Recommend brake pads and wiper blades

[poiuy223]

Got a discount code for RockAuto and plan to use it for some brake pads. What do you guys recommend? Raybestos? Wagner Thermoquiet?

And how often should wiper blades be changed? I read somewhere here that RainX Latitude is the best...but RA doesn't carry RainX. How are the Bosch Icons?

 

[artificialist]

Bosch Icon is the only Bosch wiper worth using.

As for brakes, Raybestos is a good choice.

 

[user52165]

Originally Posted By: poiuy223
Got a discount code for RockAuto and plan to use it for some brake pads. What do you guys recommend? Raybestos? Wagner Thermoquiet?

And how often should wiper blades be changed? I read somewhere here that RainX Latitude is the best...but RA doesn't carry RainX. How are the Bosch Icons?


Need new brakes on a 2011 already? If Delco makes them for your car the ceramic types (with a "C" on the end of the p/n) are the lowest dusting pads I have seen.

 

[MNgopher]

On brakes, the Thermoquiets have always worked well for me. Long lasting, low dust, good braking power.

On wiper blades, I've never liked a set of Bosch wipers I've used, but I also have not tried the Icons. Otherwise not a strong preference.

 

[dparm]

Since you don't get snow and ice, no need to get a "beam" blade like the Icon. The metal armature ones actually wipe better (pressure is better distributed, especially at the edges).

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Since you don't get snow and ice, no need to get a "beam" blade like the Icon. The metal armature ones actually wipe better (pressure is better distributed, especially at the edges).

I have always gotten more life out of beam blades than metal ones, and I live where there is no snow.

 

[JHZR2]

Thermoquiets but see if you can find bendix ct-3. Good stuff from them.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: dparm
Since you don't get snow and ice, no need to get a "beam" blade like the Icon. The metal armature ones actually wipe better (pressure is better distributed, especially at the edges).

I have always gotten more life out of beam blades than metal ones, and I live where there is no snow.


Unrelated. Same rubber compounds used in both.

Nothing stopping you from a beam blade, I'm just saying their biggest selling point doesn't really apply if it never snows/ices by you.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I have Bosch Icon blades and Bendix CT-3 on the front of my S2000. I also have Bosch Icon blades on other cars.

There is no dust and good performance from CT-3. The Bosch Icon had been on for 2 years and still working good.

 

[Donald]

Get ceramic by Akebono or Wagner TQ. You cannot go wrong with either. They are probably the best available for non racing vehicles. I have Raybestos ceramic on my Jeep and they are nothing to write home about and the dust is almost rust colored. I may change them out before the pads are worn out. I just put Wagner TQ on my old Suburban. Once you go above the budget pads (under $20) getting top pads vs average pads is maybe $10. Given that one normally needs to get new rotors and spend some time doing the brakes, why save $10 for avweage. Wagner TQ had a rebate awhile ago, maybe they will again soon.

As for wiper blades, buy the cheapest Anco from Walmart and change them often, along with cleaning the blade often. At $4.50 per blade you can afford to change them often. Better yety install new ones on drivers side and move old drivers side to passenger. Works if both blades are the same.

A new Anco will almost surely be better than a 2 month old blade by any company.

I do it but I am guessing its not good for the blades to run them over rough iced windshields.

 

[poiuy223]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Guess I'll just go with the Wagner TQ since it's slightly cheaper than Raybestos. And yes, I think I'll be needing new pads soon...I'm at 26,400 miles in one year. Speaking of, I need to write up my 1 year experience/review with the car.

As for the blades, although I don't see snow here in CA, I do experience ice on windshield. I live in a hilly area so in the mornings, the cold can ice up any mist that floats around the hills...another annoyance of not being able to park my car in a garage. Guess I'll just get some Icons since it's cheaper than Latitude @ Walmart.

 

[poiuy223]

RA does carry the Bendix CT-3 parts for me. So Bendix or Wagner TQ? It's like a difference of ~$5

Also, when I order these, do they come in pairs or individuals? Meaning, do I add to cart 2 fronts and 2 rears or just 1 front and 1 rear?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Brake pads come in pair, you only need 1 front and 1 rear. But rotors come individually.

 

[stephen9666]

If you don't want Chinese pads, there are limited options. I know Akebono ProAct are made in the USA. I emailed Akebono and they said they were made in Kentucky. I'm pretty sure the Wagners are now made in China, but if you email the company I'm sure they could tell you. EDIT - I found a recent thread here where a member bought Thermoquiets and they were made in China.

Also, compare Rock Auto's prices to Amazon. with Amazon's free shipping, they beat Rock Auto's price by around $25 total for my pads and rotors.

I bought Bendix CT-3 and they're made in Canada. I'm happy with the pads, but I had a problem at first. Using one of Bendix's recommended break-in methods I overheated the pads and glazed them. They stopped very poorly for 4k miles until I wore through the overheated material. Long story short: if you choose to use a break-in method, go easy on them.

Here's my full review of the Bendix CT-3

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...394#Post2238394

 

[UNC036]

OEM Pads...

 

[mechtech2]

For many of us, a winter blade is a great idea.
It has a rubber diaper/condom around the articulating parts to keep ice and sow out of the linkage. And, the rubber blade is designed for more flexibility in very cold weather.

Some guy posted that his Dad designed wiper blades, and beam types did not exert as good pressure as the linkage types. Kinda explains why the more expensive and harder to make linkage types are so prevalent.

 

[rslifkin]

Personally, I just run standard cheap metal frame blades year round. The linkage rarely freezes up enough to be an issue (if it's icy enough to need to scrape the windshield, I'll grab the blades and flex them to free up the linkage). I also have never had issues with them freezing to the glass (which is good, considering they can't be flipped up on the Jeep, the hood prevents the wipers from being lifted off the glass more than 3" or so).

 

[Ken2]

Those Monroe pads look very interesting.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Some guy posted that his Dad designed wiper blades, and beam types did not exert as good pressure as the linkage types. Kinda explains why the more expensive and harder to make linkage types are so prevalent.

Yeah, I had a set of Bosch beam-type blades on my car for a few months and I hated them. Too much pressure in the middle, not enough on the edges. Overall wiping quality was not good. Why they are more expensive is beyond me.

Standard metal-frame replacement blades is all I use on our cars now. I experimented once and once was enough to know they aren't worth it.

 

[4x4chevydude]

For brakes I usually use a decent NAPA pad and for wipers I use whatever I can get a good deal on...Ive never tried any other pads than the local auto stores, are the Raybestos and Thermoquiets really that much better? Also with only 26k miles you must do alot of hard braking, usually OEM pads can go easily 40-60k without changing.