brake pad suggestions?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 396
Likes: 1
From: Coventry CT
brake pad suggestions?
my 79 has performace friction pads front and rear. the brakes squeak every time i touch the pedal. has anyone else had the same problem? if so what was the remedy. do i just settle for some a/c delco pads?
the noise is driving me crazy.
[Modified by JRODDVETTE, 6:35 PM 4/28/2003]
the noise is driving me crazy.
[Modified by JRODDVETTE, 6:35 PM 4/28/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: brake pad suggestions? (JRODDVETTE)
I had performance friction metalic pads on my car and found they were chewing up the rotors. They also stopped better once the pads were warmed up.
Rotors are expensive so I switched to Wagner organic pads. I have gotten them for as little as $21 up to $40 CDN per end. I change them yearly as part of routine maintenace and my rotors will look great for years to come.
Rotors are expensive so I switched to Wagner organic pads. I have gotten them for as little as $21 up to $40 CDN per end. I change them yearly as part of routine maintenace and my rotors will look great for years to come.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: brake pad suggestions? (Gator81)
I can't say I have ever been bothered by the noise. I think they are quiet. I have not driven the car since last September and will take it out the first time this Friday.
I just don't remember noise being an issue in the past.
I just don't remember noise being an issue in the past.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: brake pad suggestions? (JRODDVETTE)
Your brake pads are glazed. Take your car out to a lonely road and do several hard stops in a row from 60. This will bed the pads in against the rotor and knock the glaze off.
If that is not practical take the pads out and go over them with some 80 grit sandpaper.
I like the performance friction pads, but then again i need them for the road racing.
If that is not practical take the pads out and go over them with some 80 grit sandpaper.
I like the performance friction pads, but then again i need them for the road racing.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City MO
Re: brake pad suggestions? (JRODDVETTE)
I got cheap Wearever Silver pads from Advance Auto for my Subaru and they squeek a little less than the factory semi-metallics did and seem to be good for the rotors. I lost a noticable amount of bite though. I can still stop fine but I mash the pedel compared to what I used to.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: brake pad suggestions? (JRODDVETTE)
The squeek is probably from vibrations between the brake pistons and the pad backing. Either the clips are not holding the pads in place well enough, or the pads were not installed with the glue that is supposed to keep them from squeeking. Either get new clips or use that blue "brake noise eliminator" glue.
I don't think a glazed pad will create much of a squeek...perhaps a metal against metal sound like rubbing to pieces of metal together, but not the normal everyday brake squeek. A glazed pad will also not stop the car very good, and there is no way to "knock" the glaze off...unless the pad is so badly heated that it is starting to crumble. A glazed pad must be replaced or it will just crack and pit then start cutting into the rotor. A glazed pad will be slick to the touch and have noticeable cracks in it.
I go down to Kragen/Checker/Schucks and buy what they stock...normally Raybestos...I get the ones with the lifetime warranty. On their web site at http://www.PartsAmerica.com part number Raybestos BD8M
BD8M BRUTE STOP PADS for $46.99
or
Raybestos PGD8R
Brake Pads: PG Plus; Organic for $25.99
[Modified by Rockn-Roll, 7:40 PM 4/28/2003]
I don't think a glazed pad will create much of a squeek...perhaps a metal against metal sound like rubbing to pieces of metal together, but not the normal everyday brake squeek. A glazed pad will also not stop the car very good, and there is no way to "knock" the glaze off...unless the pad is so badly heated that it is starting to crumble. A glazed pad must be replaced or it will just crack and pit then start cutting into the rotor. A glazed pad will be slick to the touch and have noticeable cracks in it.
I go down to Kragen/Checker/Schucks and buy what they stock...normally Raybestos...I get the ones with the lifetime warranty. On their web site at http://www.PartsAmerica.com part number Raybestos BD8M
BD8M BRUTE STOP PADS for $46.99
or
Raybestos PGD8R
Brake Pads: PG Plus; Organic for $25.99
[Modified by Rockn-Roll, 7:40 PM 4/28/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: brake pad suggestions? (JRODDVETTE)
I had loud squeals with PFC pads. Switched to organics and the sqeaks went away along with braking performance. Currently running Raybestos brutestops and they stop well and no noise. Give 'em a try.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: brake pad suggestions? (Rockn-Roll)
Well we can agree to disagree here. Organic pads are notorious for noise and don't stop worth a damn but yes your rotors will last forever. The PFC pads are state of the art technology and you never need to buy another set when purchased from Autozone. Do you know what type compound the Raybestos Brute Force uses? I have seen no mention of them in any of the research i have done in the racing circles.
