I'm needing new brakes up front on my 05 FX4. I'm gonna buy new rotors and pads but wanted to get your guys' opinions first. What do you have experience with or suggest I buy?? Thanks for the help.

 

Wagner thermoquiet brake pads is what I use and I love them, and many other members on here will recommend them. As for rotors, you will be fine with a set of OE quality rotors from an auto parts store, unless you do a lot of heavy towing, then you can step up to drilled/slotted rotors for better performance.

 

Powerstop ZR16 ceramic pads and Powerstop drilled and slotted rotors have worked great for me for over 7 years.

 

With regards to brake linings in general,

Ceramics: They are good but do not develop any more friction than good quality OEM linings

Performance Friction & Hawk: Good braking, increased friction but very dirty compared to OEM.

Wagner & Raybestos: a line of products that is 100% marketing and mfg from very low quality/inexpensive and/or imported products with the mfg's not providing any back-up or support on product failures (and I mean real ugly spontaneous, catestropihic failures)

VelveTouch lining- Used for many decades and was the original lining used in all Shelby Mustangs in the 60’s (I personally have used the Velvetouch lining since 1960’s until brake lining production ceased in 1986), then switched to Carbo. Wellman has been the builder of braking linings for all of the Formula 1 race teams for more than 30 years and VT is now available again.

CarboTech Engineering lining, which I have used for about 15+ years and been very happy on multiple full size (V8) cars and trucks. This particular lining has a high friction co-efficient, excellent pedal feel, wears (typically 50,000 to 75,000 miles before replacement is required) and produces less dust than OEM linings.

EBC also makes an excellent organic lining......almost dust free with excellent co-efficient.

I highly recommend speaking to them by phone for linings that would be best for your application.

and fyi- braking co-efficient is what identifies tha bite rating of the linings- you want the CE to be no less than that of the OEM.....this will drive most e-base distributors & big box store "experts" right out of their mind because they either cannot verify this info or you will find the spec is less than oem. IMHO, i would look for a CE that is .49 or greater.

With regards to rotors, I have previously run Brembo OEM replacement rotors that are cryogenically treated at Diversified Cryogenics, making them almost as hard as stainless steel- Applied Rotor Technology in California provides the same product- but I would not rely on their delivery as it is essentially a 1 person shop owned/run by a Boeing engineer who works back east, travels alot and works at ART on weekends the last of my phone conversations with him). Unfortunately, Brembo, Powerslot, Raybestos, Bendix, Hawk etc. are all purchasing their rotors from the same foundary in China (with the exception of the $300 each composite high end units for Ferrari, Porsche, etc).

Both companies purchase the highest grade rotors made, laser mic them for quality, scrap the ones that are out of spec and cryogenically treat the good ones which are now as strong as stainless. They will also slot and cross drill the rotors for you. DC's service, price and quality are excellent as well.

For street use, slotted/drilled rotors are just “cheese-graters” for the brake pads IMHO, because unless you are involved in true racing conditions, the brake linings do not produce the gases which slotted/drilled rotors are designed to relive. In some cases, brake testing indicated reduce brake efficiency in street-based operations using slotted/drilled rotors when equal comparisons were made. The staff at DC & ART can speak to you as well regarding those options, but I am very satisfied with the performance & wear of these products.

 

Here is what I have found through many different sets of brake pads and rotors, I have gotten the best results using EBC rotors and their Greenstuff truck/suv pads along with Castrol GTX LMA brake fluid and stainless steel braided lines. The only way to get drastically better braking is to spend thousands on a big brake kit.

I have been very pleased with the above setup on my truck.

 

I always go with Napa Gold rotors and pads low dust and no change in pedal feel. Actually I like the way my truck stops better then my fusion which still has the factory pads and rotors.

 

I would HIGHLY recommend brakeperformance.com slotted & drilled rotors with zinc plating. Top Shelf quality and a very low price. They also come with a rotor/hub conversion if you are 2wd to convert your front rotors to a seperate rotor hub like the 4wd. For pads save your money. I've tried EBC green stuff, hawk, napa, & Porterfield racing. The best Ive found for low dust rotor friendly stopping power are Akebono. Hope my wasted money can save you some.

 

The Akebono are good pads but the EBC Greenstuff Truck/SUV pads are superior for the that application. I run EBC on my trukc and the Akebono on the Stang.

 

+1 for BP zinc plated rotors. They look much better and I haven't had any issues with them. And they come balanced from the manufacturer. 2+ years so far, and no issues.

Also, stay away from ceramic pads. Not worth the benefit of less dust/noise or whatever they claim especially for trucks.

Make sure you also properly bed in your new rotors/pads, as you can also receive harshness from brand new rotors/pads if you don't break them in.

http://brakeperformance.com/bedding-in-rotors.php

 

RichardD---Thats funny I had EBC green stuff with drilled slotted rotors on my 07. Very Dissappointed . As much if not more dust than the akebonos. EBC's were extremely hard on the rotors, Akebono's quite the opposite. To top it all off the akebono pads are half the price. I don't know if you actually have seen the companys brake pad "formulas" . I only know what I've seen with my own eyes.

 

Nope but what I do know is everyone is different in as far as the way they use their brakes. Some people do not know how to make any brake pad and rotor combo last and are just brutally hard on brakes, while other people know how to brake and not destroy brakes within a matter of weeks because of their driving styles. I know what works for me. I can say without a doubt that I will never ever use Hawk Brake pads or Powerslot rotors as they both seriously suck.

I did say the Aekbono pads are good in case you missed that. I run them on my Mustang. But for my truck I have found the EBC pads and rotors work best for me.

Those brakeperformance.com rotors look like Centric Rotors.

 

I would just pick Ford OEM's parts. They worked for you for how many years/miles?

 

I just purchased some Zinc coated Dimpled and slotted premium rotors from brakeperformance.com on friday. My front and rear rotors are warped to hell right now. OEM rotors suck horribly. My boss with an 05 F150 machined his front rotors 3 times before going to Napa drilled and slotted front rotors which have yet to warp. Once mine started warping bad I figured I would let the pads wear more before I just replace them and install aftermarket rotors. Now my front rotors are so bad any speed I brake they shake the steering wheel. The rears have been bad for a while due to burn outs at the track and hard braking there too.

Anyway I'm excited to finally have no more warped rotors once my fronts and rears with new pads show up. Price was excellent as fronts normally suck being they have the hub in them. I also ordered some Caliper covers (that people either love or hate) as I am tired of massive brake dust and ugly colored calipers.

 

Extremely well said. The EBC 7000's are still my favorite also, even when compared back to back with the infamous Wagner ThermoQuiets. But, I'm currently using powerslot rotors with the Wagner pads right now and they work great. I'm seeing zero negative results contributed from the rotors. When these Wagners wear out though, I'll turn my PowerSlots and be going back to EBC pads.

Richard...what do you use on the back since EBC doesn't make a 7000 series for the rear axle? I used the 6000 series last set (still GreenStuff), and they did really well, just more dust than the front was the only problem I had from them. I wish EBC would make a matching set for the rear.

 

I've got drum brakes out back and just use a Raybestos Premium shoe.