Time to get the front pads replaced on my 98 Legacy. First timer. Will the autoshop have good quality pads? What brands/types (available in Canada) are good?

 

My two main requirements are (1) reasonable stopping power and (2) no squeal!! Anything special I should ask for? (I have an occasional squeal now but I don't know if it's from the front or back.)

 

Thanks. Being able to pick yer guys' brains rocks!

I have a lot of experince with brake pads (rural mail carrier) about two sets a year. I like the semi metallic that Auto Zone sells they have Albany on box I think they are made by Bendix but I dont know that for sure. They are around twenty dollars and I have very little squeal (most of the time none) which is really amazing considering the abuse they go through with my job.

The shop I'm going to use carries Wagner Extender and Raybestos pads. Anybody have any comments about these makes?

 

Thanks,

Rik

I use only Subaru OEM (organic) pads and have no squeal and the disks are still A1 after 200,000 kilometers.

HTHelps.

Originally posted by hobdes

The shop I'm going to use carries Wagner Extender and Raybestos pads. Anybody have any comments about these makes?

 

Autozone's Albany semi-metalics are decent. They're grippy for regular street driving (assuming you haven't made many mods on the engine) and they don't dust too much either. Not great pads, but definitely comfortable ones (I run these on the rear wheels).

 

Raybestos makes fantastic ceramic pads. But here's where you need to make some preference choices. Ceramic pads dust like stupid! You will have to wash the wheels weekly if you use ceramic pads (generally true if you use carbon metalic/organic pads too)! So if you don't mind the break dust, either carbons or ceramics will be the way to go. Autozone also has really decent carbon metalic pads too.

 

I prefer to have ceramics on the front wheels (old habit from my "ricer" days) but right now I have the Albany's on all four.

 

Hope this helps!