Ceramic pads for Mitsubishis

[Falcon_LS]

I've never been happy with the OE Mitsubishi brake pads for my truck, mainly because they get noisy (squeaks every now and then) sooner rather than later, and rotor warping becomes quite common. Their braking ability is alright, but the above are my major complaints. I remember reading somewhere that Sumitomo is Mitsu's supplier of brake pads.

Last year (June '08), I replaced my discs (OE Mitsu) all round and installed a set of ceramic ACDelco pads (17D530C up front and 17D567C rear). They ran beautifully for 115,000 km (71,875 miles) until there was just about 25% left and I replaced them. The replacements were Mitsubishi OE pads (not the Value range), which I beleive to be semi-metallic, because I couldn't get hold of the ACDelco's or anything else ceramic locally, and didn't have time to wait on a shipment from the States.

About 40,000 km (25,000 miles) after installation, the front brakes started to squeak, and there would be a lot of pulsation from the rear discs. I took the truck out to an open highway at early hours of the morning (no traffic) and did a couple of 'exercises' to transfer pad material to the discs. The fronts quietened down, but my rear rotors are still warped and need to be turned. I've now got 60,000 km (37,500 miles) on these pads and they're at 25% already.

Speaking to a tech today, he said I shouldn't be running ceramic pads because this vehicle ('00 Montero) was not designed to utilise them. Whether or not there is any truth to this, I do not know. But over the 115,000 km I've had the ACDelco's, the brakes functioned much better, stopping distance was shorter, they were dead quiet and I never had warped rotors.

I'm now going to be ordering another set of ceramics, and I'm leaning towards the AC's again. But I was wondering if anybody here has any experience with any of the following brands' ceramic offerings for imports:

- Aisin
- Akebono
- ATE
- Beck/Arnley
- Bendix
- Kelsey-Hayes
- Monroe
- Raybestos
- Wagner

I realise there may be some supplier variations, but I'm really just after a general perspective of which of these brands would be a better alternative to ACDelco. Thanks!

 

[Quest]

I've been a happy customer for Akebono ceramics, and recently, I've also swapped out the rather poor/questionable Raybestos ceramic with Wagner Edge ceramics on my wifey's camry and never been happier (breaks in evenly, low dusting, every even distribution and no warping like Ray pads).

Q.

 

[brandini]

Bendix pads are GREAT! They are the OEM pad on my Mazda6 and I'm at 60,000 miles with stock pads. They have a heavier duty pad the CT-3 if you are a spirited driver. I had those on a 99 300M and it stopped that tank VERY well with no noise and the least amount of dust I've ever experienced.

 

[bepperb]

Another vote for the Akebono pro ACT pads. They're quiet and low dusting, and not grabby. Expensive compared to some others, I think ~60 and axle, but long wearing.

I can see why pads with different friction characteristics could reduce the effectiveness of the ABS/Stability program. But, there are other more important variables like traction and mass that are all over the place, so I think you'd have to be pretty far on the edge for the pads to make a difference, and it doesn't seem like you're looking at performance pads.

 

[EricF]

of all the pads you listed, I would not hesitate on any of those except for Wagner, of which I've heard good things about them (finally) but I wouldn't consider Wagner's for me.

 

[wn1998]

I really love the Napa brand "Adaptive one" brake pads. They are great!