This is an eBay set. 350918580329 I've searched the internet and seen lots of likes and dislikes for ceramic but new brake pads on new cars seem to be ceramic. FieroStore sells a combination of ceramic/metallic
Ceramic brake pads are popular on modern cars because they have good fade resistance, long wear and don't make a lot of dust. As a technology, they are mostly aimed at being low maintenance rather than having excellent performance characteristics. There is nothing wrong with them, per se, but they are a compromise. If you're interested more in performance, you're probably best off with a semi-metallic pad on a street car - and of course there are even more aggressive options for track performance. I have never heard of NTA or "Galaxy Series" brake pads so I'd personally stay the eff away from those, but Akebono makes a good ceramic pad, and I've had good luck with Wagner Thermoquiet Ceramics as well (be aware Thermoquiets come in both ceramic and semi-metallic). I always put the Akebonos on my dad's Saab, and next weekend I'll be putting the Wagners on my mother in law's PT Cruiser. Those are two good applications for ceramic pads.
Unless you have other than stock rotors, stay as close to OEM pads as possible. Pads and rotors are a trade off on wear. A more agressive pad may give better braking but will wear down a stock rotor much quicker. A harder rotor might not allow a softer OEM pad to grip well enough and then you loose braking ability.
Well I looked at the FIeroStore and they promote a carbon/metallic model and say "The best replacement pads for your Fiero!" Im not going to be Autocrossing the car just performance driving in a natural street habitat. I have new ones (plated/slotted/drilled) that I am going for the way they look standing still more than braking in corners at 100mph.
As far as the brand I cant say but I am sure they come from another plant where they pump out 50 other brands. I have seen that at a battery plant that had Firestone/Sears/Montgomery Wards batteries coming down in groups of 50 and even though the specs may have been different they came out of the same production facility.
Originally posted by fierofool: Unless you have other than stock rotors, stay as close to OEM pads as possible. Pads and rotors are a trade off on wear. A more agressive pad may give better braking but will wear down a stock rotor much quicker. A harder rotor might not allow a softer OEM pad to grip well enough and then you loose braking ability.
I don't think many are aware that brake rotor metal grade varies, imports like BMW, Mercedes and Volvo often show as much rotor wear as pad wear because of the grade of metal the rotors are made of which appears to be soft. Wagner offered a front rotor for the Fiero that was a little greater in diameter and a little more expensive but has been discontinued. I noticed the center bore in the front rotors I purchased is eccentric although not the bearing races, however, it makes me wonder how it can affect wheel balance.
I'm in the process of installing new rotors all the way around with new front pads and had to hold off on the repair today because the only quality pair NAPA had available (thermoquiet under their name) had one pad showing a small crack between the lining and the backing plate causing me to recall a few complaints about the pad material coming completely off the backing plate during a hard braking episode although Fiero owners have given them good overall performance reviews, so keep an eye open for this.
Installing new rear pads and greasing the caliper slides caused such an improvement in braking performance I decided to forgo any of the big rotor upgrades all together in favor of a fresh stock system. I'd love to have ceramics to combat brake dust but figured a better approach would be to thoroughly clean the wheels and do a good wax job on them to make the dust easier to remove.
[This message has been edited by Joseph Upson (edited 11-22-2013).]
Assuming its a GT. Wagner Thermo-Quiet Semi-Metallic. Rear- MX262- $28.99 Front- MX261- $28.99
Only $8 more expensive than what your looking at, reputable brand, little to no complaints. When working for a chain automotive retailer I've sold 100's for these, wouldn't recommend anything else for a DD.
Assuming its a GT. Wagner Thermo-Quiet Semi-Metallic. Rear- MX262- $28.99 Front- MX261- $28.99
Only $8 more expensive than what your looking at, reputable brand, little to no complaints. When working for a chain automotive retailer I've sold 100's for these, wouldn't recommend anything else for a DD.
I'm not buying the cheap pads, NAPA offers several and the premium (SS) set I opted for is $50 although that's not what I'm paying for them, the Ultras are $70 but no one in town has them.
I'm not buying the cheap pads, NAPA offers several and the premium (SS) set I opted for is $50 although that's not what I'm paying for them, the Ultras are $70 but no one in town has them.
Sorry meant for OP after seeing he was looking at cheaper pads.
If you want a premium pad why not go with something like an EBC YellowStuff or a HAWK Performance Street?
Originally posted by Fiero_Fan_88: Wagner Thermo-Quiet. When working for a chain automotive retailer I've sold 100's for these, wouldn't recommend anything else for a DD.
I love them. I have them on Fiero and our SUV.
I would not recommend you buy critical parts, like brake pads, off Ebay. Ebay has a huge problem of fake parts.
Rockauto AZ Advance auto and others are allot more reliable to deal with.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I did a little reading on the forum about pad options just before this thread came up and found that performance level pads either didn't last as long or required more heat to reap the benefits. Wagner got the highest vote except for a couple delamination complaints in extreme cold weather. No one had them though and the Safety Stops from NAPA are referred to as the equivalent by Raybestos. Summit has Bendix for the rear for future reference
I have Wagner Thermo-Quiets on my GT with the Lebaron rotor upgrade. Very happy with them (of course, these are bigger rotors, calipers and pads)
With the Indy, I wanted to keep it all stock parts, but I wanted MUCH better braking than stock. I installed Porterfield RS-4 pads. http://www.porterfield-brakes.com
PS - originally had Fiero Store Carbomet pads, but they were extremely dusty. I think they got "cleaner" after break-in, but by then I had the Porterfields to install.
