OEM Brake Pad Question....

[vr4z06gt]

I finally got around to replacing my front rotors and pads today. I ended up having one seized pot of the front 8, not to bad for original 7 year old calipers IMO. So I ended up replacing the front drivers side caliper...anyways to my question.

I replaced my brake parts with OEM pads/rotors/shims and springs. I noticed when I took the OEM brake pads out...I assume they are original to the car as it had 45k on it when we bought it and I just replaced them myself at 62k. I noticed there are 3 unique casting marks in the pad backing and they matched the new OEM pads as well. Of the four front pads there are 1xA 1xB and 2xC indicated on the backing. On the passenger side there was A and C and the on the drivers side there was B and C. What is the difference? A & B both have squeal tabs and C does not. They look visually identical and the instructions that are included in the box make no distinction to the pads. So finally to my question...WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Why would toyota (or sumitomo who makes the pads) go through the hassel of having multiple casting marks if the pads are virtually identicle. Especially since A and B look identical. Does anyone have any idea what the difference is?

 

[radlynx]

I replaced my front rotors and pads and springs last weekend too. don't confuse yourself with the brake pads. for as long as you install the pads with squeal tabs on each tire, and then pair it with the other that don't have the squeal tabs, you are fine. the squeal tabs will let you know when to replace the brake pads. I learned about it only a few weeks ago when suddenly, my right front wheel started to be noisy.

by the way, what did you end up buying? OEM parts. I got an aftermarket, akebono pads and beck/arnley rotors and was happy about it.

I finally got around to replacing my front rotors and pads today. I ended up having one seized pot of the front 8, not to bad for original 7 year old calipers IMO. So I ended up replacing the front drivers side caliper...anyways to my question.

I replaced my brake parts with OEM pads/rotors/shims and springs. I noticed when I took the OEM brake pads out...I assume they are original to the car as it had 45k on it when we bought it and I just replaced them myself at 62k. I noticed there are 3 unique casting marks in the pad backing and they matched the new OEM pads as well. Of the four front pads there are 1xA 1xB and 2xC indicated on the backing. On the passenger side there was A and C and the on the drivers side there was B and C. What is the difference? A & B both have squeal tabs and C does not. They look visually identical and the instructions that are included in the box make no distinction to the pads. So finally to my question...WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Why would toyota (or sumitomo who makes the pads) go through the hassel of having multiple casting marks if the pads are virtually identicle. Especially since A and B look identical. Does anyone have any idea what the difference is?