Noob question 1: Ceramic brake pads

[dayton.reed]

I was told that ceramic brake pads should be silent. I replaced all pads this Christmas and had the rotors turned (stock, I assume; they had bearly enough meat to turn this time). Everything felt good and was silent until a couple weeks ago when I started hearing a mid-pitched humming around 5-10 mph under light to moderate braking, especially when I pull into parking spaces, wheel turned. The sound seemed to come mostly from the rear, but i heard it from the front yesterday. It goes away if I let off or clamp down on the brakes. I'm not sure if this is relevant, but you know how porcelain feels when you rub your hand across it (*shudder*)? I can perceive a similar feeling in the brakes when I'm slowing in those conditions. (That's almost enough to give me nightmares, just thinking about it).
They are Raybestos Advanced Technology.

[00Beast]

Sounds like your rotors are just barely warped. This will probably get worse over time. I'm not a fan of turning rotors, especially if they were warped. You're removing material from basically a heat-sink, so it will get hotter quicker, causing it to deform, aka warping. It sounds like you're going to have to replace the rotors soon-ish.

[dayton.reed]

That makes sense. I was strapped for cash when I had the brakes done, so I wanted them turned, rather than buying cheap, low quality rotors. I figured I'd be replacing them in the not-too-distant future. Is it true that ceramics are a little hard on the stock rotors, anyway?

Any suggestions on rotors? I figure that using this car as a delivery vehicle warrants rotors slightly stronger than daily driver. Drilled and/or slotted is probably excessive . The Raybestos Advanced Technology rotors have a no-turn guarantee, are are not far off in price from the Delco daily driver rotors. On Rockauto they're $51.79 apiece front and $31.79 apiece rear. What do you guys think?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

All the inexpensive rotors for these cars are pretty much the same thing in a different box, so buy them on price and warranty. I'm pretty sure there's a cheap line that EVERY brand uses that comes in a white box with the different brand sticker on it, and 1 or 2 mid-level lines that again every brand sticks into their own box. Now an EBC or other mega-$$$ rotor is different, but that's getting into a specialty maker making for a different market entirely.

Ceramic pads aren't any harder on rotors than non-ceramic pads. Some semi-metallic pads are harder on pads than ceramic pads due to the different friction material used. I've used ceramic pads exclusively on my Buick with excellent braking and zero noise. They only last 30k miles each time thanks to using slotted rotors. With blank rotors the pads should last quite a bit longer.

[00Beast]

I have EBC Slotted rotors on my car with no complaints. I agree, go based on price and warranty. Have you looked on Rock Auto? Don't forget the Pontiac Bonneville Club discount.

[onesidered]

What is the "Pontiac Bonneville Club discount"?

[harofreak00]

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=8&t=1677

[wjcollier07]

I've heard a load of complaints about the raybestos advanced technology line entirely, including their rotors. Noise, brake fade, warpage. etc.

I'd suggest even Delco Advantage rotors over the Ray AT rotors. Obviously better is always suggested. Power Slot Cryo treated rotors is definitely my suggestion.