Rock Auto Wagner ThermoQuiet Bait and Switch???

Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
430
Location
Va
I ordered some brake pads for my Kia. Found Rock Auto had some ThermoQuiet on sale for 20 something dollars and decided to buy them. They arrived today and when I opened the box I was surprised to see this.

What do you guys think? Run them? Try to return them to RA? I know it's just a Kia commuter car but I was hoping to get some decent pads on it. I do understand I got what I paid for.

PXL_20260611_220735293.webp


PXL_20260611_220739653.webp


PXL_20260611_220751503.webp


PXL_20260611_220756404.webp
 
Here's what the smart chip says...

Here is exactly how to decode each segment of your string: LPB 5508 FE N 17

The Complete Edge Code Breakdown
1. LPB — The Manufacturer
This is the registered identity code filed with AMECA for Shandong Gold Phoenix. They manufactured the physical friction block, likely contract-manufacturing it for a major aftermarket brand.

2. 5508 — The Friction Material Formulation
This is the manufacturer’s internal proprietary recipe number. Every combination of resins, ceramic fibers, lubricants, and metal particles gets a unique tracking number.

A formulation code like 5508 typically points toward an advanced ceramic or low-metallic compound tuned specifically for everyday street use, smooth initial bite, and low rotor abrasion.

3. FE — The SAE Friction Coefficient (Bite Rating)
This is the legal performance rating of the pad when tested under the standard SAE J2981 procedure. The two letters represent the pad's "bite" or grip efficiency under different heat cycles:

First Letter (F): Cold Friction Rating (200°F to 400°F). An F rating indicates a coefficient of friction between 0.35 and 0.45. This is excellent for daily driving, providing a confident, strong bite the very first time you hit the brakes on a freezing winter morning.

Second Letter (E): Hot Friction Rating (450°F to 650°F). An E rating indicates a coefficient of friction between 0.25 and 0.35.

What the FE spread means for you: This pad has excellent cold characteristics, but as the brakes get heavily worked (like continuous heavy braking down a long, steep mountain descent or repeated high-speed highway stops), the pad is engineered to experience a very mild, predictable drop in bite to protect the system from overheating. It is a very common profile for heavy-duty commuting and premium luxury passenger vehicles.


I wouldn't sweat it. For the price - more than enough
 
It's not what you ordered and I would contact RA. They may just refund/credit and tell you not to ship them back. That has been my experience with a similiar situation with RA.
 
Yeah that’s rather scummy to send you that, but at the end of the day they’re $20 pads on a daily driver car and will probably be fine.
 
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