Hey guys.
I have a 04 xj8 that is in need of a brake job. Priority #1 is no more brake dust! So I'm guessing I need ceramics? I would like to spend between 4-$500 for pads all around as well as rotors. Is this possible? I would like something other than OEM so what do you guys recommend? Any good websites? Thank you everybody!

 

EBC Redstuff pads. That's what I will switch to when it is time. Lot's of good info here regarding them. Probably going to spend around $250 give or take a bit for front and rear pads. There are cheaper pads out there (like Napa for $50), but you get what you pay for. I've seen rotors anywhere from $50-$80 or more each.

 

I put ceramics on my 04 XJ8.

Pads were Akebono from Rock Auto:
EUR1065
EUR806

Discs were premium from R1 Concepts (Posi-Quiet ceramic pads also available. I used them on my XKR).
Posi-Quiet ceramic pads:
Front - 105.09330
Rear - 105.09440

Premium discs:
Front - POE.61077
Rear - POE.61062

 

Any one have any feedback on going with drilled/slotted discs or both?
Were not the XJRs drilled with the big Brembo calipers?

 

Jaguar has not had any drilled rotors that I have ever seen from the factory. And the only stock drilled rotors I have ever had on a sedan was the Benz. From what I understand, it is not necessary since these cars were never designed to be race cars where drilling helps with the additional build up of heat from constant braking.

I'll admit cosmetically they look nicer than stock, but in the end unnecessary.

 

I think drilled/slotted rotors are for ricer racers and open wheels to show off. Solid rotors have more surface to stop with. With ceramics, the solid rotors are best.

 

Well, I stand corrected. It appears in 2002 & 2003, the Super V8 & XJR X308 came with cross drilled Brembo rotors.

 

scubayachts, are you going to do it yourself or have mechanic do it for you?

 

I think I am going to have a shop perform the work. I am mechanically inclined but have never performed a brake job before.

 

The cheapest quote I got was around 1100 for all corners - rip off. I have just finished it myself - The car is a hell to bleed - but it worked. I have not driven far enough to be able to give a review on the parts I used - next coming day I can give more. What I can say is that advanced autopart has the special brake tool and you just put a deposit down, no real pay Without the tool you will no make the rear brakes

 

I agree, they can take multiple bleeds.I did find that getting the abs to kick in a few times before the final bleed seemed to sometimes help enable to move any air bubbles to the bleeder valves.

 

I did the brakes myself - having only done my wife's dodge caravan beforehand.

I followed the instructions on various threads here. the brakes are well made and were easier to work on than the Dodge.

I used aftermarket parts from Autovalue (Pilenga rotors and pads - there's not so much available in Canada).

The brakes work great - and there's much less dust.

Total was less than $600Can (about $800USD these days not really - about $630USD)

Edited to add - since I was doing that I bled the brakes using a jam jar and some hose from Autovalue. That cost 20 bucks or so. The jam jar was free!

 

what tool do you need on the rear pad swap?

 

I did the brakes with Pagid pads from BAP/GEON. They stop quite a bit better than ceramics and have no more dust ( I really dislike ceramics for the lower braking performance they have, not good enough for a high perf car for my tastes). Pagid is one of the oldest pad co's out there and the quality is very high. I have found that generally, BAP is the best parts source I work with for aftermarket parts. The standard brakes on the car are nothing fancy to work with, the fronts are assymetrical two-piston which is uprated from most cars though. The rears require a rotating piston retractor which is available from Harbor freight in a kit. Get an Alldata.com subscription or similar if you need instructions. I also suggest replacing the brake fluid if it's never been done. I recommend a Motive Products pressure bleeder to make the job easy and one-person.

 

Really? So many talk about how great ceramics are, but I have no experience with them as I have always stuck with factory pads. The stopping power of the Brembos is awesome but I really am over all of the dust they produce.

What experience have you and with ceramics and brands?

 

You can get the brake caliper tools from autovalue.

 

People like the ceramics due to their low dust, but dust is directly related to friction, low dust-low friction! The balance of wear to friction is also an issue. Some pads are so hard and high friction they wear the rotors out too fast, so it is a matter of balance on a road car, racers replace the brakes often, so wear and dust are not an issue. The Pagid pads have a better balance of friction to dust than the ceramics I have used, all by Akebono on my 96 XJ6. The Brembos I have on the XKR are low dust and stop well, they are original pads so I assume they are Brembo pads.