Which BRAKE pads to get?

[Dhanu]

I want to replace all 4 brake pads in my Toyota Avalon 2000 XLS.
- My daily driving is less than 3-4 miles with max spped only around 30-40mph
- Less than dozen times for year on interstate with a distance above 50miles.
- In Kansas. So we do get snow but only few times per year
- I'll sell the car in another 3-4 years max. I don't think I'll put anything more than 15,000 miles till then

I looked in Autozone and they have 3 types of Duralast brake pads
- Duralast Gold Cmax - $55 per pair
- Duralast Gold - $37 per pair
- Duralast - $20 per pair

Which one should I get?
Is there a point in going for the Gold or Cmax? or is it just a marketing trick?

Thanks in advance

[Zembonez]

They are brake pads. They are not break pads. They brake your car...

Just sayin'

I personally like the Ceramic Pads.

[Dhanu]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

They are brake pads. They are not break pads. They brake your car...
Just sayin'
I personally like the Ceramic Pads.

lol.... I noticed it only now

[Zembonez]

Originally Posted by Dhanu

lol.... I noticed it only now

Sorry... pet peeve of mine.

Those Duralast Gold Cmax pads are probably their ceramic offering. I love the ceramics because they stop well, leave almost no residue on your wheels and last a long time. Can't say I've used the Autozone brand, but most of those are reboxed Wagner pads from what I've seen. A little more expensive but worth it to me.

[Dhanu]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

Sorry... pet peeve of mine.

Those Duralast Gold Cmax pads are probably their ceramic offering. I love the ceramics because they stop well, leave almost no residue on your wheels and last a long time. Can't say I've used the Autozone brand, but most of those are reboxed Wagner pads from what I've seen. A little more expensive but worth it to me.

Thanks.
residue on your wheels - is there any reason why I need to worry about it? or is it more a a pure aesthetic thing? Wheels are anyway covered by dust

last a long time - How long are we talking about? 15k? 30k?

[Zembonez]

Originally Posted by Dhanu

Thanks.
residue on your wheels - is there any reason why I need to worry about it? or is it more a a pure aesthetic thing? Wheels are anyway covered by dust

last a long time - How long are we talking about? 15k? 30k?

I've gotten 75K out of ceramics on my company cars. I do a lot of highway driving but there is quite a bit of city mixed in there. I'd say they lasted about 40% longer than regular pads for me.

[kingnba6]

i would go with ceramic. ive even heard of some companies offering lifetime warranty or something like that

[Dhanu]

Originally Posted by Zembonez

I've gotten 75K out of ceramics on my company cars. I do a lot of highway driving but there is quite a bit of city mixed in there. I'd say they lasted about 40% longer than regular pads for me.

Ahh... so without a doubt I can use the $20 one for at least 15-20k miles

[Dhanu]

Autozone site mentioned 'Limited Lifetime' warranty for all 3.

When I read some forums it seems like the ceramic ones makes less noise and less residue, but non-ceramic ones performs better (safer). Is this true?
or at least from a safety stand point are they the same?

[kingnba6]

i remember reading that ceramic needs more time to actually stop the car as compared to new brake pads

[Zembonez]

I've always found that cheap pads end up squeaking and make way too much brake dust... I have not noticed any diminished braking when going to ceramic pads.

Here is some info from the web and a link for you.

Ceramic formula brake pads use ceramic compounds and copper fibers in place of the semi-metallic pad's steel fibers. This allows the ceramic pads to handle high brake temperatures with less heat fade, provide faster recovery after the stop, and generate less dust and wear on both the pads and rotors. And from a comfort standpoint, ceramic compounds provide much quieter braking.

Another characteristic that makes ceramic materials attractive is the absence of noticeable dust. All brake pads produce dust as they wear. The ingredients in ceramic compounds produce a light colored dust that is much less noticeable and less likely to stick to the wheels. Consequently, wheels and tires maintain a cleaner appearance longer.

Ceramic pads meet or exceed all original equipment standards for durability, stopping distance and noise. According to durability tests, ceramic compounds extend brake life compared to most other semi-metallic and organic materials and outlast other premium pad materials by a significant margin - with no sacrifice in noise control, pad life or braking performance.

http://www.brakeworld.com/ceramic-brake-pads.asp