Good brake pads that would be at autozone or other brick and mortar?

[Red Nightmare]

I am not fond of buying stuff online if I don't have to.

 

The last set of brake pads i got were from the junkyard. I was broke. Anyways I have no clue what is on there now but they really suck. My brake just don't have any bite to them. They work well for casual stopping but if I had to make a quick stop, it is hopeless. I am guessing I ended up with those autozone "valuecrap" pads. No telling what I got except they fit. I have bled the brakes, changed the fluid, etc...

 

So from the brakes, i would like mostly to have decent stopping power. Brake dust is not a huge concern cause I clean my car and wheels weekly anyways.

 

So for places like autozone, napa, or advance auto, what should I look into for a fair price? Something with bite is what I want.

[Psych0matt]

I've never had any issues with crap brake pads? Not trying to derail your thread or anything, just saying maybe it could be more than pads too

[urbex]

The only thing I've ever noticed with crappier pads is they may be noisy and dustier. Like Matt said, you may have something else going on that's an issue.

[Schurkey]

I've never had any issues with crap brake pads? Not trying to derail your thread or anything, just saying maybe it could be more than pads too

 

First Guess: Not the pads.

 

Second Guess: Defective power booster.

 

Both my '92 and my '93 Luminas had defective boosters. I think it's a problem of epidemic proportions; but without any genuine research to back up that theory.

 

Typical symptoms: Car stops. Pedal doesn't sink, isn't low 'n' squishy. No visible leaks. No brake fade. No shudder, no squealing. Booster holds vacuum; engine runs fine. Takes both feet to make a panic stop.

 

http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/32510-Hard-brake-pedal-no-stopping-power

[White93z34]

His sig says he has a 94, which means updated booster that is not prone to failure like the early ones are.

 

Could be junk pads. I had some red box Duracrap pads that were so awful I took them off and got my money back. First and only time I ever did that.

[ricklovin93]

Unlike anybody else I will answer the question you asked advance auto Carries the wearever brand I use the silvers which are the best bang for the buck only 18 buck for all four front pad they last four about a year or so autozone carries the duralast and valuecraft brand I believe but I always stick with the wearevers

[rich17]

I worked at Napa and thier Safety Stop brand is a good midlevel pad. Theyre probally 40 bucks but IMO you should never skimp out on brakes. I use their AdaptiveOne pads which are a hybrid ceramic/metalic and love them. The dont dust to bad and run good while autocrossing.

[Red Nightmare]

The pedal itself feels fine.

 

I will probably go with the wearever pads, even if that doesn't remedy the situation, I think I paid $3 for the last set of pads at the junkyard so I am not worried about that.

 

I also need to check the wear pattern on the front pads to see if there is any awkward wear that would hint to the exact problem if not the pads.

 

It is just weird cause normal braking is not an issue at all but trying to stop quick it won't.

Basically the pedal feels the same as my room mate's toyota except that car, when the brakes are hit fast, jerks the car to a sudden stop that would break your neck and activate the ABS even on a dry road.

[Crazy K]

I prefer to use the Duralast Gold pads, lifetime warrenty has been used many many many many many many many times now. Every car I have has them now. I tried the regular duralast ones, and they sucked monkey balls by comparison and pretty much had glazed over with no sign of wear after 25,000 miles. I turned those in and upgraded to the duralast gold ones and made stopping possible they should be equivalent to the wearever pads from Advance.

[LuminaPower92]

I usually do Gm pads, with delco rotors.