it? Because such comments are incredibly useful with substantiation and an utter waste of time otherwise.

Evidence? Google "are power stop brakes made in china?" The answer is yes. Call powerstop and ask them. They're made in China.

Their headquarters have been in California since the 70s because that's where the shipments arrive from China.

They're literally Chinese crap, painted a different color. Lately, the quality has decreased dramatically. Powerstop has no control over the quality.

 

[meltdowner]

Apple...made in China crap.

Powerstop makes decent brakes and their customer service is top notch. I installed them on my Excursion which was my dedicated towing vehicle and I put on well over 50k miles with them. I liked them so much I installed a set on my 4Runner.

Apple phones are crap, they're also not made entirely in China. What makes an Apple phone "good" is the processor inside, which are made in Taiwan. The rest of the phone is made in China, assembled there. But that CPU made in Taiwan is good.

Chinese rotors are a completely different story. Companies that use China to create the entire product are doing so just to save a buck. China will do the same during their manufacturing process to save themselves a buck. Hence Chinese crap.

Poor analogy to compare to an Apple product.