What brand brake pads are better than OEM?

One thing to remember. Toyota does not have one pad material. The engineers at Toyota don't say: I don't care Fred .. Spec out whatever you like.

The pads are specified ...as are the rotors. They are matched to the car -- based on weight/ typical usage/ longevity/ maintenance considerations. The rotors are hardened spec.

I have maintained on average 15 cars at any given time for the past 25 years -- my personal and those of my company that I started in 1990. I stopped buying aftermarket brake parts a long time ago .. I may by Zimmerman (if available) or occasionally Brembo for one of the old MB's or Lexus vehicles -- but for anything less then 7- 8 years old I get the OE from an online dealer. The cost does not warrant the difference in longevity and problems encountered.

This is also the case when you read the fleet management magazines. Most people don't have long term experience with enough vehicles to be able to tell. If your are going to keep the vehicle for as long as the first set took to require replacement -- order the correct parts and be done with it.

For street cars Hawk is all marketing .. same with the specialized oil and air filters.

 

Yes. The question in the title leaves you struggling how to answer. There's little or no benefit in looking for an alternative to the OEM pads, and high odds there'll be problems, pad quality, fit and so on. Brake pads are a utility, the OEM spec is fine.

 

The OEM brake parts are cheap enough, but their labor rate is excessive. If he isn't going to do this himself, I think he should find an independent garage.

 

Finding an independent garage is a good idea ... my local guy does all of our cars.

I'm in an unusual situation. Routine stuff, or repairs that I can anticipate, I buy all the parts and my independent installs them for me.

 

I'm thinking if you're just buying the parts.

 

My 2004 Prius is at 285k miles on the original brakes in CT (part of NE). Front brakes can wear for one of two reasons:

1. As mentioned earlier, the slide pins can corrode which will cause uneven wear. They need to be lubricated periodically.
2. The rotors rust due to lack of use! Every month or so get up to 25 to 30 MPH, put it in neural (disables regeneration), and lightly step on the brakes to clean the rotors. If you hear noise, repeat until the brakes operate smoothly.

JeffD

 

Jeff, I think the pads are partially used all the times. Any time I've washed the car and it's then sat a day or two, allowing rust to build up on the rotors, I can hear them for the first few blocks, regardless of speed and/or amount of braking effort.

 

The pads are always used at low speed. I think it is under 16 mph or something like that. I have my scangauge programmed with the brake friction gauge on all the time so I can brake most efficiently when lowering my speed to get the most regeneration.

 

It's under 7 MPH.

JeffD

 

Thanks JeffD.

The pads can also be engaged when faster braking response is required no matter what the speed.

 

Post wash, I can hear them gripping, for the first few blocks, upwards of 50 kmh. Maybe the regen-vs-friction braking transition has gradations, not all or nothing?

 

Mendel,

The friction brakes are self adjusting so there is often a bit of friction in the AM. That is also when there would be some rust on the rotors which would cause some braking noise in the AM that goes away as the rotors clean up.

JeffD

 

60,000 and you need brakes....AGAIN?!?!?!

Oh wait.......Boston.
Nevermind....

If you're going to do the brakes, then I wouldn't worry as much about paying twice as much for a pad that will only get you 10-20-percent more wear. If the dealer is going to do them, then they're going to use OEM pads anyway.....and they should.

You should not need to have the rotors turned unless they're badly scored or warped, and with the abuse that the rotors are obviously encountering...they might be.
You can check for scoring yourself, and unless you've worn the pads down to the point where your car sounds like a cop or taxi - the rotors are probably OK. If they're warped, then you may turn them if you want to but generally speaking they stay warped and turning them will only buy you a little time.

Tell the dealership to pound sand and get an independent shop to replace all 4 pads (and check other bits out) for less than $500-----even in the Bay State. As mentioned earlier, make sure that they lubricate and thoroughly inspect the pins.

Priuses aren't emerging technology.
They've been around for 15 years.
It shouldn't be hard to find a competent brake shop to reline them.

Good Luck!!

 

I've seen rotors "heal" too. Our rears were quite scored, and the inner faces had about half all rusty, due to my previous inept reinstall of pads: the inner pad pin riding up on piston spoke pattern.

I got new (OEM) pads and shims, removed, steel wooled discs and then carefully installed pads.

Brakes sounded pretty rough at first. A few hours later, better. A few weeks later, quiet and discs looked like new.

 

Man my right rear also has issues at 55 k miles. As soon as it gets warm I need to pull the right rear to see what's up. This should not happen on a toyota. Having said that oem parts are usually very good and safe.

By the way if the rotors are not too bad, I would reuse them. I've been doing this on all my cars with no issues for many years. Even if there is some scoring on the rotor, the new pads will work around that and conform to it while also smoothing out the damaged area if it's not too bad.

 

I think your expectations are unreasonable.

"My brakes needed work after 55K miles; this should not happen." It's 55,000 miles! Yes, many Prius owners get more than 55K miles out their brakes, but even so, 55K miles is a lot of mileage to go without a brake service. It's excellent longevity.

 

Wagner ceramic pads on Amazon for $21. I got the rotors resurfaced for $10 each at O'Reilly. I replaced the Dot 3 brake fluid for just a few dollars with Walmart brand supertech. The brakes work flawlessly
Wagner QuickStop ZD1184A Ceramic Disc Pad Set, Front

 

Having a squeak which is getting a little louder over the past 2 weeks on my 2009 Prius. 146,000 miles and the front pads have never been replaced. Just ordered Akebono, Will be doing them this weekend along with greasing the caliper pins. Actually looking forward to the job.

 

I was having rust problems on our v (wagon) so I went with plated rotors/pads. I think the brand name is 'R1 Concepts'. They are holding up very well. However, winter will be the true test.

 

I went with Wagner for both front & rear too. Make sure you order some lube for the brake pin and pad grease