Best front brake pads

[Doupe]

Next week I am replacing my front brake pads, and having the rotors turned. The truck has 40000 miles, they could maybe go another 3000 miles, but now is the time. I think the Factory pads were normal, the rotors are slightly warped from heat I guess, the brake dust is about normal. What is the best pad out there?, I am looking for little dust, quite braking, and 40000 or more miles. I haven't towed a lot, but will next year, thanks for the help

 

[Kry226]

I always end up returning to the OEM stuff. Never a regret.

Of course, I don't know why the current pads only lasted 40K. That doesn't seem normal. Please fill out your signature and welcome to the forum.

 

[steved]

Seems unusual... I have 112k on mine...



steved

 

[ronman]

... What is the best pad out there?, I am looking for little dust, quite braking, and 40000 or more miles. I haven't towed a lot, but will next year, thanks for the help

My 3Gen is too new (1400 miles... ) to be thinking of new pads, but my old '98 12V needed front pads a few times. I went to Auto Zone and bought a set of Performance Friction pads and loved them. PF makes a lot of high performance pads for race cars, and decided to come to the rescue of the trucking crowd (esp the GMC Yukon's... ) They do not shed much, they never faded, and best of all, from Auto Zone, they had a a lifetime replacement guarantee. I got at least 2 sets for free after paying for the first. This feature I liked a lot!!! Oo. Anyhow, I'm not sure if Performance Friction has fitment for 3gen or not. If you decide to check them out, please post back if they are offered for 3gen's.

 

[JHardwick]

I've used Performance Friction and the best NAPA offering ... ... ..... I like the OEM pads best. In 280,000 miles, I've never had my rotors turned.

 

[dezeldog]

OEM's here as well. 125k on the originals and still had maybe 20% left. I'll turn the rotors next time if they need it.



Jim

 

[Cattletrkr]

For the time being I'll take the "high road" and say that I'm still running factory pads at 155K. Yeah, jelag will chime in and beat me, but he hasn't done so yet. Mine look to be about 30-40% left yet. At that rate I'll trade trucks with well . over 200K on this one w/o ever replacing the front pads.

I don't know how they compare to other pads as far as braking, but for longevity I don't see how you could beat the OEM's.

BTW, I use my exhaust brake WAY more than most

 

[ChrisKringle]

Trust me, don't get the NAPA, AutoZ, PepB crap. You want stopping power, and so did I so I went with the EBC yellow pads. Says they're for trucks with oversized tires and upgraded horsepower. So I bought them. Trust me, your brakes will be touchy like a Honda Civic after just pads!

 

[EDaigneault]

on my truck , i have install power slot rotor and ebc pads ( front) power slot rotor and oem pads (rear) great combo,and not to expensive.









03, 305, h. o. , 4x4, qc, lb, dark slate met, 6sp, 3:73

superlift 2",dual steer. stab. , banks 6gun-speedloader-pyro-boost-big head waste gate, 4"magnaflow, k-n fipk, 33"toyo, hellwig rear swaybar,pml diff. cover,amsoiled,power slot rotor,hawks pads, reccaro seat, suncoast creation ram air hood (srt-10 style)modified to be fonct. with diesel, fx trail nerfbar,heberram shift knob.

 

[mberry]

All good advice, but I still can't get over how his pads only lasted 40K. Considering the difference in braking performance I checked mine around 45K and have at least another 45K to go before they need to be replaced. It sure seems to me that something is wrong with the brake system for the pads to go that quickly (ruling out human error altogether).

 

[MChildress]

I'm at 45,000 too and still have pletty of pad. I don't plan on replacing until around 100,000. I'll keep an eye on them, but I'v always got 100,000 or better on my other 1 ton trucks. I still have the original shoes on the back of my 95 F350 with 170,000 miles. The four wheel disc should perform even better. I will replace with OEM. I have seen excessive dusting and glazing with most after market pads. I'm sure there are some good ones out there,I have just not found one yet.

 

[raychem]

All good advice, but I still can't get over how his pads only lasted 40K. Considering the difference in braking performance I checked mine around 45K and have at least another 45K to go before they need to be replaced. It sure seems to me that something is wrong with the brake system for the pads to go that quickly (ruling out human error altogether).

Remember brake life is dependant on how we drive and the loads we carry. On my 97 3500 my pads were changed every 12-14k miles. Yes I drove that truck HARD and the same with my 3rd gen. At 25K i was 75% thru the pads in the front, about 30% in the rear. I changed to EBC green 7K sieres but they do not hold up either and make too much noise. The Hawk hp-hps pads should have been released at the end of last month; I have to call and see b/c i need new fronts again at 35k... go figure. I have switch all my vehicles to hawks and they are leagues ahead of the EBC pads. Factories are ok but once you switch to a GOOD aftermarket pad, you never go back.



Richard



Yeah and before people ask... the new trucks are heavier than the 2nd gens and I drive my truck like a sports car. I am still on stock tires but they need to be replaced soon.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

And like the raychem mentioned, how you drive affects pad life. I commute with my truck to work in Los Angeles. I spend more time with the foot on the brake than I do the go pedal. Stop and go, stop and go...

I have 29k miles on my truck, and I'll be happy to get 40k miles out of my pads. I don't tow anything that weighs much, either.

 

[steved]

And like the raychem mentioned, how you drive affects pad life. I commute with my truck to work in Los Angeles. I spend more time with the foot on the brake than I do the go pedal. Stop and go, stop and go...

I have 29k miles on my truck, and I'll be happy to get 40k miles out of my pads. I don't tow anything that weighs much, either.

I also drive over 20 miles of heavy stop-n-go traffic per day, as well as drive cross country once a quarter... I still expect to see over 150k out of my brakes... and that's with some towing.



I don't buy it... I feel there is something wierd there...



steved

 

[raychem]

I also drive over 20 miles of heavy stop-n-go traffic per day, as well as drive cross country once a quarter... I still expect to see over 150k out of my brakes... and that's with some towing.



I don't buy it... I feel there is something wierd there...



steved

For me it is easy... its all the repeated 80 mph+ stops and the stop ang go traffic. Now my old man in his trucks goes 80k on the same pads and he drives more than me so no there is nothing wierd, it is driving style. Now we could also get into the different brands of brake pads and shoes but that is a whole different story.

 

[LOtero]

i have powerslot rotors and hawk brake pads and absolutely love them. . one of the best upgrades i have done, but then again i have drums in the rear too. talk to mark craig he will hook you up. just type his name in the search bar here.

 

[Doupe]

The reason I get 40000 miles out of the front pads is I drive 90% in the foot hills, a lot of stop and go, my guess them who can get 100000 plus miles live, and drive in the flat lands, every vehicle I ever had wore them out like this one, it may also be the way I drive. Thanks for the help, Ron

 

[DF5152]

just did mine at 40k looks like and auto compared to a stick thing... . judging by signatures

 

[rjones]

I had Autozone's Carbon Fiber pads no brake dust and no stopping power so I switch to AZ "BEST" good stopping, tons of brake dust, and they squeal like a stuck pig Im going with OEM next time.....

 

[CRuth]

Just replaced mine at 50k and had a sliver of pad left. I tow lightly but its a daily commuter in heavy traffic.