Brake pad replacement opinions

[Sonicpilz]

Hey guys I had my 2003 v8 4runner in the shop at the stealership yesterday for a/c work and when they wrote up my receipt I had a note that my brake pads needed to be replaced. They noted that they were 4mm and 2mm and quoted me $199.98 for the front and $199.98 for the rear.

I'm not sure if this included turning rotors but it wasn't listed so I doubt it. Anyway $400 seems a little bit much for me when I can buy pads at a local parts store for $45 a pair and do it myself.

I've don't plenty of brake jobs so the work is no issue so my question for you guys is what brands work well with these 4runners? Are ceramic brakes any better than stock pads? I have 150k miles on my truck so I'm sure these are not the original pads and highly doubt they are even OEM pads installed by a dealer. Any suggestions?

 

[MikeInNH]

As I've stated before....Toyota (or any car manufacturer I know of) does NOT make brake pads. It's made for them by one of the brake manufacturers.

I've been using Wagner pads for 30+ years. Wagner makes OEM brake parts for many car manufacturers.

As long as you stick with a good reputable pad manufacturer then you'll be fine.

 

[Atlanta_man]

some hard pads will eat up the rotors

 

[nevada]

Hey guys I had my 2003 v8 4runner in the shop at the stealership yesterday for a/c work and when they wrote up my receipt I had a note that my brake pads needed to be replaced. They noted that they were 4mm and 2mm and quoted me $199.98 for the front and $199.98 for the rear.

I'm not sure if this included turning rotors but it wasn't listed so I doubt it. Anyway $400 seems a little bit much for me when I can buy pads at a local parts store for $45 a pair and do it myself.

I've don't plenty of brake jobs so the work is no issue so my question for you guys is what brands work well with these 4runners? Are ceramic brakes any better than stock pads? I have 150k miles on my truck so I'm sure these are not the original pads and highly doubt they are even OEM pads installed by a dealer. Any suggestions?

if that includes resurfacing the rotors, that's not a bad price.

if you do decide to just do it yourself, be sure to take the rotors in and have them resurfaced. also, DONT be a cheap ass and buy the $45 pads. at least put something good on there.

 

[Sonicpilz]

I would prefer to do them myself and save the $200 in labor. What I'm asking is which brand and series pads to buy? I've looked online at the local parts stores but they each have about 6-10 different flavors of pads in all different types of materials. One of you mentioned Wagners, I've seen those before but could you be a little more specific? Also what do you think about the ceramic pads?

Wagner has a Thermo-quiet series available at my local Advancedauto parts. They offer semi-metallic and ceramic. Which would be better for the 4runners?

 

[MikeInNH]

One of you mentioned Wagners, I've seen those before but could you be a little more specific? Also what do you think about the ceramic pads?

Ceramics are very hard and can eat through a rotor faster then the pads wear out. I only use ceramics if the OEM pads are ceramic.

Wagner Thermo-Quiet pads are the ones I've been using (semi-metallic).

 

[Dylan]

Ceramics are very hard and can eat through a rotor faster then the pads wear out. I only use ceramics if the OEM pads are ceramic.

Wagner Thermo-Quiet pads are the ones I've been using (semi-metallic).

I have yet to put new pads in on my 04, but I used thermo quiets on my 94 and liked them. Although, now that MikeInNH mentions it, I used the ceramic ones versus the semi-metallic.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

Hey guys I had my 2003 v8 4runner in the shop at the stealership yesterday for a/c work and when they wrote up my receipt I had a note that my brake pads needed to be replaced. They noted that they were 4mm and 2mm and quoted me $199.98 for the front and $199.98 for the rear.

I'm not sure if this included turning rotors but it wasn't listed so I doubt it. Anyway $400 seems a little bit much for me when I can buy pads at a local parts store for $45 a pair and do it myself.

I've don't plenty of brake jobs so the work is no issue so my question for you guys is what brands work well with these 4runners? Are ceramic brakes any better than stock pads? I have 150k miles on my truck so I'm sure these are not the original pads and highly doubt they are even OEM pads installed by a dealer. Any suggestions?

I bought TRD pads all around for $180, and had them all thrown on and 2 front calipers replaced for $500. So yes, that's expensive. I paid $100 more than you for 4 pads, 2 calipers, labor, and rotors turned.