What kind of brake pads do you guys use? Should I go with the ceramics for reduced brake dust?

-Chase
2000 Jaguar S-Type 4.0L

 

Before anyone mentioned Akebono I'd already bought Red Stuff and they're no better in my opinion than OE - lots of ugly dust. I'd have tried the Akebono otherwise.

 

My 2005 S-Type 3.0 is running a set of Wagner ThermoQuiet semi-metallic pads that I installed about three years ago. Very affordable, usually have a rebate available when you purchase them, silent as a tomb, great stopping power with a quick bite, long lasting, and much less brake dust than the OEM pads. I also run these pads on my 1999 Dodge Ram pickup, and will be installing a set on my wife's 2006 XK8 when her current pads are done. I was made aware of ThermoQuiet pads about five years ago by a trusted friend in the brakes replacement business and they are indeed everything he promised they would be....

 

+1
I use them too and agree. Very affordable, available at RockAuto.com & other places. Check online for rebates from Wagner. Also do a search through the Jag forum on this topic as there are lots of threads on brake pads.

 

I just did a brake job new rotors and pad bought from rock auto brand powerstop. all hardware was included great price

 

The Akebonos sound like a dream! I like the thought of "European Performance." A little pricy though. On amazon, $70 for the rear, $50 for the front. Although, I think Autozone's ceramic brakes are about $50 for the front and $50 for the back, so $20 more won't break the bank. Do you know if they last longer than typical brake pads?

 

What kind of pads and what price?

 

On Joyce's Jag a few years back, I went with the Auto Zone ceramics. I believe back then they were around $60.00. They came with a lifetime warranty. I am happy with them on the Jag and also my daily driver which weighs in around 7,000 lbs.

Oh, I will mention that rather than purchasing new rotors, I choose to have the OEMs resurfaced for around $15.00 ea. Yeah yeah I know........

There is a thread that I have about the brake job on Joyces Jag floating around here somewhere!

 

How does the lifetime warranty work? Do you have to take the pads off, get new ones at autozone, and then put the new ones on or can you get new ones, put them on, and then bring them the old ones? The first option sounds like a hassle.

 

Well in reality, you take off the Auto Zone lifetime pads when they get below a certain percentage of pad life run them up to the local Zone, the nice pimply faced kid behind the counter hands you a new set and your good to go.

The other way is you go see the pimply faced kid at the Zone, pay for a new set of pads, put them on then RETURN the lifetime warranty pads for a full refund.

Win/Win, hear me?.

BTW very little brake dust compared to the the others that I have read about being recommended on this site!

The choice is yours.

 

I'm definitely going with ceramics. I just wasn't sure if I should go with Autozone or the Akebonos mentioned above (they sound a little nicer). With the lifetime warranty though, I believe I'll go with the former. Do I have to worry about the ceramics wearing out my rotors?

 

Ceramic pads are typically tougher on rotors than semi-metallic pads are. How quickly your rotors wear out is always conditional on a number of factors including pad durability, rotor durability, highway miles vs. stop-and-go driving, etc. Regardless of which brake hardware you choose, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your brake components and inspect them at regular intervals. I eyeball them every weekend as part of my fluids & tire pressures check and inspect them carefully at every tire rotation....