Brake Pads verdicts ?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

JTWard

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2017
Posts
78
Reaction score
73
Location
SE Pennsylvania
First Name
James
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
C1500 Silverado
Engine Size
350 Gasoline
Ok, so after 8 years, the brakes on my 1990 Silverado are asking for some help. the passenger side rear are hanging up every once in a while, so I bought new shoes and hardware kit for them, and Now I believe I should pay some attention to the front brakes, specifically the brake pads. I put on a set of drilled & Slotted rotors on and they seem to holding nicely, but what's the opinions on brake pads. I'm leaning towards :

Bosch QuietCast™ Premium Disc Brake Pads

What do you think of these ?

And what's you opinion of semi-metallic over Ceramic ?


Thank you !
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,976
Reaction score
12,228
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
If you like keeping your truck clean, low dust ceramic ftw.
If you like brown brake dust covered wheels, get organic or semi metallic.
 

custodian

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2016
Posts
959
Reaction score
556
Location
Catawba
First Name
William
Truck Year
1973, 1985
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3 LS, 350
I use Power Stop Ceramic brakes on all my vehicles. Very low to no dust. Long lasting.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
what's the opinions on brake pads. I'm leaning towards :

Bosch QuietCast™ Premium Disc Brake Pads

What do you think of these ?

And what's you opinion of semi-metallic over Ceramic ?

At the shop when we have a vehicle that we are concerned about noise we either put Acubono's or Bosch quiet cast on it. My wife's minivan is a perpetual squeaker and the Bosch quite casts are the only thing that runs quiet on it even after she heats them up on the hills. Nearly everything about ceramic brake pads is better than semi-mets. They take higher temps, wear slower and generally are quieter. The one down fall is the cheaper ceramics will glaze if overheated badly enough, unlike semi-mets once a ceramic gets hot enough to squeal they are usually noisy for life after that. Basically the take away is if your going to buy cheap pads get organic or semi-mets, if your going to go up to ceramic get good ones, and yes I think the Bosch is a great choice and that is what is on all my vehicles.
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,247
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
I started useing ceramics on everything about 10 years ago. WAY less dust. Some brand ceramics seem to leave more dust than others. I have tried about all the major brands in different applications. Tried Advance gold's, several different tiers in Raybestos line, Centric, Weaver and probably a few that I can't remember.

Our first gen Sequoia eats brake pads for some reason. Seems like I'm doing a brake job every 25k to 30 k and most our miles are even highway rural ones. It came factory ceramic in 04.
 

Matt69olds

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2018
Posts
2,451
Reaction score
3,819
Location
Central Indiana
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
GMC 1/2 ton
Engine Size
455 Olds
I second the Power Stop Z series


I agree. I got 60k out of my factory Ram brakes, replaced them with Carquest top of the line pads. I couldn’t get more than 25-30k tops, and the brakes never felt as good as the OEM stuff.

I replaced everything with power stop at around 140k, the brakes are better than ever and still look great.
 

GXPWeasel

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2019
Posts
589
Reaction score
1,105
Location
Kansas
First Name
Greg
Truck Year
1982 | 2015
Truck Model
Sierra C15 | Silverado Z71
Engine Size
5.0 | 5.3
Ceramic, and Powerstop for the win.
I tow HEAVY with my '15 half ton (within 185lb so of my max GCWR) and they work great. Also did Powerstop on my Traverse when I had it, and towed with it. Wife loved the shortened stopping distance. When my '82 goes back together here next spring-fall, it will be getting powerstop brakes. I'm even considering replacing the brakes on my wife's 2020 Atlas Cross Sport which only has 3,500 miles to Powerstop this winter. They are worth every dollar.
 

Swearbody

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Posts
701
Reaction score
716
Location
Birmingham AL
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
355 sbc
Ive used power stop on several scca builds. 2 Mazda mx6 turbos ,a BMW E30, and they do well for autocross. You have to beat the hell out of them to get an noticeable fade.. and Yes the cars are light but believe me I abused the brakes. Also used them on 2 squares and will be putting them on the current project when the time arrives.
I like their pads and the rotors as well. I have cracked a brembo cross drilled and slotted rotor in half at the track after maybe 3 races and had powerstops last 2 seasons.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ebc-dp61145/year/1990/make/chevrolet/model/c1500

Put this on a friends 77 k5. Felt like nearly ripping off the front axle when doing a hard stop. I don't know how long they last, they are on the car since 6 months.

Well we haven't talked about organic pads until this post. All of our trucks came factory with organic pads, back in the day that meant asbestos, depending on the country greenstuff manufactures their pads in it may still have asbestos in it, or it maybe other asbestos replacement organics or some of both. Advantages to organic pads, after broken in they run quiet under pretty much all conditions even if they have been hot. Disadvantages, depending on the quality of the organic pad they will get to hot and fade at the same or lower temp than semi-mets. Shortest brake pad wear life of the three types we have discussed. This maybe an advantage or disadvantage to some but organics will generally have the most grippy initial feel, especially when cold.

I just looked at the EBC website and it does say non-asbestos, but still they make organic pads for all sorts of vehicle even many that came factory with semi-mets. Never know when I might need an old fashion style pad, so I appreciate this info. Organics will be as close to an original type pad for these trucks that is made today.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,976
Reaction score
12,228
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ebc-dp61145/year/1990/make/chevrolet/model/c1500

Put this on a friends 77 k5. Felt like nearly ripping off the front axle when doing a hard stop. I don't know how long they last, they are on the car since 6 months.

Greenstuff EBC's are VERY good quality. Not sure if they're quite as good as their price, but have a set on a 3/4ton truck that hauls a truck camper/trailer. I gross close to 20klbs combined when the camper and boat are hooked up. Have about 50,000? miles on them now, bit less maybe, over 50% hauling camper or towing something and they still grab better than OE and have minimal wear, probably 75% pad left.
(I do use the exhaust brake liberally though, so I'm sure that helps on brake life a bunch)

Edit, forgot, have had 3 different sets of EBCs on differnt vehicles all low dust ceramic and all have been 100% quiet. Powerstop Z26 pads I put on the SRT8 always squeal coming at the first 2 low speed applications, backing out of the garage and turning at the end of the driveway. Then no noise after that.
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,126
Reaction score
7,257
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Well we haven't talked about organic pads until this post. All of our trucks came factory with organic pads, back in the day that meant asbestos, depending on the country greenstuff manufactures their pads in it may still have asbestos in it, or it maybe other asbestos replacement organics or some of both. Advantages to organic pads, after broken in they run quiet under pretty much all conditions even if they have been hot. Disadvantages, depending on the quality of the organic pad they will get to hot and fade at the same or lower temp than semi-mets. Shortest brake pad wear life of the three types we have discussed. This maybe an advantage or disadvantage to some but organics will generally have the most grippy initial feel, especially when cold.

I just looked at the EBC website and it does say non-asbestos, but still they make organic pads for all sorts of vehicle even many that came factory with semi-mets. Never know when I might need an old fashion style pad, so I appreciate this info. Organics will be as close to an original type pad for these trucks that is made today.

I have found organic pads don't warp or groove rotors like other pads sometimes do. Yes, do not wear as well, but D52's are so easy to change.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,848
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top