I am due for new pads / rotors, I think mine are original 1997. Do you guys use OEM parts or after market? Anything extraordinary as compared to a typical break job?

Thanks

 

I go to BAP/Geon and get their Brembo rotors and Pagid pads, they are both very good. they are also relatively inexpensive. I really like the pads, they are grippy and low dust. I have tried the ceramic pads but they have a poor grip for a performance car. Pagid is a German pad that has been around a long time, top quality.

 

Thanks, this helps. We don't have any BAP/Geon in NJ, but I am sure I'll be able to find Brembo rotors and Pagid pads from some other local source.

 

reko, what's your objective with the brakes? Do you want maximum stopping power? Low dust? Cheap price? You have to make compromises with brakes, unfortunately. Cheap pads with low dust and awesome performance don't exist.

 

I don't want the cheapest, but $1500 quoted for OEM seems to be too much. So if anybody could recommend a good compromise it would be much appreciated.

 

I installed a pair of front rotors, made in GB, for $120 shipped with Advance AP ceramic pads for $40. Stops perfectly, no dust.

I suspect you might have the 300mm rotors which should be less than my 325's.

Tight Wad Tom

 

$1500??? Holy cow! I've seen complete sets of 4 rotors and 8 pads on eBay for under $500. Even if you don't like the pads you can buy them just for the rotors and then if the pads are too dusty or something you can swap them out. Here's a complete set for only $242. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JAGUA...#ht_2599wt_939

 

By the way, brake pads and rotors are very easy to change. Even with no experience doing it you can probably do all four corners on a Saturday afternoon.

 

thanks guys, I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car, the whole idea is to get comfortable doing this stuff so I am looking forward to doing it and saving some $ while at it

 

As the weather warms up in NE, I am getting ready to go ahead with this. Planning to use Akebono Euro Ceramic pads and Brembo rotors. All together $518 shipped as compared to $1500 quoted by my car mechanic for OEM. Are there recommended torque settings I should be using when putting it back together? Thanks.

 

Reko:

I switched over to Hawk brakes for the last two "reshoe" jobs. You cannot go wrong with Akebono, either. Most folks are switching to ceramic brakes to minimize brake dust. If a car is ultra high performance (like XKR or Porsche), I'd go back with the same lining material it came from the factory with. I wouldn't consider OEM, as all Jaguar parts are all too expensive. I am very happy with my Hawk ceramic pads.

My son in law was a mechanic of the highest order, and he swore that Wagner brakes had the least squeals and warpage and best fit. My mechanic also prefers Wagner.

As far as rotors go, how are your OEM rotors? Get out the micrometer and see how much wear is left. You don't have to replace rotors if there's nothing wrong with the old ones. Cryotreated, drilled and slotted rotors are a waste unless you're in ultra high performance situation--like a XKR driven aggressively. A good quality standard rotor will last longer and give perfectly satisfactory service.

Jaguar brakes (and other OEM brakes) are generic wear items. It's no harder to do a brake job on a Jag than any other car. Remember, the Jaguar dealer's service rider is not your friend--but a $85-100K commissioned salesman scaring little old ladies into spending $2K for brake jobs they could get for 4x less at PepBoys. Good luck!

 

Thank you for the reply. The rotors are shot, there is actually a 1/16" grove so cutting them is out of the questions. Do I have to worry about proper torquing when putting it back together? My friend races Porsche as a hobby and he insists on using a torque ranch when doing a break job. My other friend says it is a waste of time.