I did a search on this, but didn't come up with many specific answers.

What's the best all around brake pad out there with the best balance in performance/endurance/lack of brake dust?

And where can I buy them?

Thanks!
IanS

 

read the sticky thread up top

 

Raybestos Quiet Stops...they run about 70$ for the fronts and dust half as less as stock pads...Call around to your local auto parts stores, make sure you the QS's...if you want upgrade to a slotted or ported rotor and youll have a great set of brakes

 

I read the 4th Gen Maintenance Items "sticky" Thread before I posted this.

It does not give the informaiton I need.

Anyone els have their favorites?

IanS

 

I use Hawk HPS right now, they are a good street/race pad. I've never gotten any fade, even with hot lapping on a road course. They are very dusty though, be warned. They also make noise. Next time I have to replace pads I'm going to try Porterfield R4S or Carbotech, if carbotech has a Maxima pad by then.

 

Carbotech has stuff. If you send them your old backing plates they will reline them with the compound of your choice. I've got Porterfield's now, Carbotechs's Panther + will be my track pad for next season.

 

the general idea that people who had many different sets of brake pads came up with... is that Stock OEM Nissan pads are the better pads overall. They are probably the only ones which do not squeal, if u resurfaced the rotors as well. I have some crappy pads on my car, and they squeal like crazy, it may be my rotors but I noticed that the front pads are not stock.

On my old maxima I had Bendix IQ pads, pretty nice stopping power but they squealed and produced a lot of dust.

 

I needed to change my pads and turn my rotors last week. Before I did this a did a bunch of research. what I basically found was...if you're racing....you should get brembo pads (cross drilled/cyro treated/slotted) and porterfield pads. ..if you're like me and want a hassle free squeal free braking system that works well....then you'll have figured out that I resurfaced my rotors and got the oem pads.....I've had no problems so far...

 

If you're autocrossing, the R4S is fine, but if you're going to drive on a road course and use Porterfield's, make sure they're R4, otherwise you'll melt them.

 

Raybestos are very good! Also save all of your receipts, whereas some of them have a lifetime warranty (PepBoys). When you need to replace the old ones they will give you a free set (front/rear). Their rotors are good for one year, why get them turned, bring in THE OLD ONES for a swap for a new set with a reciept within a year. Make sure you get the ones with the aforementioned warranties.

 

i have the raybestos...they dust like crazy..and have warped my rotors.
just fyi

 

The more I research, the more I think the OEM Pads are the best all-around performer.

Anyone know about how much they go for?

Thanks,
IanS

 

raybesto quiet stop or the cheaper ones?

 

From my experience they have been fairly good, especially when you can take advantage of the rotor warranty deal (yearly), OEM are very good but can be terribly expensive depending on where you go? As for the dust just keep them wheels clean, besides the fronts will always dust the most, the rears are usually the cleanest. Use Armor All Wheel Cleaner (good stuff), it replaced their Quick siver version. Otherwise to each his own, good luck!

 

I was thinking about going with the Raybesto quiet stop since Pepboys is offering a 109 deal that ends this week. I was wondering if you can comment on the stopping power of the raybesto's and if they turn the rotors for you when you had your pads installed? you found the pads are comparable to the stock ones? I am getting the brakes changed the first time and I noticed that Nissan wants $275 for just the front which is insane robbery@!!
thank you for your thoughts.

 

Axxis Metal Masters are usually the choice between Porterfields and OEMs. Personally I would never go back to OEM pads despite less dust. My 18s are a ***** to clean, but braking comes first.
Next time I may get Porterfields for track use.
-hype

 

I just switched to Raybestos Quiet Stop after having the regular Raybestos semi-metallics, which I found to perform horribly when they got really hot (repeat stops from 80+ to 0) and the DUST, oh lord!! Rims were black after 3-4 days with them, and the squeeking was unbearable.
The Raybestos QS (which are ceramic)are silent, dust less than my original Nissan pads, and are performing great. I've had them on for 3 weeks, and my rims are finally needing a cleaning, very little dust.

 

Where did you get your Hawks? HPS or HPS +? I'm stuck with using Axxis MM and Ferodos because I can't find Hawk HPS for the Max!

 

did you change the pads yourself or did you bring it into Pepboys? By chance, did you have the rotors turned as well when you replaced the pads?
I was reading on Raybestos website about the quietstop and it is supposedly an entirely ceramic pad...and have all this "technology" in it that makes it squeak less and all.
Glad to hear they are performing well for you. I am planning to change to them since they are much cheaper than stock pads.

 

Buy the pads from www.courtesynissan.com and put them in yourself. That's what I am doing.

 

Performance Friction

 

A harder pad that dusts less, like the ceramic ones mentioned above, will warp a rotor much more easily. And charge you more to do it.

That's not to say you shouldn't get them. Maybe you're an easy braker. Rotors are expensive, though...

 

I thought it was the other way around--that the ceramic ones tend to be softer than the brake pads made from metallic or semi-metallic?
And it is the semi-metallic ones that will warp rotors more? are glazed rotors similar to warped rotors by the way?
why exactly is the "glazing" on the rotors bad? I don't really know too much and would appreciate any thoughts on this.

 

I'm sorry, maybe I was misinformed. I thought ceramic pads dusted less because they're harder, which makes them wear more slowly. That means that the energy it normally takes to wear away the pads is not released, and it gets stored in the pads and rotors in the form of heat. That's what I thought made harder pads more likely to warp your rotors prematurely.

 

Yes I changed the pads myself. I did not have the rotors turned, but think I may have to as I have a small feeling that they are glazed and may have hot spots. Go to http://www.MaximaDriver.com for complete instructions on changing pads.

 

I went to get the Raybestos QS a few days ago and I have to say, the brake pads are great!! They are very quiet and don't make much noise and I can't tell anything about the dust yet but the stopping power is very good...I would say equal to if not better than the stock pads. I had some generic bendix pads which screwed up my rotors (had to get them cut)--but wow...what a difference.
thanks for the tip.

 

I got the Raybestos QS'es about 3 weeks ago. No squeaks, good stopping power, but MAN they dust like a ****.

My rims are nearly black.

Going to replace them with OEM when I get the cash.

IanS

 

So what you are saying, is if i have my brakes redone and i don't want a squeel, which i have , i should just go to the maintenance shop at my local nissan dealership and have them replace them with the stock ones? what does that go for.

thanks
bryan

 

I called Tustin last week and got the following prices:
Front Pads $59.00
Rear Pads $39.00
Brake Parts Kit $17.00 Need 1 for front and 1 for rear.
I forgot to ask if this included shipping so you might want to call
yourself. This was for OEM Pads not Key Value

 

I put Raybestos Quiet Stops on my 98 about a month ago. I love them!!!!!!!!!!!

They may not be as low dusting as Raybestos would have you believe but I am very satisfied with them. THey are QUIET. I mean very. My stockers embarassed me. I wish now I had gotten ABS cause I am araid I am gonna lock 'em up. Haven't yet but I never felt that way with the stock pads.

Here's what I posted when I changed them:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=115420

 

definetely. I had them for a few days now and it is quite good. I will test them out today for the first time in the rain...heheh...it should be nice. I also had my rotors cut too when I had them put in the QS because they were glazed with the cheaper old bendix pads...The deal is for $109 with labor for these pads (just the front), labor and the turning of rotors. I have to say compare to the $275 the dealer was asking for to do the front with stock pads...I am very happy I took this course.