Brake Pad Time

[capt512]

Hey Everyone,
Its brake time on my 03 MM, so I am planning to do pads, rotors, and SS lines (as well as paint calipers). The car currently has ceramic pads on it and stopping is so so. However the brakes don't squeal at all...and I love that.

On my 01 CVPI I had drilled and slotted rotors and Hawk HPS fronts with Hawk Ceramic rears. The stopping power was average, but they squealed often. (even with squeal stop on them). My 00 CVPI has wagner thermoquiets and they don't squeal as much but still do squeal every so often.

The squealing drives me nuts so I'm thinking my only hope to get rid of that is to go back to ceramics. However I want the best stopping ceramic I can get. My driving consist of 90% city driving 45mph and slower usually, 3 mile trips average. So the brakes don't really heat up a whole lot (no autocrossing or drag racing so far).

I searched some of the older posts and the Napa pads seem highly recommended, are these ceramic? Any other recommendations for pads? I am planning on getting my rotors through R1 (have had good luck with them multiple times in the past) and thier only pads appear to be Centric, Ctek, Hawk, OEM, Posi Quiet, R1 Concepts, and Stoptech...dont know if any of these are good if not, I can just go the napa or other route?

Thanks

[NonaDAbove]

I've been using Performance Friction carbon metallics on my Grand Marquis for over 10 years, and I swear by 'em. I just picked up a front and rear set for the Marauder (part numbers are 0931.20 for the fronts, and 0932.20 for the rears.) I got them for dirt-cheap on Rotorsandpads.com.

Haven't had the chance to put them on yet, but they are the only pads I've ever had that grab harder when they're hot.

[capt512]

My hawk pads grabbed hard when hot but didn't grab well at all when cold...and since most of my trips are short I need cold grabbing more than hot usually.

How is the noise with the performance friction?

[gdsqdcr]

I ran Hawks in my SHO's forma decade plus. Cold stop, average, hot stop awesome. Never had them squeal either, even after a day on the track.

[kmastl]

I've been using Performance Friction carbon metallics on my Grand Marquis for over 10 years, and I swear by 'em. I just picked up a front and rear set for the Marauder (part numbers are 0931.20 for the fronts, and 0932.20 for the rears.) I got them for dirt-cheap on Rotorsandpads.com.

Haven't had the chance to put them on yet, but they are the only pads I've ever had that grab harder when they're hot.

This is what I am running. Found a good deal on them on ebay, got ss brake lines from TCE and turned the oem rotors for ~250 invested it is a good improvement over stock.

I havent noticed them making any noise at all just as quiet as oem to me.

[RoyLPita]

Napa Ceramix FTW.

[capt512]

gds - wierd, I have had two sets of hawk HPS pads and both squeal about 50% of the time. 1 set squealed 100% of the time. May have to look at the performance friction and Napa ceramix

[capt512]

RoyLpita - You wouldn't happen to know the part number for the Ceramix would you? I am looking on the NAPA site but the only Napa brand ceramic I see is Ultra Premium OE Ceramic and don't know if thats the Ceramix pads or not?

Looked up an old thread with part number CMX7834 for the Ceramix but on Napa's site that part doesn't show up.

I also plan on getting the SS lines on here and installing at the same time. So I plan to bleed the brakes etc, will ATE Super Blue fluid work? It says exceeds all DOT4 specs and is not silicone, http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-3814-ate-super-blue-brake-fluid-1-liter.aspx?utm_source=goog_pro duct&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=ATESB seems like it would make seeing the new fluid easier.

The motive power bleeder seems to be the recommended 1 person bleeder on here, but do I need the Ford dealership bleed since its ABS or just bleed it like normal?

[capt512]

Anybody know the current Ceramix part number, my napa dealer couldn't find them with the part number listed...

Will ATE Super blue fluid work?

Do I need the dealership ABS bleed or just bleed with power bleeder?

[fastblackmerc]

Anybody know the current Ceramix part number, my napa dealer couldn't find them with the part number listed...

Will ATE Super blue fluid work?

Do I need the dealership ABS bleed or just bleed with power bleeder?

You can gravity bleed the system.

ATE fluid is OK, no use to spend extra though.

Any DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid can be used.

[capt512]

I had planned to use the motive power bleeder (since I will be doing this as a 1 man unit) just making sure.

The only reason I looked at the ATE super blue was I figured it would make it easier to see all the old fluid come out.

[fastblackmerc]

I had planned to use the motive power bleeder (since I will be doing this as a 1 man unit) just making sure.

The only reason I looked at the ATE super blue was I figured it would make it easier to see all the old fluid come out.

Your old fluid will look dark brown / black. The new fluid will be clear / light tan in color.