I'm sure you all have beaten this up already, but a quick check didn't reveal a more-recent discussion on the topic of Ford's brake dust issue on earlier models of the 2004-2008 body style 150's, Expeditions, etc. I'm at that point where I need to replace the stock front pads on my 2004 4X4 F150 Lariat with something that doesn't dust so bad that I have to wash my wheels two times a week. I don't want a fancy (and pricey) racing pad, just a good everyday pad that won't dust or cause any other unforeseen braking issues. I'll spec and cut my rotors with whatever pad I choose. Oh, and while I'm asking, are the little orange specs all over my truck from the rotors or from the pads? Nasty little buggers to clean off a white truck... THANK YOU!

 

Wagner TQs. Best I've found.

 

EBC 7000's are the best...but they're pricey. Wagners are the best 'bang for the buck'.

 

I swapped to CarQuest Blue pads and the dust went away. It was a good choice, I'll do it again on the screw I just bought.

 

Yeah the majority of people on this site recommend Wagner Thermo Quiets..... I have heard arguments for the Akebono ProAct & EBR pads though.

No matter what you get it will be better than stock I think!

 

Termoquiet.

 

Wagner thermo quiet semi metallics.

 

You know what's interesting and I have yet to get answered (and sure it wont get answered in this thread either)? Semi-metallics are the unanimous recommendation for the WTQ's...got it! But, when you take into consideration our (meaning us guys here on the forum) uses, request, and demands for a brake pad, especially the requirement for low/zero dust, it overwhelmingly points to ceramics and yet hardly anyone gets the ceramics. Why??

 

Maybe for some, not for others.

I love the function and less dust of the WTQ semi metallics I have. Stops my big 22's well and perfect for my needs.

I have no use for ceramic pads.

 

You literally just made my point for me...your focus is clearly on brake dust and stopping big wheels. Ceramics should have less dust and stop better than a counterpart semi-metallic. This is exactly what I was referring to.

Please expand why you "have no use for ceramic pads" I'm sincerely not baggin...I'm literally trying to learn and find out why.

 

OK, so it sounds like the choice is to go semi-metallic Wagner TQ's. However, since someone brought up the Ceramic issue, what is the reason to go Ceramics? Seems like everyone talks them up, but I have yet to hear anyone give any reasons why. More so, I am really interested in avoiding the inevitable orange specs (more commonly referred to as "Rail Dust") on my white truck and would opt for ceramics if that would eliminate that issue. That said, my body shop friend say's it's simply from the rotors and possibly from semi-metallic pads... Any thoughts on this??

 

Ceramics have gotten a bad wrap on forums (not actually from any reliable source) for a couple of bad reasons...they are supposedly rough on rotors. Back in the day, ceramics also required some 'warm-up' before they were truly effective. However, both of these issues have gone the way of the dodo bird with advances in technology and materials over the past few years, and both these issues are completely unsubstantiated. I've contacted several brake companies like Stop-Tech, PowerSlot, TireRack, etc through e-mail to ask for their thoughts and it's almost always ceramics they recommend. Ceramics theoretically should be superior in brake dust, stopping capability, heat, and wear, and I believe noise also. Do some research outside of forums and see what gets turned up...forums are the only place you'll find negativity about ceramics. To add to this, I don't think there's anyone on here that's actually compared both back to back to provide sound feedback.

Please guys, don't take this the wrong way and jump on me...I'm not bagging on the semi's. Obviously they're the bee's knee's or else everyone wouldn't be running them and ranting and raving about them...I'm just throwing out some dialog that doesn't get addressed.

The biggest issue we talk about when it comes to brakes is dust. Based on that, and that alone, you would think all of us would be out buying ceramics because they are lower dust than semi's. That's a fact...sky is blue, grass is green, ceramics are lower dust than a comparable semi metallic. And yet we don't. We get comments like "I have no use for ceramic pads" without further explanation or reasoning. And I'm not flaming you Stealth...everyone does that. That's why I asked what foundation that decision was made on? I'm assuming most of us on here have not gone with ceramics because of the whole rotor issue...only thing I can think of...or fear of the unknown.

 

Another factor you failed to bring up is price. Ceramics cost more.

I've never tried ceramic pads. Like I said I have no need to, and someone else saying their ceramic pads stop better and are less dusty than my semi metallic pads means nothing to me considering mine stop great and are not dusty.

 

Yes, you are correct...I did fail to mention that ceramics do in fact cost more. I priced both the Wagner TQ ceramics and semi's at O'Reilly's auto parts...the ceramics are $2.00 more per set, so a total of $8 by the time you did all four wheels.

 

Yep, just enough for some good celebration beer after you're through installing. Well worth the savings.