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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14 |
After putting up with that lovely "Grrrrrrrrrrrrr" sound of the semi-metallic pads, and having to clean the wheels every week or two (they would be a wonderful shade of black and dark black), finally called a friend at a local CarQuest auto parts. He recommended "ceramic" brake pads. Never heard of em, but like an idiot, I bought em anyway. I installed them in October, and my wheels are STILL silver. Unbelieveabe, and any hint of noise is gone. If you're fed up with either cleaning your wheels weekly, or have noisy brakes (mine would only grind between 15MPH and a dead stop), these might be what you've been looking for. They were just a CarQuest brand part, so I guess you'd have to have a CQ nearby to get em. Hope you found this helpful.
98 SE Sport 2.5, ATX
Dark Green Satin Metallic
No mods yet (does hail damage count?)
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693 |
NAPA and Raybestos also provide ceramic brake pads. Actually, the NAPA pads are made by Raybestos. The Raybestos pad is called Quiet Stop. Studies I have read indicate that the Ceramic pads do not stop as well as semi metalic, but my experience is that most people would probably not notice the difference. The ceramic pads may be a little more rotor friendly too.
Thank you for sharing about the Car Quest pads. I wonder if they are also supplied by Raybestos, or perhaps I should say the Raybestos parent company, Brake Parts of America.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14 |
The only difference I've noticed (well, besides the obvious) is that on rainy days, after coming to a stop, when I release the brake pedal, I get that slightly odd, and faint "bonk" sound of the pads releasing from the rotor. But it stops once the pads are warmed. Oh, and I have clean wheels now. 
98 SE Sport 2.5, ATX
Dark Green Satin Metallic
No mods yet (does hail damage count?)
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,788
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,788 |
I also installed the CarQuest ceramics front pads on my wife's 98 SE back last January. At the time, they were the only vendor with parts on the shelf at a local store and I did not have time to order them from elsewhere.
As reported, no dusting, and perfectly adequate braking performance for a daily driver.
The pads were manufactured for Carquest by Raybestos.
New pads were around $60 and two new rotors ran about $40 each.
I can very highly recommend these pads for this application.
Steve
98 Contour SE Sport 2.5 Duratec ATX The wifey's car
89 Taurus SHO - 246K miles
94 SHO ATX - 190K
1997 F-150 5.4L ATX - The Workhorse 150K.
ANY THREAD WITH "OMG" or "WTF" ETC IN THE TITLE WILL BE IGNORED!
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,632
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,632 |
I am digging my new front Titanium Bendix pads and new rotors from the Stazi Group Buy. Nice solid braking.
Still need to put my new rear drums and Bendix shoes on.
"Cobb - It's not just for corn anymore!"
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 97
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 97 |
Have any of you guys used the carbon fiber brake pads. I am curious to see how those perform. They sound like there good.
1998 Contour V6 se ATX Black
Bassanni w/o resinators, modified intake box, DMD
New headlights w/ silverstar 9005's, blue neons inside, metal waterpump, pioneer head, pioneer 5x7
3 ways,2 10" subs, 800w amp, 17x7.5 motegi mr12 p215/45/17
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693 |
They don't work well when wet.
They generate a lot of dust.
Sometimes they are very noisy.
When conditions are ideal they stop exceptionally well.
Conditions are not ideal very often.
Anyone else with different experience is also welcome to share.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,065
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,065 |
What about the EBC Green Stuff pads?
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 89
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 89 |
I have the Performance Friction carbon metallic pads on my ride & they perform very well for a daily driver...no problem in the wet either. On the down side: the pads need to be warmed up beyond the "first-stop-of-the-day" to work at their best & extended weather dry spells (no rain) seem to affect performance somewhat.....all based on seat-of-the-pants evaluation...my $.02
Is the smoke alarm in your house also known as the dinner bell?
'99 Zetec VCT Daily Driver
Mild Air Filter Mod
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,061
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,061 |
i have carbon fibre pads on front curtesy of a ctamotorsports g/b from last spring....actually i rather like them....as stated about the carbon metallic pads, the carbon fibre need a bit of a warm up which for me usually just means being gentle on them for the first couple stops and then they are good to go
dusting has gotten worse...or rather i should say there was no dusting until my rear brakes got tired and i went something like a month w/o washing my car...i've driven around for awhile with worn rears so there is more dust buildup now im guessing because the fronts are doing even more work than usual
we haven't had alot of rain here since i installed them but the one time i did drive in heavy rain with them i wasn't too comfortable but at that time my front tires were shot so i dont know how much that contributed
i wanted to get the rear brakes from teh current g/b and rotors but since they are not premium im not saving much by getting them through the buy....doesn't matter right now anyway as my car has been driven 3 times since new yrs eve
99 expedition eddie bauer, 5.4 v8, k&n drop-in, 3" magnaflow catback and gas mileage that makes the contour look like a hybrid
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