Jay462

I have googled. Hard. I have searched this forum. I have not found one explanation of the difference between the J55 brake pads for US cars and for European cars.

What is the difference? Are the JAF pads and J55 pads different?

I have read that the composition of the J55 pads was changed due to people complaining about noise. Is that actually true?

Are the JAF pads better for that reason (i.e. do the JAF pads perform better? I assume reducing noise reduces performance)?

Please see part numbers in the below screenshot from Rockauto. Thanks.

irok

none of the ACDELCO p/n's shown are original J55 brake pads.they are a cheap replacement pad.lots have complained about noise of J55 heavy duty brake pads.I have run several sets of the original p/n 89026853 rears and p/n 19152862 fronts J55 heavy duty brake option and they have always been whisper quiet.secret is in the prep,cleaning of all brake hardware and bedding of the pads

Jay462

So you are saying that although the ACDELCO pads shown on that list show the original GM part numbers of 89026853 and 19152862, they are just saying they are "equivalent" and they are not actually the same as the OEM parts?

So.... I have to go directly to GM to get the parts instead, correct? Or buy them from a reseller? ACDELCO is a no-go?

Furthermore, what is the difference between rear brake pads 89026853 (J55) and 89060331 (JAF)?

... and what is the difference between front brake pads 19152862 (J55) and 89060330 (JAF)?

Are you sure that all the ACDELCO pads are inferior to OEM J55 pads? Or are only the ACDELCO J55 pads inferior? Maybe the ACDELCO JAF pads are the same as the J55? Who knows?

This is crazy.

irok

they are not saying they are equivalent just that they are what they produce as a cheap replacement for the OEM pads and they are not the same as the OEM pads.I believe the JAF pads compound is what is legal in European jurisdictions.years ago the used asbestos in the pad compound.you couldn't use asbestos in any jurisdiction now.any of them will work.you wont know till you try them to see what you think of them

Jay462

I agree.

Interesting info about the JAF pads; I was wondering if it was due to regulation of materials in the compound but I wasn't sure. Makes me wonder what the ACDELCO version of the JAF pads really is... maybe I'll call them. Probably not.

Will probably just get GM pads from GM Parts Direct. Not worth my time to risk getting some shitty pads.

Thanks for talking this out with me, I appreciate it.