Brake Pads, which type to buy?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Brake Pads, which type to buy?
I need to get pads and seen that there are a couple of different types: organic and semi-metallic. I did a search on the forum because I know there were discussions about this before.
The car is not driven daily and will be used for street usage. The car typically see less than 2,000 miles a year. My main concern is stopping power. I am not that concerned about dust nor concerned about repeated stopping as in racing on a course where the brakes heat up. I just orderd in 4 cross-drilled/slotted rotors which should be here in about a week.
The car is not driven daily and will be used for street usage. The car typically see less than 2,000 miles a year. My main concern is stopping power. I am not that concerned about dust nor concerned about repeated stopping as in racing on a course where the brakes heat up. I just orderd in 4 cross-drilled/slotted rotors which should be here in about a week.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Organics are good for street usage. They don't squeal, and they're easy on the rotors. Semi-metallics have better stopping power, but they *can* squeal, and are somewhat harder on the rotors.
I chose VBP organics, which are working just fine!
I chose VBP organics, which are working just fine!
Last edited by page62; Oct 11, 2004 at 06:07 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Murrells Inlet SC
I only put about 2000 streeet miles on mine but I prefer the semi-metallic because of the stopping power, NOthing worse then stomping on the brake at high speed and getting the feeling nothing is happening. 
Go semi-metallic, there are ways to fix the squeal, if any. Mine never squealed.
Go semi-metallic, there are ways to fix the squeal, if any. Mine never squealed.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Organic pads are the only thing I will use. Panic stops are just as good with organic as metalic the 1st time. After that the organic start to fade and some metalic get strong the hotter they get.
I like my rotors and organic pads are very easy on them. I use Wagner organic pads at $40 per end.
I like my rotors and organic pads are very easy on them. I use Wagner organic pads at $40 per end.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: Florida
My car developed an annoying brake squeal with the semi- metallic pads. I sprayed some anti -squeal stuff on the pads. That seemed to work for about 500 miles. I replaced the pads with the VBP organic pads, sprayed more anti -squeal stuff for good measure. I've been happy every since. BTW I had to make an emergency stop several months ago to avoid running a red light and was pleasently surprise at the stopping power.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
The guide:
Old Organics - The best organics... More harmful stuff, less rotor wear... high heat use, the fillers glaze if overheated.
New Organics - Better for you, not as great on rotors... but still glaze.
Semi-metalic - Harder on rotors, have to get warmed up to work.
Metallic - Not for street use, you cant get them hot enough to work.
Ceramic - Hard... very high pitched squeel. They are used on some cars... but are out of place on anything they didnt come factory stock on.
Me personally, I would get a decent set of bendix pads. Made in the USA! Then I'd get some American or Canadian rotors. German steel is soft, China does a bad job getting all the crud out of the metal... and can have hot spots that warp as soon as you use them. Autozone has good pricing on brake parts.
Either way... any of the above will lock up the tires on our vettes. You have to get into some real high end tires before our brake systems have trouble. Once you get to that point... you can adress the brake fade issues, and add more clamping force. For zooming around town... and stopping once or twice your fine.
Old Organics - The best organics... More harmful stuff, less rotor wear... high heat use, the fillers glaze if overheated.
New Organics - Better for you, not as great on rotors... but still glaze.
Semi-metalic - Harder on rotors, have to get warmed up to work.
Metallic - Not for street use, you cant get them hot enough to work.
Ceramic - Hard... very high pitched squeel. They are used on some cars... but are out of place on anything they didnt come factory stock on.
Me personally, I would get a decent set of bendix pads. Made in the USA! Then I'd get some American or Canadian rotors. German steel is soft, China does a bad job getting all the crud out of the metal... and can have hot spots that warp as soon as you use them. Autozone has good pricing on brake parts.
Either way... any of the above will lock up the tires on our vettes. You have to get into some real high end tires before our brake systems have trouble. Once you get to that point... you can adress the brake fade issues, and add more clamping force. For zooming around town... and stopping once or twice your fine.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,353
From: Santa Ana CA
Andy Porterfield of Costa Mesa, CA is where I get brake pads for all my Vettes. Thy've got all kinds of compounds and can assist you in selection.
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, Fl///Columbus, Ohio
Originally Posted by VBP
mandm 1200,
We have OEM Organic All Purpose Street Pads.
Part number is 11401 x2 : $28.71 ( all 4 calipers ).
Plus shipping.
Tony
VBP
We have OEM Organic All Purpose Street Pads.
Part number is 11401 x2 : $28.71 ( all 4 calipers ).
Plus shipping.
Tony
VBP
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Thanks for the information. I decided to go with the Hawk HPS, Series Performance Street, Compound on all four corners. Supposed to have good stopping friction and easy on the rotors. Price is more that I anticipated to pay for pads, but I should get 20 years or better out of them so cost is not big of a deal.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,353
From: Santa Ana CA
Originally Posted by mandm1200
Thanks for the information. I decided to go with the Hawk HPS, Series Performance Street, Compound on all four corners. Supposed to have good stopping friction and easy on the rotors. Price is more that I anticipated to pay for pads, but I should get 20 years or better out of them so cost is not big of a deal.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
I picked them up for $51 per axel which included shipping. Most places were in the $48 to $59 range. Tirerack was $48 front or rear; $96 for the pair plus $10 shipping.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Muskegon, MI, US
Pad Choices
There are lots of pads available, we have found in that using a premium organic pad is the best for street use. We sell a pad by Dana's brake division, Aimco that is great. Runs $33.50 per Axle and maybe $10 max on shipping.
Justin
Muskegon Brake Corvette Division
jcutler@muskegonbrake.com
800 442 0335
Justin
Muskegon Brake Corvette Division
jcutler@muskegonbrake.com
800 442 0335