The glaze can definitely be broken with sandpaper. If the pads are not properly seated (which could be causing the noise), then several hard applications should remedy that. Why spend a $100 dollars on more pads and your time to install when you can solve the problem in a few minutes of drive time by bedding the pads correctly??... or just using some sandpaper.
What if he spends $100 bucks on the Raybestos and they squeek too. Then what. Spend more money??
Oh and in regard to the blue shi t. Do you really want to goop up your brakes and make a mess with that stuff.
I am puzzled about the clips your refer to. Have you ever done a C3 brake job?
I don't mean to be nasty here but i roadrace my car and i feel like i know my shi t in this area, so i wanted to reiterate my recommendations.
jim
[Modified by turtlevette, 9:10 AM 4/29/2003]
The glaze can definitely be broken with sandpaper. If the pads are not properly seated (which could be causing the noise), then several hard applications should remedy that. Why spend a $100 dollars on more pads and your time to install when you can solve the problem in a few minutes of drive time by bedding the pads correctly??... or just using some sandpaper.
What if he spends $100 bucks on the Raybestos and they squeek too. Then what. Spend more money??
Oh and in regard to the blue shi t. Do you really want to goop up your brakes and make a mess with that stuff.
I am puzzled about the clips your refer to. Have you ever done a C3 brake job?
I don't mean to be nasty here but i roadrace my car and i feel like i know my shi t in this area, so i wanted to reiterate my recommendations.
jim
[Modified by turtlevette, 9:10 AM 4/29/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: brake pad suggestions? (turtlevette)
Well we can agree to disagree here. Organic pads are notorious for noise and don't stop worth a damn but yes your rotors will last forever. The PFC pads are state of the art technology and you never need to buy another set when purchased from Autozone. Do you know what type compound the Raybestos Brute Force uses? I have seen no mention of them in any of the research i have done in the racing circles.
The glaze can definitely be broken with hard application or sandpaper. Why spend a $100 dollars on more pads and your time to install when you can solve the problem in a few minutes of drive time by bedding the pads correctly??... or just using some sandpaper.
What if he spends $100 bucks on the Raybestos and they squeek too. Then what. Spend more money??
Oh and in regard to the blue shi t. Do you really want to goop up your brakes and make a mess with that stuff.
I am puzzled about the clips your refer to. Have you ever done a C3 brake job?
I am being a little rough here but i roadrace my car and i feel like i know my shi t in this area.
jim
The glaze can definitely be broken with hard application or sandpaper. Why spend a $100 dollars on more pads and your time to install when you can solve the problem in a few minutes of drive time by bedding the pads correctly??... or just using some sandpaper.
What if he spends $100 bucks on the Raybestos and they squeek too. Then what. Spend more money??
Oh and in regard to the blue shi t. Do you really want to goop up your brakes and make a mess with that stuff.
I am puzzled about the clips your refer to. Have you ever done a C3 brake job?
I am being a little rough here but i roadrace my car and i feel like i know my shi t in this area.
jim
Anyway, the raybestos are a street pad, not racing and so would probably not be mentioned much in racing articles. As for the compound, I don't know. They do work a lot better than regular organics, though. I also have had no noise from them. I don't use any goop, clips etc. Just clean the calipers and dab a little copper grease on sliding surfaces (pin, edge of pad).
As for PFC, I have mixed experiences with them. On my Z28 they have been great. I've had them on for 6 years. I'm on my second set and got the second set for free (autozone). No squeal at all and stop well.
On the Vette, however, they sucked. Not only did they squeal, they also alternatelt pulled the car to the left, then right. Replaced the pads and stopped straight again. I couldn't believe pads could cause this so I re-installed the PFC's and the car pulled again.
[Modified by zwede, 7:58 AM 4/29/2003]
