I currently use EBC redstuff(ceramic) on the back of my '03 STR, and I don't know what's currently on the front but I'll be replacing them this weekend.

I wanted to ask what other people here use, ceramic or semi-metallic?

 

I have ceramics on my other car. I haven't had a lick of problems with them. They have been on for about 10000 miles.

 

I run low dust semi's on mine. They have been on for around 8k and hardly any brake dust.

 

I ordered a set of Wagner ThermoQuiet semi-metallic front pads for our S-Type this morning. The Jaguar factory pads make the biggest mess I've ever had to deal with and at 31,000 miles and change, the front pads are getting thin. I put a set of ThermoQuiet pads on my wife's 2004 Lexus RX330 AWD rear axle back in March, and they've been outstanding. Silent, good stopping power, reasonably priced, and almost no dust. Lifetime warranty on the pads from Wagner as well. They were recommended to me by a friend who knows brakes and I'm glad that he did. You can order them from Advance Auto Parts, and I'm sure they're available from a number of different sources....

I'll put them on our S-Type by the end of July and I'll post my impressions on how they do on this vehicle within a week or two after they're installed....

 

My brakes just started squeaking a week or two ago, and apparently that was just a last second warning because this week they're grinding pretty badly. Wanting to replace them as soon as possible so I wouldn't have to buy new rotors, I called the dealership..... $210 for front pads. The techs couldn't even tell me what they were made of (metallic or ceramic). That's twice the price of any other pad set I've found, ridiculous.
I'm thinking I might just suck it up and buy a set of discs from brakeperformance.com and take their pads. I just hate waiting for online orders to arrive, especially when I need them now.

 

I am due for some breaks for my 2005 S-Type 3.0. I'm going to do get the front and the backs done. I really don't care about the price for breaks, which are the best ones to get? I do a lot of highway driving, but I do live in South Florida so there is a lot of stop and go traffic. Thanks!

 

I am using Akebono Ceramic pads without any issues on my STR.
Absolutely no brake dust.

 

...ditto - flawless

 

The Akebono Ceramic Brake Pads: Where from and how much?

 

Cost is $185 for both front and rear on an STR cheaper on a pedestrian s-type at Rock Auto

http://www.rockauto.com/

 

on ebay, front: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AKEBO...%3A1|72%3A1171

also rear: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AKEBO...%3A1|72%3A1171

$153.76 both, S&H included

 

Installed the Wagner ThermoQuiet semi-metallic front brake pads a couple hundred miles ago. Did not turn the rotors. The pads seated quickly and never made any noise. Initial bite is quicker than the OEM pads ever were and stopping power is better as well. Dust looks like it will be very minimal, about what I always expect from a good-quality aftermarket pad. I'll have a better feel for the dust aspect after 1,000 miles or so.

All in all, a great product for less than 60 bucks.

I'm going to put a set of these pads on the front axle of our 2004 Lexus RX330 AWD next week. Original front pads on that vehicle have now gone more than 91,000 miles and they are just about done now.

The OEM front pads on our S-Type went only 31,350 miles and they were down to the last millimeter. Shortest pad life I've had on any of our vehicles since the early 1980s....

 

I also just bought the Wagner ThermoQuiet for the same price. Only pad available from stores around here. Dealership wanted $200 for pads! Front rotors(vented) were $440 from the dealership, which weren't much different than most prices I found online and I really needed them asap.

I also replaced the windshield wipers, which after trying two brands and neither would fit. They were all off just a hair and so I couldn't snap them in. Bought the rubber inserts from Jag at $13/each, as compared to $30 for each complete blade. I ask them to put them on, both guys said they didn't know how and so I was on my own to do the 2 min job myself.....