Ceramic Brake Pads

[jp213a]

It’s about time to replace my front brake pads and ceramic pads are under consideration: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brak...Cruiser&autoYear=2000&autoModClar=&perfCode=P
I’ve never tried ceramic pads on any of my vehicles and would be interested in feedback from those who have. jp

 

[aedgington]

I believe the general consensus is OE pads are the best for 100's.

 

[spressomon]

I believe the general consensus is OE pads are the best for 100's.

Especially with stock rotors.

 

[1loudLX]

I had the TRD upgraded brake pads they sold for the 100, i liked the feel for them better, stopped a little better too. However that was summer of 05 and summer of 06 turns out TRD didnt feel like making them anymore. So im back to regular OE from toyota. I havent tried anything else, because i only want to put tried and tested parts in on something that im going to have to trust my life to.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Akebono is one of the OEM pad makers and they're pads are ceramic, according to their website. The TRD pads for the 3rd gen 4runner were carbon were Performance Friction carbon metallics w/ a different center slot (so they can claim they're exclusive).

 

[jp213a]

Akebono is one of the OEM pad makers and they're pads are ceramic, according to their website.

I was aware that Akebono Corp. was an OEM supplier to Toyota for brake pads and calipers. From their web site, they look like a first class company: http://www.akebonobrake.com/
Do you know if the OE Toyota pads are ceramic? If they are, I may stick with them but if not, I’ll order the Akebono ProACT ceramic pads through Tirerack.com. It looks like the ProACT’s come with anti-squeal shims.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I can't say for sure if the OEM pads are ceramic, but they don't create nearly as much dust as my OEM honda pads, and they certainly work better than the OEM 80-series pads. For OEM pads, they work pretty well. I wonder if they're even better w/ slotted rotors?

 

[LXPearl]

If you go with the ProACT, it would be good to hear how they work for you. I consider the OEM excellent, so I would be interested in the differences (+/-) with the ProACTs.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Anyone here try the OEM pads w/ a quality, aftermarket rotor?

 

[cary]

Do not use aftermarket, slotted and/or crossdrilled rotors. Crossdrilling rotors causes weaknesses in the rotors and cracking. There is no benifit to doing this. Slotting rotors helps keep the pads from glazing, but also can cause additional noise and vibration as well as pad wear. There is no point in doing it.

Ceramic pads are designed to cut down on brake dust and increase pad life. If you are looking for additional braking capacity power and/or capacity, they are not the place to look. For additional braking power and heat capacity (ability to continue functioning), take a look at the Hawk LTS. I have also heard good things about the Performance Friction carbon metallic pads.

 

[spressomon]

Slotting rotors helps keep the pads from glazing, but also can cause additional noise and vibration as well as pad wear. There is no point in doing it.

I disagree...based upon my actual experience using ART cryo'd and slotted rotors. However having said that I have seen rotors that were not slotted properly...that can lead to performance issues including cracking.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I'd disagree from my experiences, too. I've had good results w/ Powerslot rotors on my 4runner (slotted brembo blanks)...75K mi on them so far, and little sign of wear, no warping, excellent braking (porterfield R4s pads). I would not use cross-drilled rotors, though. Besides the potential cracking problems Cary mentions, you lose a significant amount of rotor surface area. It's mainly for looks. I was thinking about trying the Powerslot cryo ones in the rear of the LX in the future (at 90K mi), maybe w/ the carbon metallics. The Peformance friction carbon metallics are the same as the TRD pads for the 3rd gen 4runner with a different center slot design for TRD to claim exclusiveness.

 

[LX470Pilot]

Dunno if this will help, but I recently changed my brakes Fr/Rr, originally ordered ATE Premium One ceramics from TireRack, but they were out of stock, so one of their customer service guys called me and suggested Akebono ProACT ceramics as they were in-stock and "closer to OEM".

While I'm at it - not to make a commercial out of this, but TireRack's customer service is awesome.

 

[jp213a]

I recently changed my brakes Fr/Rr, Akebono ProACT ceramics.

Can you detect any perfromance difference between the ProACT ceramic pads and the original equipment pads? Is there any difference in feel, pulsation, noise, pedal pressure, or stopping power? I'm about ready to order the ProACT's from Tirerack but thought I'd get your feedback first.

 

[jp213a]

I can't say for sure if the OEM pads are ceramic,

I thought members might find my following correspondence with the Akebono sales manager of interest.

******************************************************************
Brian @ Akebono USA,
Can you tell me if the original equipment brake pads on a 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser were ceramic? I’d like to know what the difference is in the original pad friction material and the ProAct material.
Thanks,
Jim
******************************************************************
Jim,
No question this was a ceramic based friction....Asian imports have use nothing but ceramic compounds for the last ten years....could not tell you if Akebono was O.E. but I would venture to guess so....

The difference between the O.E. 2000 formulation and the ProACT are the enhancements that we do for the aftermarket pads such as chamfers, slots, post curing, shims where the O.E. pad may not have these enhancements due to cost....

Secondly, the ProACT formulation today may use a newer, up to date formulations that may have certain advantages over the 2000 formulation...

Hope this answers you question...
Best Regards,
Brian
Akebono Corporation
Central Regional Manager
http://www.akebonobrakes.com/aftermarket/proact/ceramic_disc_pads/features.html

 

[LX470Pilot]

Can you detect any perfromance difference between the ProACT ceramic pads and the original equipment pads? Is there any difference in feel, pulsation, noise, pedal pressure, or stopping power? I'm about ready to order the ProACT's from Tirerack but thought I'd get your feedback first.

Increased performance as would be expected from new brakes.

No pulsation or noise, increased pedal pressure (less pedal distance traveled before effective braking)

My last set had quite a bit of life left in them, but had begun to fade - which I partially attribute to needing to flush the brakelines.

Speaking of which, anybody know if the '00 LC/LX ABS system has a second stage resevoir isolated from the master-cylinder for E-stops and such?

In anycase, I would put the Akebono ProACT ceramics on par, maybe slightly above, OEM, but certainly not worse - and doing it yourself is definately cheaper than taking it to the dealer.

-LX Pilot

 

[NMuzj100]

Speaking of which, anybody know if the '00 LC/LX ABS system has a second stage resevoir isolated from the master-cylinder for E-stops and such.

Based on my reading of the FSM I would say yes. The Toyota scan tool is used during bleeding to activate components in the MC.


This front rotor thread also has great brake flushing info

Bleeding ABS systems (from Stoptech)