Brake Pads & rotors

[SanDY33go]

i just purchased a set of wheels for my 97 Q45, and i'm trying to take care of them buy upgrading my stock brake setup. i was wondering what do you guys reccommend for brake pads because my stock ones give out too much brake dust. I'm also looking for a set of good rotors that will help cool down my wheels and more performance.

thanks!

[Rex]

I'm a little confused, are you after better brakes or less dust?

Because you can't have both.

Just looking for some clarification of what you want to accomplish.

[Q45tech]

What rotor temperature in Farenheit [or C or Kelvin] are you trying to "cool down" ?

The only effective way to lower a rotor temperature is to increase it's mass [weight]..................ducts are useful IF you go fast enough, not helpful on the street.

[maxnix]

If you have money our the Wazzoo, look at Brembo and AP Racing, or even Endless.

If you didn't buy forged wheels or high grade performance cast ones, the additional rotational mass may require heavier rotors and calipers also.
Modified by maxnix at 6:06 AM 2/4/2008

[captainluigi]

brake dust good! check out hawk hps.

[Kiven422]

What about Ceramic pads? Don't they have better stopping distances and a LOT less brake dust?

[captainluigi]

apples to apples, some do some don't. no blanket statement applies. O.E. is a ceramic blend. i like the hawk hps, but thats just me. had em on my sec, liked em, got em on the Q. no noise, low dust , good performance.

[maxnix]

Don't they have better stopping distances and a LOT less brake dust?

Difficult to beat OEM rotors with OEM pads and OEM specification Michelins (no longer available).

You can decrease performance by using hard dustless pads and billiard ball hard compound hihgh mileage tires.

Brake dust is actually good. Better your pads wear than your rotors. Gives you something to do on the weekends.

[bullittandy]

This is a situation where you can't have your cake and eat it. Either you have brake pads that do not create dust and suffer from long stopping distances (which would be difficult to notice) or some other performance problem like a soft pedal. Or you have great performance with lots of dust.

I used to own a 2001 Mustang Bullitt and replaced the stock pads with some top of the line aftermarket pads and was satisfied. That is until the dealer doing some other work screwed up the brakes and replaced the pads I had with the stock OEM pads for the Bullitt (Cobra brakes). Huge difference in feel, the pedal became rock hard and was easy to modulate-I literally couldn't beleive there was such a difference and made the $130 proice of the pads worth it. I'm a big fan of alternatives, especially to an overpriced OEM part but I almost never buy non-OEM pads for anything anymore.

If you don't like brake dust then try several different wheel cleaners and use the one you like regularly. If you keep the wheels clean then the brake dust will literally fall off with wheel cleaner.

With that being said I have a set of ceramic brake pads, front and rear for sale if you want them.

Seriously, I do have them if you want them.

[SanDY33go]

i don't really need that performance stopping power. i mainly just cruise my car on weekends and go out for only short trips. something thats better than OEM and gives less brake dust since i hate having to always wipe down my wheels after driving.

so the hawk pads are good? how bout the akebono Pro Act pads?

[maxnix]

i mainly just cruise my car on weekends and go out for only short trips. something thats better than OEM and gives less brake dust since i hate having to always wipe down my wheels after driving.

I think you are missing the point about the ppositive correlation to brake pad dust and cold stop performance.

What is a little rag maintenance cmopared to safe performance? Isn't that what "styling and cruising? is all about?

[goody90q45]

......Either you have brake pads that do not create dust and suffer from long stopping distances (which would be difficult to notice) or some other performance problem like a soft pedal. Or you have great performance with lots of dust.

What about Ceramic pads? Don't they have better stopping distances and a LOT less brake dust?

I've had Napa's Raybestos ceramic pads on my Q for 25k miles and over 2 years- the pre-NICO era for me. They are excellent pads and actually cost a few $$ more than OEM. I've made many drives into the Sierras (fishing) on roads that would warp most Chinese-made rotors and have your brakes fading as you drift wide on a curve at the top of a 1500 foot cliff.

I'm not saying they wear better or brake better than OEM but I agree with Andy that the difference is not noticeable. I've made plenty of panic stops in the last 25,000 miles (most involving drivers using cell phones BTW) and never rear-ended anyone so I think they're working pretty good......and zero brake dust as a bonus!

[Q45tech]

Just as with tires you never can tell the cold wet stopping distances without precise scientific tests [measurements], especially since we are speaking of only a 10% or 10-15-20 foot variance.

[NightRiderQ45]

I'm not saying they wear better or brake better than OEM but I agree with Andy that the difference is not noticeable. I've made plenty of panic stops in the last 25,000 miles (most involving drivers using cell phones BTW) and never rear-ended anyone so I think they're working pretty good......and zero brake dust as a bonus!

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! Great answer! I have ceramic pads and they are great! Since you probably drive like me (cruise, not trying to race a ricer) one you put you wheels on, these pads are the way to go, especially if you have chrome wheels. Andy, how much are you trying to sell the pads for? Are they new, what brand?