OEM brake pads VS others (Brake pad codes)

[Infinitiguy19]

I was doing some reading after I bought the pads (no matter they are good enough). I found out that Dennis says brake pads with the letters FF on the back of them are the least best pads you can put on a performance vehicle. The OEM brake pads have the letters FF on them denoting the brake fade resistance....

I am curious what the codes are for say Hawk HPS pads?
I don't expect a answer from Dennis himself on these last two questions but it would be nice.
What were the codes for the 1990 Q45 brake pads (The first fast wearing ones)?
Do you (Dennis) have J30/1997-2001 Q45 rear calipers and rotors on your Q?

brake-pads-t391579.html

2457 How to read brake pads: This two letter edge code mandated by the DOT, and painted on all street legal brake pads, will give
you some indication of their ability to resist fade. But only if you know how to read them. However, because of the wide range
involved in each letter, it is only a rough indication. Explanation of DOT Edge Codes Located on all Brake Pads Official DOT Edge
Code Coefficient of Friction (C.F.) @ 250 F and @ 600 F Comments EE 0.25 to 0.35 both temps 0-25% fade at 600 F possible FE
0.25 to 0.35 @ 250 F 0.35 to 0.45 @ 600 F 2% to 44% fade at 600 F possible FF 0.35 to 0.45 both temps 0-22% fade at 600 F possible
GG 0.45 to 0.55 Very Rare HH 0.55 to 0.65 Carbon/Carbon only. O.K. up to 3000 F where it glows Notes: These edge codes are
located on the edge of the friction material of every brake pad by government regulation, along with some other codes. The first letter
is a grading of the C.F. at 250 F and the second letter is a grading of the material at 600 F. Each letter grade can actually have quite a
range of C.F. But a difference in the letter grade from medium to hot temperature could be an indicator of fade. The letters can be in
any order. Therefore FE pads fade when hot, and EF pads would not grab when cold.. Also, you should know that Steel on Steel has a
C.F. of 0.25!! So EE pads have only marginally more torque than no pads at all! Therefore FF pads are usually considered the
minimum for a high-performance pad. - Q45Tech

Sorry if this has been previously discussed and I did npt search hard enough.

[Infinitiguy19]

Went to the local Auto Zone and the best brake pads they offer for my year Q (Duralast semi-metallic) have QE stamped on them.

[qship96]

so are they better than OEM ?

[Victor]

I just bought a set of Raybestos advanced technology ceramic rear brake pads for my 1994 J30T, part number ATD588C. The same pads are specified for the rear of a 1994 Q45. This is supposed to their top of the line high performance heavy duty pad The numbers printed on the edge of the pad are: CG-758CA-FF 04024P
Are these good pads from the numbers?
BTW, Rock Auto has a wholesalers closeout on these pads for $21.79, on top of that there is a $15 rebate which makes the pads $6.79, and you can get another 5% off using a discount code. The regular price of these pads on other online sellers websites is in the $40 to $50 range.

[qship96]

At under 7 bucks....I would have bought a few sets for future use! Infiniti has really overpriced alot of their parts in the last few years......take a "shim kit" which should be a $10 item at best, and they want 65-75 bucks for,absolutely nuts for a few bits of cheap tin and fiber.

[Infinitiguy19]

I just bought a set of Raybestos advanced technology ceramic rear brake pads for my 1994 J30T, part number ATD588C. The same pads are specified for the rear of a 1994 Q45. This is supposed to their top of the line high performance heavy duty pad The numbers printed on the edge of the pad are: CG-758CA-FF 04024P
Are these good pads from the numbers?
BTW, Rock Auto has a wholesalers closeout on these pads for $21.79, on top of that there is a $15 rebate which makes the pads $6.79, and you can get another 5% off using a discount code. The regular price of these pads on other online sellers websites is in the $40 to $50 range.

That "FF" code is the same as OEM so yeah they are just as good for a fraction of the price. But I wouldn't go by just these codes...

[Victor]

Warning, I just received the so called Raybestos ATD588C Advanced Technology ceramic brake pads I mentioned in a previous post on this thread from Rock Auto as a wholesaler closeout and much to my dismay I found out they are actually a repackaged Raybestos Quiet Stop brake pad PGD588QS that went out of production five years ago and is the equivalent of current Raybestos Professional Grade (their mid grade pads). I called Raybestos and these repackaged pads are not eligible for the $15 rebate.
I also ordered some Raybestos wholesaler's closeout pads for my Ford Explorer and the were even worse, not only were they not the advanced technology pads, in fact they were stamped the lower Professional Grade, but they weren't even the same shape as the pads shown in the picture and couldn't even be installed. I will attempt to send the Ford Pads back and get my money back, but may keep the Infiniti pads if they give me some sort of price adjustment because they are a lower quality pad and are not eligible for the $15 rebate.
Also beware other closeout stuff from Rock Auto. I ordered some front and rear shocks for my 92 Ford Explorer. The rear shocks were the right kind, but were made in 1993, so they were sitting in some warehouse for 18 years. The front shocks were mismatched and didn't look the same, one was larger diameter than the other. But they were cheap.
BTW, I read a warning from someone on a Q45 forum warning about the three out of the four Raybestos Quiet Stop ceramic pads on his Q45 disintegrating, so maybe I should send all the pads back.

[Lokim]

I stopped using Raybestos products about 7 years ago. As a technician, they gave me nothing but problems. 2 out of 3 sets installed came back with noise complaints. Switched to Napa's premium line and all was well. Akebono makes killer pads.

[Infinitiguy19]

Akebono makes killer pads.

Akebono makes OEM pads for Nissan.

[qship96]

And SUMITOMO makes the calipers!

[OwnerCS]

Just ordered Akebono Ultra Premium Ceramic (ACT486) front pads from Advance with the 15% off and $25 credit for a future purchase that net down the cost to ~$40 delivered.

As for shims, do I need to reuse the shims that are on the car, get new ones, or use the ones that come with the pads?

[qship96]

I put the akebono pro-act pads on a few months ago,and did not reuse the factory shims....the pro-acts came with rubber shims pre-glued to the back of the pads,so far they are performing perfectly,and dead quiet.

[OwnerCS]

I put the akebono pro-act pads on a few months ago,and did not reuse the factory shims....the pro-acts came with rubber shims pre-glued to the back of the pads,so far they are performing perfectly,and dead quiet.

Thanks Qship. I remembered you were happy with the purchase.

[qship96]

Yup, but I feel like a FOOL wasting so much $$$$ on multiple sets of grossly over-priced factory shim kits {and pads} over all these years! Wish I would have tried these years {decades?} ago. same with factory batteries that each lasted 3 years......