Which Pads to buy? Organic, Semi-Metallic, Ceramic

[changedsoul]

Hey, Im sure this has been posted before, but I searched and didnt find much what I was looking for.

I looking to do a brake job, I get shaky braking after driving for a while. I dont want to have my rotors cut because last time I had that done, who ever turned them did a poor job and the two faces were not parallel. So instead of wasting time, Ill spend a few dollars for new rotors and pads.

I got a 2000 toyota 4runner, I dont tow, dont drive fast, but I do live in Californian and do some mountain driving.

Im looking at these rotors from Napa: NAPA AUTO PARTS

But not sure which pads to get. I am hearing pros and cons for all three types, Organic, Ceramic, and Metallic. For normal driving and some mountain driving, which would you guys recommend?

 

[tbst]

Ceramic.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Organic, Ceramic, and Metallic

Ahhh how about OEM? If you are all stock then just get Toyota OEM through a Texas dealer via internet.


Did you see this thread btw on the Tundra upgrade? It is pretty great ...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ements-231mm-13wl-tundra-calipers-rotors.html

 

[changedsoul]

I would like to go all OEM, but cost prevents me. I cant afford to drop a ton of money on brakes. Also, what is the difference between a Texas Toyota dealer vs any other state dealer?

Are OEM pads organic, ceramic, metallic? The online Toyota parts that I was able to find were all priced pretty high in my book. if I am looking at spending over $200 for everything, its to much for me. Thats why I am looking for at non oem parts. But if you can provide a Texas online link that I can get Rotors and pads for under $200, Ill go for it..

 

[tylerbaird]

I would like to go all OEM, but cost prevents me. I cant afford to drop a ton of money on brakes. Also, what is the difference between a Texas Toyota dealer vs any other state dealer?

Are OEM pads organic, ceramic, metallic? The online Toyota parts that I was able to find were all priced pretty high in my book. if I am looking at spending over $200 for everything, its to much for me. Thats why I am looking for at non oem parts. But if you can provide a Texas online link that I can get Rotors and pads for under $200, Ill go for it..

Check Ebay. I've found OEM pad/shim kits for super cheap on there.

 

[WHORERUNNER]

Most auto parts store give u a lifetime warranty on their high end pads.oem wont have warranty I would go with ceramic.

 

[RS Dude]

Ceramic. No dust build up alone would be the main reason.:bravo:

 

[ALBPM]

I believe the OEM are ceramic.




First I heard of organic Brake pads....

Dude!!!! Mine smelled like hemp when I bedded them in....LOL!!!!!

 

[Evilmunkey]

don't get organic, I know most are cheaper but noisy lil $^%*( Ceramic or Semi are the way to go (Ceramic due to brake dust and heat index/tolerance is higher)

 

[steezemcqueen]

About a year ago, My currents pads wore down to the noise maker so i decided to pick up some cheap pads until i got around to the Tundra swap. I went to O'Reilly's and got the cheap organic pads and threw them on. The pads faded so bad that i had a hard time stopping after coming down I-70. I had to put all my weight on the pedal to come to a stop after i got off the exit. I immediately swapped them for some ceramic pads. I'm still running the ceramics and haven't really felt like i need to do the tundra swap. My current brakes will lock up 35's just fine.

 

[123GO]

Price to stop?

fwiw:
Bought a used Infiniti for wife a few yrs ago. We went through a car wash first week with underbody sprayer and pulling out into traffic I hit the brakes and they were total shit!!! No way it was stopping over 25mph wet! Notta!!
Later found out the guy bought some cheap china ceramic pads off flea bay (no numbers/name stamped on them). I replaced them with PowerStop Evolution ceramic pads (Ebay) and that car stops on a dime wet or dry, hot or cold. No dust issues either. Not where you buy its what you buy...


My advice: :blah:
Never cheap out on anything peoples lives must depend on. :dammit:



*

 

[s20004runner]

don't get wagner thermoquiet! I got them w/ tundra upgrade and they are making some nasty squeaks less than 15k miles on them.

Just get OEM, you can easily find toyota dealers directly or via eBay w/ reasonable pricing. They are typically out of state (TX, FL, GA)


If you have spare little more money, you should upgrade to tundra brakes. OEM size/thickness rotors will easily warp. In the end, you will spend less changing them again prematurely. my 2 cents. good luck!

 

[96LTDrus]

If you have spare little more money, you should upgrade to tundra brakes. OEM size/thickness rotors will easily warp. In the end, you will spend less changing them again prematurely. my 2 cents. good luck!

