brake pads and rotors to buy ?

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kenwin30

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hey guys, got a 05 toyota highlander, with 155k, starting to get the pulsation and vibes when i put on the brakes, so i'm gona replace front and back pads and rotors, what do you guys recommend that are not too pricey ? thanks
 
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Search and see if Summit Racing/Bendix has a listing for the Bendix Street HP rotors for your application. They are a low price and high quality.
 
I have the Monroe Ceramic pads on ours and they are good. I've used the Wagner ThermoQuiets in the past and those would probably be good as well, maybe better, and I will probably try those next. I use generic rotors, IMO it's just a dice roll for weather they'll be good or not.

As a job the Highlander is pretty easy, but the rears are drum parking brake inside of the disk. If you're replacing the rear rotors it might be a hassle to get them off.
 
Rockauto.com has many choices for brake pads and rotors. Their price is usually less than most other online places, but they charge shipping and rotors are heavy so shipping cost can be high.

For brake pads, front and rear, Wagner Thermoquiet has very low dust and quiet. Bendix CT3 is good too.

Get the part numbers and prices from Rockauto then compare them with Amazon. Amazone has no shipping for orders of $25 or more.
 
My top choices when I did my brakes recently were Bendix CT-3 (made in USA or Canada) and Akebono ProAct (made in Kentucky). These are both ceramic pads. I went with the CT-3 becuause it was about $12 cheaper. It has a higher friction rating than the OE pads (GG vs. FF).

I ended up ordering my parts from Amazon. Brake pads were about $45 shipped and rotors $27 shipped each. After including shipping costs, Rock Auto was considerably more expensive than Amazon.

I wanted to avoid Chinese parts, but I didn't have much choice for rotors. I went with Raybestos Professional rotors. They seem fine, but I wish I would have spent a little more to get rotors with an anti-rust coating on the hat and vanes. The Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors have that coating.
 
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Originally Posted By: stephen9666
I wish I would have spent a little more to get rotors with an anti-rust coating on the hat and vanes. The Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors have that coating.




The Bendix Street HP Rotors are painted and cross-drilled. About $50 each.
 
Originally Posted By: kenwin30
i was just looking at the monroe pads, the price isnt bad,


Like I said I have the Monroe Ceramics, not they Dynamics (they make both for the Highlander) and I think at the time Akebono's were about 60 an axle and the Monroe's were 1/3 of that. I really liked the Akebonos and have used them three or four times in the past but didn't see the need here. I think if there's a rebate I'd probably buy the ThermoQuiets since I've also had good luck with them.

As to rotors, I clean my cheapies with brake cleaner and paint them with high temp paint (NOT on the friction surface) and it actually works quite well. I usually do this a few days before I do the job. I'm not sure a Highlander requires cross drilled rotors, personally I wouldn't want the increased wear but mine lives a pretty mundane existence.

You could probably order everything from Amazon in one fell swoop.

One last thing I remembered, the squealers clip on and I accidently threw them away, so don't do that.
 
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Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Wagner ThermoQuiets with the AAP discount code and the Wagner rebate.



+1, make sure you get the ceramic. I've also had good luck with AAP wearever rotors.
 
Originally Posted By: bama7x57
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Wagner ThermoQuiets with the AAP discount code and the Wagner rebate.



+1, make sure you get the ceramic. I've also had good luck with AAP wearever rotors.


Good idea especially with discounts and rebates. I got a pair of ceramic Thermoquiets for $14 after rebate.
 
The Centric 120 Series rotors seem to be high quality. We just put a set on my brother's 2008 5-Series BMW. The hubs are machined which gives them a very high-quality finish. Time will be the real test, but others have liked them and they are reasonably priced.

As far as pads are concerned, I've been researching the same for our VUE. The general consensus indicates that all of the following are good choices when it comes to ceramic:

Bendix CT-3
Wagner ThermoQuiet
Raybestos Advanced Technology
Akebono ProACT

I've also read some good things about the Centric Posi-Quiet, but haven't seem them discussed as much.
 
My standard advice is to get new cheap Chinese rotors at your local auto parts store, and get the best pads they have.

This is nowadays advice - rotors used to be different, but now it is no sure thing to get pricey ones.

And of course, avoid drilled, slotted, coated, etc. rotors.
 
The Wearever rotors at AAP are Bendix I think. I put the Akebono ProACTs on my car recently and they are really low dust. My front wheels are normally brown after ~2 months of not washing them, but they don't look that bad with the Akebonos.
 
Mechtech2, can I ask you why you recommend avoiding drilled, slotted, coated racing rotors?

I have had nothing but problems with the front brakes on my 2010 Town and Country and was finally advised (not by Chrysler) to go with slotted racing rotors to dissipate the heat and Akebono ProAct ceramic pads, which I did.

What would be your recommendation? Chrysler extended my brake warranty from 12,000 miles to 36,000 miles and I now have 33,000 miles on the van. Would you stick with Mopar rotors and pads?

Thanks, I respect your expertise and advice.
 
Originally Posted By: JimR
Mechtech2, can I ask you why you recommend avoiding drilled, slotted, coated racing rotors?

I don't want to speak for Mechtech, but he didn't say anything about racing rotors. Racing rotors are likely going to be cost-prohibitive. There are a lot of cheap drilled and slotted rotors out there. Look on eBay for example. But many have had problem with such cheap rotors warping and cracking. For normal use, most are best off selecting a good-quality standard rotor.
 
I'm assuming you went 155k with the original rotor and pad? If so I'd find a place that can resurface your rotors. The local autoparts stores here resurface for
Same goes for the brakes pads. It seems like it worked out for you this long, so why bother to take a chance? At least you know with the stock setup that it lasts that long.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with aftermarket parts, but there is a greater chance that you'll be getting something that won't last as long. You certainly won't be on the track with your Highlander where you really need a brake setup that dissipates heat. Your stock setup is plenty for normal everyday driving.
 
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If you want a good rotor for the price that is balanced, good metalurgy and is also painted I'd recommend Raybestos Advance Technology rotors. And ACDelco Advantage line should be a good premium aftermarket rotor for a low price.

I'd also recommend Raybestos PG pads, as I don't know that their AT pads are worth the extra price. Bendix CT-3 seem to be good also. However if you look on RockAuto you might find that Beck Arnley has the OE pads for less than some of the aftermarket ones. That would probably be a good bet.
 
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