Brake Pads

[CookieRoe]

I noticed my sticking caliper because one end of the pad was worn more than the other... Must have been sticking for awhile. I bought the pads from the dealer and the calipers and rotors from Napa.

The pad material looked like a cheese wedge...

Uneven brake pad wear like someone else mentioned (tho if its the rear calipers, it could also be due to stuck guide pins). Also look for torn rubber seals around the piston. You'll also know when you're trying to reset the piston and it doesn't want to move back in. If enough of the piston is visible, see if the metal itself is pitted.

Thanks guys, I'm just dreading it. I suspect my rear passenger side was sticking for a while, but went away. Front rotors look really rusty, but they are probably fine......... i dunno, I'll find out when I finally take the wheel off.

 

[4rcybr]

Swapping out my Akebonos for Hawk this weekend. Will report back. Went with 5.0 fronts and HPS rears. The Akebono do not have sufficient first-grab bite. The E KO2s probably don't help.

Let me know how that goes. I'm also running heavy tires (285/70R17 Load Range E) and I've been wondering if I need to just upgrade pads or look into doing a more serious upgrade...

 

[07V8]

Let me know how that goes. I'm also running heavy tires (285/70R17 Load Range E) and I've been wondering if I need to just upgrade pads or look into doing a more serious upgrade...

Just upgraded my brothers 11 WRX from stock to Hawk. Initial and especially cold bite was substantially improved. Original pads had more than 50% left so they weren't worn out. Like Toyota, I'm sure Subaru uses quality OE pads; however, the upgrade was very noticeable.

To put it in perspective, I did Centric 5th gen rotors 15k miles ago. If you look closely, you can still see faint machining marks. After bedding the brakes on the WRX which too received Centric rotors, it was evident that the Hawk pad was far more aggressive based on how much of the machining marks were already gone

 

[NinjaOne]

The standard 6000 series and "low dust" 7000 series are pretty dusty too; have/had them on my 3rd gen and parents' GX470 (same platform as 4th gens), wasn't very happy when I had to clean my wheels within a week of installing the 7000s, what a load of BS.

I tried Akebonos this time when I did my rear pads and rotors, so far so good with the dust. If you need them right away, order online for store pickup from Pep Boys, there's usually a discount code. If you can wait a few days, you can't really beat rockauto.com , they sponsor this forum and there's always a 5% discount code on their sub forum.

I just installed EBC Greenstuff 6000s? on mine, haven't noticed any increased brake dust but I'm also running black wheels.

Significant increase in braking and pad bite so far (expected with any new brakes) Brakes no longer release when I am braking and go over a bump. (old rotor wrapped?) Next I'm replacing calipers: Found one sticky and one that wouldn't stay compressed and another that the piston showed a bit of rust.

 

[Ed_C]

I have the 6000's on the rears of the GX and 7000's on the fronts of my '02, both have stock silver wheels.

I didn't mind the dust so much on the GX since it's a given, performance pads will be dustier than OEM type pads. But I spent more and bought the 7000s based on EBCs claims of "almost zero brake dust" ( see Greenstuff? Brake Pads ) only to discover they're just as dusty as the 6000s, is what turned me off from the brand.

 

[asdfman7]

If you double tap the pedal does the subsequent press feel good?

YES!!! I've gotten use to it now and keep forgetting to do some research... Whats the fix?

 

[catrains]

I just installed EBC Greenstuff 6000s? on mine, haven't noticed any increased brake dust but I'm also running black wheels.

Significant increase in braking and pad bite so far (expected with any new brakes) Brakes no longer release when I am braking and go over a bump. (old rotor wrapped?) Next I'm replacing calipers: Found one sticky and one that wouldn't stay compressed and another that the piston showed a bit of rust.

what can happen is you install new pads the pistons work well. then when the pads wear down the pistons can stick in the more extended position ..

back in 2001 I had only 20K miles on my truck the rear caliper pistons had a defect. I later at 35K replaced both to this day 170K miles no problem with them...I did actually pop out the pistons on those calipers and it was the distorted pistons a manufacturing defect.

most times it is from rust when old..

 

[07V8]

YES!!! I've gotten use to it now and keep forgetting to do some research... Whats the fix?

Feelings are mixed. Some say SS lines help. I may install mine this weekend but don't want the hassle or re-bleeding - especially by myself.

 

[riceandpho]

i personally use hawk lts pads and stoptech slotted rotors, also stoptech ss lines too. i have good luck with hawk lts pads.

 

[nicheel8]

When you replace the pads do you do all four at the same time?

 

[ZebRuaj]

When you replace the pads do you do all four at the same time?

Replace the pair that is needed. Pads are sold as a front set or rear set. No real need to do all 4 at the same time. Brake force distribution favors the front, so those should wear out faster than the rears.

 

[riceandpho]

When you replace the pads do you do all four at the same time?

actually, it depends on the pad material, check both front and back, my last set the rears wore more than the front, but since i found a good deal check tirerack and amazon, i did all four, front was 40 left, but since i got everything off, its much faster for me to do everything.

 

[Bumbo]

I use Akebono on almost everything. Great all around pads. They are the OE supplier to a lot of manufactures as well, I believe even Toyota's.

+1 for Akebono pads...

I have tried them on two cars so far and they feel awesome.

 

[chompster4runner]

+1 for Akebono pads...

I have tried them on two cars so far and they feel awesome.

Replaced front pads with akebono last Sunday. Pretty impressed how grippy it was compared to the OEM. Brake feels is better too.