I'd agree with this, especially if you live up in the mountains like you said. I bought reman Tundra 199mm calipers for $75 a side, Brembo blank rotors for $60 a side, and a set of Advics pads (OE on Tundra) for $40 for the set, oh and some brake fluid and a bleeder from harbor freight. One evening bolt on job, just ground the dust shield down a tad with a file. Clears stock rims just fine.

 

[Arnezie]

I'd agree with this, especially if you live up in the mountains like you said. I bought reman Tundra 199mm calipers for $75 a side, Brembo blank rotors for $60 a side, and a set of Advics pads (OE on Tundra) for $40 for the set, oh and some brake fluid and a bleeder from harbor freight. One evening bolt on job, just ground the dust shield down a tad with a file. Clears stock rims just fine.

But that's $310 op said money was an issue

 

[jeremyc74]

I would like to go all OEM, but cost prevents me. I cant afford to drop a ton of money on brakes. Also, what is the difference between a Texas Toyota dealer vs any other state dealer?

Are OEM pads organic, ceramic, metallic? The online Toyota parts that I was able to find were all priced pretty high in my book. if I am looking at spending over $200 for everything, its to much for me. Thats why I am looking for at non oem parts. But if you can provide a Texas online link that I can get Rotors and pads for under $200, Ill go for it..

Going cheap on the brakes means you're very likely to have the same problem in a year, and have to do this all over again. I can appreciate the budget requirements, but that's just the reality of it. I'm not saying you have to stick exclusively to Toyota parts, but the cheap stuff you're considering costs less for a reason....it sucks.

The OEM pads are about $70.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyot...00:toyota:4runner&keywords=4runner+brake+pads

Decent aftermarket pads aren't much cheaper than that. Here's a set of Akebonos for a little less.
http://www.amazon.com/Akebono-ACT61...00:toyota:4runner&keywords=4runner+brake+pads

OEM Rotors are about $55 each, which is pretty competitive. You can get them here:
https://parts.olathetoyota.com/2002toyota4runnerparts.html

Amazon is your friend for this kind of stuff. The sad fact is, all the auto parts stores are in heavy price competition, and ALL of them have resorted to Chinese parts with seriously questionable quality control. Rotors and pads are parts that you can't determine the quality by looks alone, so you have to be careful with them.

 

[DionJ]

Brake pads are a very personal issue to many. My favorite budget street pad is the Raybestos advanced ceramic which can be found for under $40 for fronts.

 

[AZBub]

Wasn't happy with the braking on our new to us 4R so I bought ceramic lifetime pads for 18 bucks from the O, always been satisfied with their mid/upper grade pads on all my vehicles. Night and day difference from the pads that were in there. The pads I replaced were not even worn out, most likely super cheap organic ones. Still going to consider moving to the stout tundra swap in the future. Having a 2004 f-150 non heritage I know all too well about thin rotors warping :sobbing:

 

[Motohead]

I was informed by multiple brake pad material classes (industry, not lame parts store "classes" ) that the term Ceramic is a grossly misued term. Unless you are talking about HIGH dollar carbon-ceramic brakes found in super cars, then "ceramic" is just a marketing term for an organic formulation. Most North American cars are going to run organic pads due to their low noise and dust. European automakers will tend to use semi-metallic beacuse they need the added fade resistance and are more concerned with performance than dust (as you should be).

Before knowing all of this this, I read forums and put Akebono "ceramic" pads on my T4R with 199mm Tundra calipers/rotors. I'm only running 32`s and this setup is way under-braked. They are generally quiet and low dust, but I have to plan far in advance when stopping. No bite, no grab, no confidence.

Organic isn't necessarily bad, but don't spend extra money on "ceramic" pads because you may not be getting anything different.

I would wager that the stock pads are a semi-met compound given the loading and time of manufacture, but that is just a guess.

Type of compund is only one part of the story anyway, all compounds are different and have different characteristics. Most of all though, don't buy the cheapest pads you can find. There are very low standards for aftermarket brake quality and testing.

-Drew

 

[Robb235]

I don't have much confidence in ceramic brake pads. Autozone carries a "C-MAX" brand, which is supposed to be one of their high end premier ceramic brake pads. I put a set on my wife's (who was then my girlfriend at the time) Jeep Cherokee. Those damn things faded and smoked like no other, and were absolutely dangerous. I took them back to AutoZone and had them swap the pads out for their Duralast Gold brand. They were much better; I think they're semi metallic or something.

 

[96LTDrus]

But that's $310 op said money was an issue

I tried to go the cheap route initially as well, threw on some generic NAPA rotors and pads, something like $30/rotor and maybe $20 for pads. i was back to warped rotors in less than 3 months as I recall. I'm not that hard on brakes either. A 'halfway' option may be to buy good OEM rotors and pads, but honestly you'll be most of the way towards that $310 at that point.