Jim - Cost is another matter and obviously comes into play.

While it is generalizing a bit - it is safe to say that most factory pads are going to be on the softer side of the scale. They are rotor friendly (heat generation/ bedding) - quiet - predictable- and provide excellent braking. Aftermarket pads are often judged by longevity and the brake dust issue.

I guess it is a combination of the way I drive and roads that I drive on -- I start looking at front pads around 25k or so. On my last couple of Jags I have replaced the pads around 30k and then rotor/pads just north of 50k. My local dealer charged me around $225.00 to do the pads switch. When I purchased rotors for the XJR a few months ago the front matched rotor set from Jaguar was $280 and the pads cost me $90.00 + tax.

The dealer pricing is all over the place and many of them are just so out of line it is almost unbelievable. My local Jaguar and Mercedes dealer are extremely competitive -- but the Porsche dealer (owned by the MB dealer) is so out of line that I order my parts from a Porsche dealer on the West Cost and even with shipping a full brake setup is almost 1/2 the price. Go figure.

When I was more involved with tracking I used to do more of the work on my own personal cars -- now I tend to go to the dealers and more often to my local mechanic who maintains my company cars -- with me providing the parts.

The bottom line -- I like the softer pads. I think they work better and I'm not alone in this opinion. I do not like the feel of so called "performance" pads and the rotor issues that can come from them especially under hard braking or in the mountains.

But, if you found something that works for you and you are happy -- that's what is important. The point that I was trying to make is that the basic set up is very good -- especially the standard XJR's.

 

I got between 20-25K out of them before I sold the car and they were still good...not sure how long it would take before they wear out.

 

Here are the partno for the Hawk Ceramics (for the Brembo brake set, so 355mm front):
Front: HB193Z.670
Rear: HB194Z.570

These are not hard on rotors as previously mentioned at least that is my experience with street use only with my fronts:

My first set of rotors lasted about 75Kmiles (though I went to 29mm, they should be replaced from 30mm, new they are 32mm) These where cryogenically treated, but considering what my new set of rotors do, it made no difference at all. They had very short Pagids and Redstuff, then more than 50% Hawk Ceramics.

My new set of rotors have already 60Kmiles on them (getting close to the 30mm mark), only used Hawk ceramics.

 

Hello
I created this JPEG file from a webpage on the tirerack website - front brake pads ratings (2001 XJ8):



Hawk pads have a better stopping power rating. (4 out of 5 star rating).
lower noise (3 out of 5) and lower dust (3 out of 5)

Akebono pads lower noise and lower dust. (5 out of 5) and (4 out of 5)
Stopping power (3 out of 5)

The ratings do not give how many miles before the pads need to be replaced.

Well, at least some information about these brake pads is better than none.

Jim Lombardi