Rotor and brake pads suggestion.

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sentra

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British Columbia, Canada
I have a 2001 2.0 L Mazda Protege that needs to have its rear brake pads and rotors replaced. The vehicle has disc brakes. Despite going over the many options availabe at rockauto.com, i still can't decide to what to choose.

Which brand brake pads and rotors would you recommend? If you know of a place that sells them for a decent price, please include that, too.

The car is daily driver, and it doesn't need anything performance-oriented.
 
Many people here like Akebono ProAct ceramics. They're made in the USA. I recently chose Bendix CT-3 pads, because they're a little cheaper than ProActs. The CT-3 is made in Canada. I really wanted to avoid Chinese pads.

I had almost no choice except Chinese rotors. They're really are almost no non-Chinese options for rotors. I bought Raybestos Professional rotors. I wish I had spent a little more to get the Raybestos Advance Tech rotors that are painted on all surfaces except the friction surface. The pain helps prevent rust,which is what killed my previous rotors.

I ordered all my parts through Amazon. Rock Auto had slightly better prices, but big shipping charges, since pads and rotors are heavy. Amazon has free shipping on many items, so it was quite a bit cheaper on Amazon.

One caveat. I overheated my pads during break in and glazed them. It took 4k miles to wear through the glaze so the pads would stop well. It's now been more than 10k miles and the pads have performed great. If you get these pads, go easy on the break in.

Here's a link to a full review with pics I wrote on the Bendix CT-3 pads and Raybestos Pro rotors. (BTW - ignore the trolls who questioned the country of origin on the pads.)

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2360081/
 
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I am down to two options on brake pads. Wagner thermo quiet or Akebono ceramic. They are a reasonable price and RockAuto has them. As for rotors, the shipping is a killer at RockAuto, so if Amazon has some with free shipping great, otherwise the $30-$40 ones at NAPA. Much more concerned with the brake pads than the rotors.
 
I bought the Raybestos Advance Tech pads and rotors. Specifically because I wanted high quality and not Chinese. The pads seem very good, but the rotors are a let down. They are warped 1.5 years later. I am very careful to hand torque over 3 increasing passes in a star pattern. I cleaned and lubed everything. Raybestos said "tough cookies" to me when I asked them for ANY help, told me I must have done something wrong.

Best rotors I've had over the years were plain Brembo. Yes, Brembo actually makes plain rotors for regular cars (no slots or holes), I was surprised. IIRC the price wasn't so bad, got them at Tire Rack years ago.
 
rear discs aren't gonna see a lot of heat due to heavy breaking (remember: FWD cars with most of the car weights up front, your front discs tend to bear the brunt of the load) so no need to go fancy on the rears.

Get anything that is priced reasonably and eventually, most rear brake rotors gonna go rusty before they become warped.

Q.
 
The CT+3 are a very clean pad with very little brake dust, this maybe something to consider if you have alloy wheels.
Forget bedding in the pads, the fronts will over heat badly long before you ever the rear warm enough to "bed in".
 
My recommendation would be a set of Centric rear rotors (121.45049) at $16.82 a piece, and Raybestos servce-grade ceramic pads (SGD892C), $21.07. Both on Amazon with free shipping.


Add: I just noticed the higher-grade Raybestos professional-grade ceramic's have a rebate going that would put them a dollar cheaper.. $20.02 after rebate. (PGD892C)

That's a complete rear job (minus any additional parts like pad inserts) for $53.66; not bad.
 
We use Akebono brakes at work almost 100% and we have great results. We have had them about three years with no noise or dust complaints and stop good and last good. I also do recomend Raybestos premium rotors to go with them
 
Originally Posted By: Chris Meutsch
I had this exact car and it has drums out back.......Rock Auto also confirms this.


Mine has the ES trim. Is your trim ES, too?

I also think there might be a difference between US and Canadian models.
 
Guys, thank you for the suggestions. Due to the shipping cost, it looks like i will buy rotors from Amazon and take advanatge of the free shipping on some. I live close to the Washington state border, so will have them shipped there.
 
Anyone who will ship rotors or drums for free is crazy! Those things are heavy.

I love shopping Amazon. They are very reputable and will back you up with any seller there.
 
Originally Posted By: volvos_rock
+1 for the Akabeno and OE style Brembo rotors. Awsome combination and virtually no dust.


Yeah, I have had this same combo on my wifes car and your right, no visible dust.
 
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