96 850 GLT Brake Pad, OEM or aftermarket?

joe_pinehill · Post by **joe_pinehill** » 20 Dec 2013, 05:46

I'm going to do the pads on my 850, are OEM the best for minimal noise? $75 and $40 for OEM from FCP, or are Raybestos, Beck Arnley , as good? The difference is about $40 vs OEM.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 20 Dec 2013, 06:06

I won't pretend to have knowledge of all those pads, but I put Akebono ceramic pads and ATE rotors on mine and the combination has been great. No dust, no squealing and three years later they still stop smooth as butter. They were $65 for the front pads, $128 for the rotors including shipping. Shipping on rotors can get pricey - get them locally if you can.

Post by **jreed** » 20 Dec 2013, 07:19

I used to use OEM front pads but was dissatisfied with all the dust they produced. I switched to Akebono pads (leaving the rotors as they were) about four years ago. They're great. Little or no dust, good braking power. Recommended!

Post by **jblackburn** » 20 Dec 2013, 09:33

Akenbono's are a fantastic match for this car, but not a good match for the OEM rotors. You'll want something a little harder (Zimmerman was my choice).

Post by **regent** » 20 Dec 2013, 09:46

I've had great experience with Akebono Euro Ceramic on either Brembo or Zimmermann on every change. There are online suppliers who offer free shipping. Just shop around among FCP, ecstuning.com, autohausaz.com, etc. before you opt for a local source.

Also, it is vital that you do a nice bedding-in as soon as you install, regardless of what the rumors say. Overall job cleanliness and application of good brake grease (sparingly

) on caliper pins, fingers, and bracket sliders works miracles in noise minimization.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 20 Dec 2013, 10:02

regent wrote:Also, it is vital that you do a nice bedding-in as soon as you install, regardless of what the rumors say.

Since Akebono goes to the trouble of putting an insert in the box saying NOT to do bedding-in, its a bit more than a rumor.

Post by **oragex** » 20 Dec 2013, 12:21

instarx wrote:I won't pretend to have knowledge of all those pads, but I put Akebono ceramic pads and ATE rotors on mine and the combination has been great. No dust, no squealing and three years later they still stop smooth as butter. They were $65 for the front pads, $128 for the rotors including shipping. Shipping on rotors can get pricey - get them locally if you can.

I will never put again ceramic pads on a city/highway driven car. The only place for ceramic pads is on hill areas or at the track. In city, compared with semi-metallic pads, the ceramic ones have no time to heat up and braking power and distance are worst. And ceramic tend to be noisier. Only advantage is cleanliness.

Post by **jblackburn** » 20 Dec 2013, 12:29

oragex wrote:
instarx wrote:I won't pretend to have knowledge of all those pads, but I put Akebono ceramic pads and ATE rotors on mine and the combination has been great. No dust, no squealing and three years later they still stop smooth as butter. They were $65 for the front pads, $128 for the rotors including shipping. Shipping on rotors can get pricey - get them locally if you can.
I will never put again ceramic pads on a city/highway driven car. The only place for ceramic pads is on hill areas or at the track. In city, compared with semi-metallic pads, the ceramic ones have no time to heat up and braking power and distance are worst. And ceramic tend to be noisier. Only advantage is cleanliness.

Haven't had any of those problems with the Akebonos - maybe they're a less aggressive ceramic compound that doesn't need to heat up to brake effectively, and they certainly deal with heat from heavy braking much better than the stock Volvo pads.

In fact, my new car has ceramic pads on it from the factory. Stops just fine...cold, anyway. They're not great hot because the rotors are stupidly small.

Post by **xHeart** » 20 Dec 2013, 12:43

jblackburn wrote:Akenbono's are a fantastic match for this car, but not a good match for the OEM rotors. You'll want something a little harder (Zimmerman was my choice).

jreed wrote:I used to use OEM front pads but was dissatisfied with all the dust they produced. I switched to Akebono pads (leaving the rotors as they were) about four years ago. They're great. Little or no dust, good braking power. Recommended!

Akebano on Zimmerman are steady and smooth, and quick if you want. I would service the calipers with cn90's write up, brake-lines per Jreed's at this age.

Post by **oragex** » 20 Dec 2013, 13:22

jblackburn wrote:
oragex wrote:
instarx wrote:I won't pretend to have knowledge of all those pads, but I put Akebono ceramic pads and ATE rotors on mine and the combination has been great. No dust, no squealing and three years later they still stop smooth as butter. They were $65 for the front pads, $128 for the rotors including shipping. Shipping on rotors can get pricey - get them locally if you can.
I will never put again ceramic pads on a city/highway driven car. The only place for ceramic pads is on hill areas or at the track. In city, compared with semi-metallic pads, the ceramic ones have no time to heat up and braking power and distance are worst. And ceramic tend to be noisier. Only advantage is cleanliness.
Haven't had any of those problems with the Akebonos - maybe they're a less aggressive ceramic compound that doesn't need to heat up to brake effectively, and they certainly deal with heat from heavy braking much better than the stock Volvo pads.

In fact, my new car has ceramic pads on it from the factory. Stops just fine...cold, anyway. They're not great hot because the rotors are stupidly small.

It is certain that when heavy braking is involved, such as in a mountain area, ceramic brakes are almost a must to dissipate the heat. Perhaps like you say there are certain brands that work better on ceramics.