2005 XJ8 EBC RedStuff Ceramic Brakes
 

My 2005 XJ8 is a recent, very low mile purchase. The brake pedal was crazy - needing lots of pedal pressure, due to the rotors and pads severely glazed - vehicle was mostly parked and only driven occasionally, garaged right on a north Florida river - so every time it was backed out or driven, the pads ate the rust...result...even with only 32,500 on it, they were shot. Chose EBC RedStuff Ceramic pads on I think Centrix, slotted and cross-drilled rotors. I did the proper bedding procedure (I think) 4-5 moderate stops from 45 MPH, let cool completely very moderate around town driving for the next 100-200.
Question - they sounded 'horrible' during the break-in, which the enclosed paperwork reflected...but will this go away or at least lessen??? At very low speeds coming to a stop - they sound like they are grinding granite rocks under the car. At first I was tempted to throw it back up on the lift and pull them all apart - as it sounded like I had installed the pads backwards, steel-on-steel, which I know I didn't.
They STOP like a Son-Of-A-Gun though!!!
Thanks, Tony

Sorry you're having trouble with the EBC Redstuff pads, Teesquare.

If you decide to abandon them (and for anyone else looking for good brake pads) I highly recommend the Akebono ceramic pads. Had them put on my 2005 XJ8L a year or so ago, and they are great. Stop well, and just about zero brake dust on the wheels.

Ray

My experience is that red stuff has supperior stopping power. Way better that Akebono (my previous set). However you have to suffer much more brake dust. And I mean a lot of dust - my rims are practically black.

I have them on regular rotors and they were noisy in the beginning, but quieted down. When I say noisy, I mean - when slowing down at about 10-5mph you can hear a squeak.

RedStuff Ceramic Pads
 

Rayalbers - Thanks for recommendation....I'm leaning hard that way. The noise has subsided. I think my ears were tuned for being was overly sensitive with the new installation, due to what the braking condition that I was coming off of. The dust is horrendous!! EBC actually advertises that as 'very low dust'. WOW, is that way off. I gave it a few days, light local driving, figuring, this was the break-in. They coat them with a layer to help them break-in, and explain that the coating is there to scuff the rotor to better seat the pads. If this continues, off them come, what a waste of money!!
Veffremov - The dust is like 500% more than I expected!! They do grab!! they stop exceptionally well.....how much less can the Akebono be??
Thanks to both....

I would say the Akebono is half the stopping power with a third of the dust. But YMMV.

I run red stuff pads and Id say they are low dust compared to other pads

How much dust depends on a few factors though.
The style of wheel
The Rotor design (I have R1 slotted on the XJR)
How you drive

My XJR is mostly driven at higher speeds being im not in the city. City driving produces lots of slow speed stops allowing the dust to settle on the wheels

Cheers
34by151

Rayalbers / Veffemov -
I switched over to a set of Akebono top line ceramic pads, front and rears - removing the EBC Redstuff. Ran them on the same slotted and cross-drilled Stop Tech rotors, which showed absolutely no wear.No noise and much, much less dust!! I'm not the spirited driver type - so although I do see slightly less stopping power.
Thanks to both of you.
Tony

Getting EBC Red Stuff pads & Baer drilled & slotted rotors installed on my XJR now. Hoping they are a good match, Akebonos didn't fit my XJR :(