Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

[Cannondale]

OK, Tire Rack has a set of Brembo pads on sale for my '02 Chevy Blazer for $15/set. But Brembo doesn't exactly publicize what materials their Sport Pads are composed of.

From my limited reading, a lot of brake makers, auto makers, etc., tend to recommend semi-metallic pads vs. the newer ceramic blend pads for towing.....(a lot of the scuttlebutt about why ceramic pads are being used more and more is due to those types of pads dusting much less and being longer lived, not just better stopping distances.)

And from several brake pad manufacturers, like Hawk and Wagner for instance, their severe/extreme duty pads are all semi-metallic, not ceramic compounds.

So, anyone leaning to one side or another? Hate to waste even $15 for a set of pads that'll just get worn through in a year. It's not just the cost, it's the admittedly easy but dirty work involved changing them out.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

You generally get what you pay for. Regardless of structure material the cheap and cheerful pads generally do not last as long. The harder the pad the quicker the rotor needs replacing.
Just a couple of cents worth of thoughts.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I found on my truck that ceramic pads were a harder compound and heated up the rotors.
After about 1/2 a season of towing i had warped front rotors.

I changed rotors and went to the Wagner semi-metallic pads and have not had the rotor problem since. I did upgrade to drilled rotors so i'm sure that was a big help too.
On my second year with this setup and the pads still have plenty left on them.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

You generally get what you pay for. Regardless of structure material the cheap and cheerful pads generally do not last as long. The harder the pad the quicker the rotor needs replacing.
Just a couple of cents worth of thoughts.

Agree.

We have been happy with UAP/NAPA application engineered ceramic pads on customer vehicles. Quiet and stop well hot. And, like Gary says Wagner has always made a good product.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I use Akebono cermaic pads on all my vehicles. They are the OEM suppliers for many car companies.

Some trucks are just going to be hard on brakes. For example, the GM trucks, Tahoes, Suburbans and pickups from the low 90s to 1999 ate brake pads and rotors for breakfast. I had a 1999 3/4T Suburban that went through its front brakes in 12K miles and actually cracked its rotors. Was common problem apparently. As bad as the 3/4T trucks are, the 1/2Ts are worse. I would even consider a 1/2T Suburban or Tahoe becuase of the brakes. GM redesigned those brakes for the new generation trucks that came out after them and they are a lot better no matter what pads you used.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I put GM pads and rotors back on my 2001 Tahoe. I figure I got 110K miles off the first set. No need to look elsewhere.

 

[OMC-boy5.5]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I work at an automotive wholesale warehouse and all I can say is that I'll never buy bendix pads.... but that's nothing to do with their product, that's just because they pack their pallets really stupid and it's a PITA to put them away. I'd have to say that we don't really sell the most CT3/CQ's (fully ceramic), but we probably sell the most TitanuMetallic series which is a semi-metallic pad.

Just my .02

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I put GM pads and rotors back on my 2001 Tahoe. I figure I got 110K miles off the first set. No need to look elsewhere.

Yes, they finally have a good brake design on that vehicle. The previous generation...not so much!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I work at an automotive wholesale warehouse and all I can say is that I'll never buy bendix pads.... but that's nothing to do with their product, that's just because they pack their pallets really stupid and it's a PITA to put them away.

You wouldn't recommend them because it makes your job harder? You are kidding right?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

You wouldn't recommend them because it makes your job harder? You are kidding right?

Really! .....

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

I did upgrade to drilled rotors so i'm sure that was a big help too.
On my second year with this setup and the pads still have plenty left on them.

**disclaimer, I come from an auto-X background, brakes are everything there...**

Drills/slotted rotors often HURT your braking performance. They are popular because performance brakes back in the 80's/90's used them. The original purpose was because the high performance brake pads at the time outgassed A LOT when at high temp. The slots/holes were a method to try and keep the pad from floating on its own gasses.

fast forward to 2010. A couple manufacturers still hang on to slotted/drilled rotors, but many tests have shown they have a very hard time keeping up with regular old flat faced rotors. There is some benefit for race type pads, ones that NEED to run at high temp and have very little ability at lower temps. (which would also be disasterous to run in a towing vehicle)

 

[dingbat]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

Yes, they finally have a good brake design on that vehicle. The previous generation...not so much!

We first looked at Burbs in early 2000. Test drove a loaded 1999 that they where willing to deal on. Couldn't stop the thing. Had to stand on the brakes to get it to stop. Decided to look at something else. Fast forward 6 months and the redesigned Tahoe/ Burbs came out. Took one for a test drive and could not believe the difference 4 wheel disc makes. It?s been a been a good truck

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

**disclaimer, I come from an auto-X background, brakes are everything there...**

Drills/slotted rotors often HURT your braking performance. They are popular because performance brakes back in the 80's/90's used them. The original purpose was because the high performance brake pads at the time outgassed A LOT when at high temp. The slots/holes were a method to try and keep the pad from floating on its own gasses.

fast forward to 2010. A couple manufacturers still hang on to slotted/drilled rotors, but many tests have shown they have a very hard time keeping up with regular old flat faced rotors. There is some benefit for race type pads, ones that NEED to run at high temp and have very little ability at lower temps. (which would also be disasterous to run in a towing vehicle)

Good to know! Thanks!

The next brake job it will get a set of new rotors. The drilled really do seem to stop better than the originals but you learn something new every day..
Rotors are not expensive for that truck anyway...

 

[skargo]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

Drilled rotors are also more prone to cracking, and can eat pads quicker.

 

[badbird]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

for a tow vehicle "ceramic" pads are not recommended by the brake manufacture, I use a really good semi metallic pad ie Raybestos,Wagner,Bendix etc

GL Ron

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

for a tow vehicle "ceramic" pads are not recommended by the brake manufacture, I use a really good semi metallic pad ie Raybestos,Wagner,Bendix etc

GL Ron

Which brake manufacturer? I know ACDelco makes ceramic brake pads for GM trucks. Are you saying that you shouldn't use the same brake bads that the OEM supplier to GM makes for their trucks?

I know as far as brakes on trailers, all the Kodiak brakes have been switched over to ceramic.

I actually don't use the ACDelco ones in my trucks and cars. I only use the Akebonos. They are quiet, don't dust, and don't wear the rotors.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Best brake pads for tow vehicle?

The brake setup I was running on my wonder weasel were EBC slotted rotors with Hawk pads. Good combo, worked cold, worked hot, i've beat the crap out of the rotors and haven't warped them yet.

Whenever you do even a pad swap and rotor scuff. Completely purging the old brake fluid for new can make all the difference in the world.