Da Groj

Any "auto parts store" brake pads that you guys happy with?

Seems unnecessary to use fancy brake pads for autocross that just cost more and eat your rotors when you daily drive the car.

Most new cars, especially "sporty" cars are using ceramic pads these days. Any parts store ceramic pad should be pretty close to your OE pad.

Ceramic pads are generally high-grip, long-lasting, low-noise and low dust. Everything you want in a street pad!

Philip works at a parts store and can probably get more specific.

I've been generally happy with OEM pads for autocross and regular driving, I did run a mix-use track pad/autox pad for 2 years, but unless I am doing a FIRM day again (Pads are sitting ready to go), I'll be sticking with the OEM or OEM replacement stuff, it works and it dusts a lot less.

My friend bought the cheap semimetallic pads for his mustang from advance auto, and he's been happy with the stopping performance for 20 bucks, but the dust on them was as horrible as a track pad.

I was told to use ceramic pads one has to either resurface or replace the rotor. When I replaced the rear rotors on RX8 a couple years ago I went with ceramic pads and I like them. So I'm running OEM on the front and ceramic on the rear. Cannot tell the diff. Will replace the front pads with ceramic next brake job - whenever they wear out? My rear pads were gone twice as fast as the fronts due to anti slip controller. The ceramics don't squeak either like the Mazda OEM do now and again. No dust no noise and stop well so worth the extra money on a nice sports car. Daily driver sedan cheap OEM only.

NAPA has the best pads from my experience ( and I don't even work for them ). NAPA Premium or Adaptive One Brake Pads. Autozone sells EBC pads at really go price if you want something more race ready. Ceramic pads are actually lower bite than good metallic pads. For autoX I would prefer less bit and more control in my very limited experience I like ceramics better. For the most amount of shut down power ( at the expense of the rotors, noise, and dust ) metallic pads.

Thanks guys, that's the information I was looking for.

I think it depends on what you're used to / what you like. If it were me and I liked the feel of the stock pad for everyday, I'd stick with it.

My limited experience with 2 German cars has been very good stock pads but plenty of dust. Tried a ceramic (Akebono)...they gave far less dust but the brakes lost their feel. Then tried Porterfield Z pads - great feel but they made noise. So I plan to stick with stock.