Time for Brakes. . .

[jlhansen]

Does anyone have any specific complaints against Autozone Duralast brakes for street use? I've had noise problems with them, but they're cheap and have a lifetime warranty. I would like to make the big brake conversion, but these are still plugging away after 85K miles so it's obvious that I'm not taxing them.

Comments welcomed. . .

[Oreo]

I think they're fine for street use. They're designed for maximum life specifically because they know they're going to have to replace them for free if they wear out. They do sacrifice some stopping power though. I just recently upgraded from those pads to the Mintex pads from BAT & I noticed a dramatic improvement in stopping ability.

[greentengu]

For generalized street use, I have no complaints about the Duralast--with a stock car driven modestly. They were certainly a reliable pad that had hardly any wear on them no matter what the use.

I was running the Duratec brakes up front and the Mintex brakes from BAT in my rear. During my insane commute home--in which every car on route 33 south (Bethlehem, PA) seems to think it's the Autobahn mixed with some crazy form of "Mad Max Driving Experience", I've often found myself having the need to brake, repeatedly, from high speeds, merging into traffic at 80 mph to avoid being kissed by an 18 wheeler doing the same (speed limit is 65 on this straightaway, but the downhill nature makes it more like a rocket sled launch pad for some).

At times, if I had a "panic stop" at speed--say, I chopped into the passing lane, only to have my the ghost of my Grandpa Jesse occupy the spot directly in front of me--the combination of Duralast/Mintex brakes simply did not stop me--as in, they had absolutely no "bite" whatsoever. None. Maybe a "nibble", or "peck". But did they "grab" the discs? Nope. They caressed the discs, they stroked them, but they sure as heck didn't "grab" anything. In one case, I had to just swerve into the left hand lane to avoid hitting the rear bumper of the car in front of me, and found it more judicious to employ the highly foolish yet expedient method of just slamming my car down a gear and passing them--after my brain processed the whole, "Car...not...slowing!!!" thought.

In other words, worked hard, at high speeds, the combination of the two just didn't do it for me.

For ordinary street driving to and from the grocery store, with little to no spirited driving, they're great stuff. For that commute with all those cul-de-sac cowboys in their SUVs, faux Fitipaldis in their sports cars, and Speed Racer-ish "Mammoth Cars", well...

--Scott

[greentengu]

double post. Whoops.

--Scott

[jlhansen]

Okay, thanks. I've used them for years on other cars with only noise as the complaint. I use them now in the Toyota mini-van and they're reasonable. I just didn't want already noisy brakes to squeal like a banshee if these glaze easily.

I want to swap to SVTs, but I can't afford the new wheels I'd need. The '05 is supposed to be bigger than the earlier models, so that's probably why the thing works so well with the stockers. It's tempting to just get a fresh set from Steve. I'll have to consider. . .

Again, thanks for the opinions.