rotors and pads, recommendations?
 

i think it's high time to replace my brakes. all of them. the sube shop i go to will replace front or back brakes for $139 - that's pads, rotors, and labor. $278 for all 4. it's not a horrible price, but i'm pretty sure i can install brakes myself. anyone have any suggestions for relatively cheap, yet decent brakes? as long as it's original equipment quality, i'll be satisfied. i want drop in replacements.


and yes, i am aware of OT's brakes, that's a future purchase :o

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

Install of new pads is one bolt per caliper past removing your rims. Seriously its that easy. Might want to grease the sliders while your at it, but not a huge need.

Make sure you get GOOD brake pads. Cheap organic pads often have no grip cold, hot, wet or dry. Oh and they fade/outgas like crazy.

I got the performance friction front pads as they were the cheapest of the ones I could get local and KNEW wouldn't suck. I need to bleed them, but certainly have plenty of bite.

If I was doing all 4 I think I might order up some EBC pads since thier black pads are among the cheapest avalible, and the fronts are not too bad. Forgot which versions they had avalible for the front though.

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

See here: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57186

And here: http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57089

My recommendations in those threads still stand.

And yes, brakes are easy to replace. The only part of the brake system that I really hate is bleeding brake fluid. Not fun, takes forever, and you need a buddy who will also complain the whole time. Pads and rotors, however, are cake. Get some of that gooey stuff that's supposed to go on the backs of the pads too.

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

i like the ctek premium pads, and the R1 Concepts (Eline Stock OEQ) rotors. my wallet likes those too. ;) should those be good then?

i helped my girlfriend's dad replace brakes on a ford fusion today, and it was so much easier than i thought. i was able to do it after watching her dad do it once, so i definitely think i'll save some cash by doing it myself.

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

I just put some centric rotors from rockauto on the fronts last weekend and They work way better than the eBay drilled and sloted crap the previous owner had on there.

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

Did you get the cryo treated ones? I have the cryos on the Tribeca and, so far, so good. I won't know how they hold up to warping until I put a few more years on them. Centric sells cryo treated and slotted through their "Power Slot" line. That is what I am getting when I need to change my rotors. Centric seems to really know their material science.

Pads are where it seems to get fuzzy. A lot of people like straight ceramic due to the hot stopping power and lack of dust. But carbon-metallic pads have better overall stopping power, cold or hot, and the dust is better than organic but not as good as ceramic. And then there are Kevlar composite pads. Kevlar is light and strong but it is a plastic and I don't think it conducts heat particularly well. Carbon is a great heat conductor so, theoretically, they should be the best for avoiding rotor warping. For me, I am more worried about life expectancy than brake fade or other stopping issues. Frankly, I don't drive hard enough to care about stopping power. I want my rotors to last and not warp. I don't know if carbon-metallic pads will wear the rotors faster but they should help keep them from warping.

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

i just got the regular rotors this time. i've used their premium rotors on my 2005 outback xt and my mom's 2001 outback and they have been great

in case you didn't know centric also sells under this little know brand called stoptech :cool:

Re: brakes and pads, recommendations?
 

I have used Performance Friction metallic pads in combination with Applied Rotor Technologies Cryogenic rotors and like them a lot. Low dust and quiet.

I'm pretty sure ART makes Centric cryo rotors. Currently have ART rotors with Centric metal mads and they squeak a lot plus leave a lot of very black dust.

If you want cheap NAPA pads are lifetime guaranteed. Buy them once and just keep getting replacements. They have all quality levels.