What do we like for DD-quality brakes again?

The Cherokee is about due for front rotors and pads and I am a bit confounded sorting through all the various options on RockAuto. I know I've heard lots of positive comments from the Hive regarding Centric, so I'm leaning towards one of their products, but which? It seems there are at least 3 tiers of Centric products (C-TEC, 'Premium', and Posi-Quiet) before even getting into the Stoptech branded E36 M3, and each has both ceramic and semi-metallic options.

Given that this vehicle is at basically "beater deluxe" status and seems intent on gradually, but steadily, falling apart, I'm inclined to go with the cheapest possible option, the C-TEK rotors and semi metallic pads at under $50 combined. That being said, it's not much of a jump up to any of the other options, so I could be dissuaded.

For what it's worth, I do not tow or haul any significant amount of weight with this vehicle, nor does it see anything that remotely qualifies as performance driving, nor do I give 2 E36 M3s about dust/noise/ect. Thoughts?

Hint: They all mostly come from the same Chinese or Indian factories, some just have slightly better QA processes and occasionally treatments.

Get the cheapest and make sure the pads are bedded properly and you should be fine.

I like Autozone Gold pads for DD use. They seem to be as good as any other, and they have a lifetime warranty. It helps that there are 3 Autozones within 10 miles of my house. So I can pull a set off, go get a new set for free, install them, and be on my way in a couple of hours.

I've had good experiences with the Centric C-Tek stuff.

Centric ctek is what I run lately on the daily driver. Work great!

There was a mom n pop here that sold rotors and ceramic pads for $75 an axle, that was my go to for years.

Actually I think I'm running stopteks on the Vic right now. They were cheap enough, and if I bothered doing the rears they'd be pretty good.

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

I've run those before and they've been decent, but IIRC when I checked a couple weeks ago were several times the price of the C-TEKs. I pretty much certainly will not wear through enough sets of pads to make up the difference

So C-TEK it is then! Thanks guys!

Not sure about for your truck, but for daily driver cars, I use Akebono Euro Pros on everything. Not too expensive, good feel and fade resistance at all normal temperatures, not noisy, and very low dust.

Duke wrote: Not sure about for your truck, but for daily driver cars, I use Akebono Euro Pros on everything. Not too expensive, good feel and fade resistance at all normal temperatures, not noisy, and very low dust.

Quoted for truth.

Centric 125xxx rotors and PosiQuiet pads. The 125 part number designates their "Super premium" high iron rotor.

I bought TRWs for the Fiat off Amazon for $35 an axle. They seem to be exactly like the pads I took off and had all the clips included.

Centric rotors and Akebono or Carbotech pads. Bosch brake pads are not very good, I won't be making that mistake again.

I use Centric stuff. StopTech on my DD, PosiQuite on WifeCar.

I'm going to quote Javelin here regarding the other stuff:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/teach-me-brake-pads/107299/page1/

Javelin wrote: (Warning, Parts Rep rant) I would not ever put any "house brand" (AZ/O'Reilly/NAPA/Advance) pads on, regardless of whether or not they are of the Gold/Ultra Premium variety. They are made at dozens of different manufacturers, and you literally have no idea what you are actually getting in the box. It may be a good pad, it also equally may be complete garbage. Stick with a name brand that actually manufacturers their own pads. I've been running Performance Friction pads on DD's since 06 and really like their wear, minimal dusting, low noise, and good bite. PowerStop, Bosch, and EBC are all good as well. Full disclosure - I was a rep for NAPA for 2 years and loathed their brakes, I actually told my shops not to buy them knowing the truth. I now rep for a small independent parts store (CLAP, search the forum) and rep Centric brakes, which are based in California and owned by StopTech. I love their PosiQuiet pads, even for up to autocross use.

Last brake job I did I ended up using Raybestos Element3 pads and Centric rotors. Little on the pricey end, but brakes are important, right?

Seems to be working out. Amazon.

It seems like old vehicles get a case of sticky sliders more often than newer cars. For that reason I follow the Tom Spangler technique and when the Suburban inevitably eats a brake pad I get new ones for free. So they may have cost more initially but I've gotten two new sets for the front since then.

Something to be said for having an actual brick and mortar location to take my failed parts to.

I've willingly done brake jobs for friends. The Raybestos Advanced pads and rotors always seem to hold up pretty well for a reasonable price and I used them on my old 4Runner and Vue.

My wife's car gets EBC pads and Centric rotors. I'm debating trying out EpicFriction on the MS3 when its pads are due shortly.

I used cheap Bosch on the TSX. They seem to be working fine.

Centric premium rotors and Centric PosiQuiet pads for wifey. Centric premium rotors and Hawk HPS pads for me.

I prefer Centric Premium rotors, any of their pads are good. The last (and ONLY) set of Centric C-TEK rotors I bought, my parents managed to warp in 3k miles, while the Premiums are fine under their care. Last time I tried to save $60 for them.

porterfield R4S

Another vote for Centric c-tek and premium stuffs!

NAPA rotors, NAPA Safety-Stops (blue box) for pads.

Absolutely zero comebacks using this formula for over ten years now.

Although I am using Pagid pads on my Volvo because, well, Pagid. And they were like $10 for the set on the rear.

I had the Ultra Premium ceramics on my Nissan, and they suuuuuucked. They didn't work at all when wet or cold. They worked okay when I would be a d-bag and left foot brake until there was brake smoke roiling from the wheel wells, but this was mostly because I didn't want to unbolt the throttle on that power monster that was the GA16i, and I thought purple-overheated rotors were neet looking.

(wow... I used to actually own and drive a Nissan. I almost forgot that!)

I run stop tech rotors and whatever pas they sell with those... evolution or some E36 M3 on the DD focus. Wife's DD SUV gets AutoZone gold pads and rotors and they have been very good, will buy again. Miata currently needs all the of parts mentioned above

I have been using NAPA Adaptive One brake pads for many years, I get about 80K miles from a set and they stop great. I have even used the NAPA pads on two different track cars with good results.

Paul B