Originally Posted By: hounddog
I cannot even begin to say how many new sets of aftermarket pads I have chucked in the trash.I bet thousands.Just my experience.Once I was at the parts counter at a Nissan store.Two guys were buying every set of 300zx and 240sx pads in stock.I asked why? They left home without pads and were racing at Road Atlanta.I asked about aftermarket pads,rotors? They said they had to replace pads AND rotors after every race using aftermarket.Said factory stopped as good or better and they got 3 times the laps,races out of rotors. I say again if you want your vehicle to stop like it did NEW you know what it takes.Same with shocks and ride characteristics.Load range rating on tires also.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Well you can't tell that to Car and Driver, who wadded up their test 370z due to the factory pads fading away completely.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q...ing_lap-feature
Brake pads are like ice cream... a million flavors. Some are better than stock for certain drivers who want to change the characteristics of their braking.
Most drivers will never know...
Originally Posted By: TheBig2003
Then of course, you need to buy either Wagner or Raybestos aftermarket brake parts because OE is usually garbage compared to what I have used and seen in the many vehicles I have owned.
Exactly!
It's all vehicle dependent. I haven't used a ceramic pad that I didn't like thus far. And I have used plenty of ceramic pads & brands:
Akebono
Bendix
Centric
Raybestos
Satisfied
Wagner
I've liked some brands of ceramic pads just a bit better(for one reason or another) but, I have like them all and their stopping power for everyday type driving in all climates and weather conditions, city/hiwy.
For stopping power, OE or after market semi-metalics seem to have a little bit better but, I disliked most everything else about them. Just my opinion!