Brake pads recommended

Hello all. I have done some reading on this forum regarding brake pads and see several recommendations. I’m looking at replacing my OEM pads after 37k on them. I only do daily driving, no towing or off roading. Should I go with OEM, EBC or another brand? Just looking at replacing pads not rotors. Any guidance appreciated. Thanks

 

Just because?

 

37,000 miles is pretty early for front pads. Are you sure they're actually shot?

 

They are beginning to vibrate when braking at high speeds.

 

That would be the rotors, not the pads. That said, when you replace the rotors, you need to replace the pads. I'm a huge fan of OEM brake parts for any Japanese vehicle if you want my 2 cents. Beware of cheap Chinese "white box" rotors and / or "high performance" pads. The cheap rotors will wear out / warp in very short order and many high performance pads dust like no tomorrow.

 

It's worth investigating why. Vibrations are usually due to warped or thin rotors, not pads. The OEM stuff is very good quality and don't squeal. How many miles on the rotors? Do you tow or haul heavy stuff?

 

Factory pads are the best.

 

When mine started vibrating I replaced them with stoptech cryo slotted rotors and toyota trd pads.

 

Rotors don't actually warp. The vibration under braking is usually due to uneven transfer layer deposits on the surface of the rotor. This commonly happens from heating the pad/rotor to or over the working temp range and then sitting stationery with pressure on the brakes. Like an emergency stop from a high speed and then holding the brakes after coming to a complete stop. If it's not excessive, going through a bedding procedure can sometimes remedy the uneven layer. I've had vibration in the brakes on my beater car after it sits for extended periods of time and a corrosion layer develops but a couple miles of driving and a firm stop or two cleans it up. Going through a bedding procedure, if safe to do, might save you some $ if the pads and rotors are otherwise in good shape.

 

37k miles. No towing or haul heavy stuff. Just regular daily driver. I have had to stop at times heavy. I will try bedding first and tho from there.

 

I bought TRD pads and they throw dust like crazy. They may work well but I won't be installing them next time.

 

first off, 37k miles is not an indication of anything, pad depth is
that's why you stick your head in the wheel to look how much millimeter thickness the pad has

second, if you have access to a lathe, the warp can be cut out of the factory rotor for as cheap as free
which may then end up warping again later on because supposedly Toyota spec'd it too small of a size from factory

but hey, your money. If you want to drop $200+ on new pads and rotors when your stock ones have life left, only for the new ones to end up doing the same exact thing, go ahead.

pad slaps are often done to save money, keeping note of their thickness to not end up on a worn rotor and worn pad that can allow the caliper piston to pop out with that extra room.
That being said, functionally speaking, whether cutting the rotor to a fresh new surface when replacing pads or not, it will still technically work as a brake from the hydraulic force making the pad squeeze the rotor, regardless of it's condition, during average driving

factory pads come in ceramic or semi-metallic, this post doesn't really specify

 

We have an 07 HHR we bought new and at this point in time has very low miles for the year, my wife's car, and just after warranty, the front end started to shake when braking. When I would drive it, after a few miles the shake would subside but, never really go away. Well, my wife drives with her left foot on the brake, never enough to trigger the brake light, and right foot on the accelerator so you can imagine what's happening to the rotors. I attributed it to so-called warped rotors. Because I can't convince her to keep her left foot off the brake when not needed, I refused to do anything with the brakes until the pads wore out. It's one reason I don't want her driving my Tacoma or any other vehicle that's my main use. At 41,000, the pads finally failed and I put new rotors and pads on. It drives and brakes like a new car and we may keep it a while longer and because she drives it very little now, (retired) and only short distance the shake hasn't yet come back.

 

Not entirely the wife's fault. Its actually a well know issue with HHRs. GM even admitted that the rotors fitted to these cars were simply too small to effectively shed the heat generated from normal brake operation, made worse if the driver tends to have a heavy braking foot. Typical GM en-jun-nearing.

As for OP, I have to agree with TacoTuesday1 that mileage is not the best indicator for brake wear. Lots of other factors can lead to premature pad wear or warping. Find an old school shop that still actually turns brakes and have em turned, through some new OEM pads on it and your probably good for another 37k miles.

 

I love my stoptech sport pads buts after a long trip my bronze wheels turn black, kind of annoying but they grip well.

 

1 year+ on my Carquest/Wearever Premium Ceramic pads + Stoptech basic-rotors, and new OEM piston seals. Stops just as well/quickly as the TRD Pads in street use. Wheels stay clean too. Best $130 brake job ever.

 

Pull the calipers off and clean and grease the slide pins before you drop money on rotors and pads.

 

I'm at 94k on the OEM pads...I think I'll go OEM again.

 

This should be done, for inspection at the least, every time the brakes are touched. I find a stuck pin every few times I mess with brakes on any of my vehicles. Stuck as far as I couldn't slide it easily with my hand. Pulling it out with pliers and a fresh coat of high temp silicone grease or brake lube has always made it nice and buttery smooth. 2 minutes of work for insurance that a caliper won't stick.

 

Have the rotors turned.. and go back with a fresh set of oem pads... and then bed them in properly.