96 850 GLT Brake Pad, OEM or aftermarket?

[instarx]

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.

I know you have your opinion on this, but I totally disagree. I have had a couple of panic stops in the car with the ceramic pads and they managed to exceed the gripping ability of the tires (in other words the ABS activated). You just can't get better than that. I have very grippy performance tires btw. When the limiting factor in the equation is the tires, if the ceramic brakes can kick off the ABS then no pads of any composition could do any better - that's just physics. As for noise, I haven't heard a peep out of the Akebonos in three years. Maybe its time to re-evaluate your dislike of ceramic pads - I'm sure ceramics have greatly improved from their early days when what you say may have been true. As for me, I doubt I'll ever go back.

[Ben850]

I have respect for the Akebono ceramic for the last year on the Sedan. I have already purchased a set duplicate front and rear for the wagon.
They will all come together with new Centric, drilled and slotted rotors. ( it sounds like overkill but I would like to know what the deal is) New rear calipers. A braided stainless line for the rear. I was surprised to find IPD stainless lines already installed in the front when I purchased the wagon.

I am driving the Sedan for the winter. The rotors are all new Brembo. Keeping in mind that '93 850s are four lug hubs. there is actually a surplus of these nice rotors since it is single year specific. Searching online I was able to find them reasonably priced.

I give a thumbs up to Akebono Ceramic. I am not a racecar driver, and don't play one on TV.(unpaid endorsement).

The '93 Sedan getting New calipers, the Akebono Ceramic and braided line treatment.

The calipers and pads are all the same in the 850 series.

The four lug Brembo rotors. '93 Sedan.

Salvage rotors oxidized, but fine. Braided lines already there. '96 Turbo Wagon.

I have nice rotors on the front of the wagon that I had salvaged. It will get its new drilled/slotted rotor and Akebono Ceramic pad treatment in the spring so I can bleed and break everything in according.

[oragex]

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.

I know you have your opinion on this, but I totally disagree. I have had a couple of panic stops in the car with the ceramic pads and they managed to exceed the gripping ability of the tires (in other words the ABS activated). You just can't get better than that. I have very grippy performance tires btw. When the limiting factor in the equation is the tires, if the ceramic brakes can kick off the ABS then no pads of any composition could do any better - that's just physics. As for noise, I haven't heard a peep out of the Akebonos in three years. Maybe its time to re-evaluate your dislike of ceramic pads - I'm sure ceramics have greatly improved from their early days when what you say may have been true. As for me, I doubt I'll ever go back.

I have to give you this. I've only tried those once and it was a few years back. Maybe it was some poor quality parts. Taking back what I've said.

[cn90]

I have used both Pagid and Jurid, which is OEM maker of the brake pads, without any issues at all.

[joe_pinehill]

Any one use Duralast from Autozone?

[regent]

Yes, on my former 1995 Ford Escort Wagon

[j-dawg]

Any one use Duralast from Autozone?

i used them on my old cars, my family's cars, etc.

no complaints about performance besides that they are super dusty if you don't go for the ceramics. also if you go for the ones with the lifetime warranty, you can bring them in and get a free replacement when they're worn out. (yes - this is true. i've asked many an autozone clerk about it and that's how it works. never kept a car long enough to need to use it, though.)

i have wagner ceramics on my 99 and they are fine. the car goes, and when i press the brake pedal, the car stops. they are quiet, they don't dust, and they happily set off the ABS in a panic stop.

calipers, rotors, and brake lines, i wouldn't recommend going for the parts-store specials, as seized calipers, warped rotors, and leaky brake lines can pose safety hazards (though i have used autozone rotors and rebuilt calipers on my maximas with no problems). pads? if you're willing to put up with noise, dust, and early replacement, you'll be just fine.

[joe_pinehill]

I needed to do it this weekend, I ended up with pads fro Advance Auto, front ceramic, rear semi metalic, plus hard ware kits, a little less than $100. I did all four wheels in about 2 hours.

They fit fine, no squeal, and stop fine, (ABS kicks in).

Time will tell.

Just IMHO, quality of after market parts has gotten better, I remember my old 240s, if I didnt buy Volvo OEM pads, any after market wouldnt fit exactly right, and or would squeal. Today you wonder if whats on the box is just a label.

[northernlights]

If you can wait to have them shipped, the prices from rockauto.com are hard to beat. As an example, they have Beck/Arnley semi-metallic for $20.99 front and $13.37 rear for a 96 850 T5. In my experience Beck/Arnley often are the OEM parts, but you won't know for certain until you get them.

[joe_pinehill]

thanks , I use Rock Auto a lot, I dont know how they do it. Bought a Denso AC compressor for my Jeep from them, it was half the price from any local parts store