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The EBCs that came on the car need to be changed and I have no experience with this car's brake system. I'd guess that ceramics are the way to go but, there are SO MANY brands/choices. I can find Wearever Platinum, Wagner Thermo-quiet, Duralast Gold or Napa's Adaptive One pads locally over the counter and wonder if any of these are good enough for a very tame driving style but will perform when needed in a panic stop. The Advance auto also carries Akebono, they any good ?

Hawk HPS for performance. But be warned, they get the wheels dirty. Such is the price for performance.

Otherwise any Napa, Bendix, or other high quality ceramic will do. There have been many a brake threads in this section.

Thanks ! I did a search but, my skills are pretty lame when it comes to doing targeted searches.

I have used the Akebono pads on every Bonneville I have owned and I've owned quite a few. I currently have them on my 05 GXP and I won't use anything else anymore.

I put AC Delco ceramics on my GXP right after buying it because the other pads were dusting up the wheels something terrible.
The most I can say about them is that the dust is now gone, and they are quiet and work well, I just haven't gotten many miles on them to give a better review of them at this time.

Leon

Akobono ProACT (part # ACT1019) and call it a day. Very good bite and wear characteristics, easier on the rotors, and not particularly expensive. Mine have done 30,000 miles (50k km) on *shoot* $30 AutoZone rotors that should have warped by now. I credit a good pad for such long life. I also see occasional autocross/race duty and they have held up.

Relatively speaking, they will dust considerably less than the Hawk Performance Ceramics, but offer the vast majority of the performance. Both will still be light years ahead of the factory setup.

Well, as soon as I posted my thread, a whole bunch of similar threads were linked at the bottom of this page ! Anyway, I ended up getting NAPA Adaptive One hybrid pads for $55 + tax. These suckers are a lot bigger than my SLE fronts are. Hybrid = ceramic & semi metallic combined; according to the packaging. Hope they stop okay and aren't too dusty! Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll try something else next, no doubt. (if I keep this car that long)

Arrowhead wrote: Well, as soon as I posted my thread, a whole bunch of similar threads were linked at the bottom of this page ! Anyway, I ended up getting NAPA Adaptive One hybrid pads for $55 + tax. These suckers are a lot bigger than my SLE fronts are. Hybrid = ceramic & semi metallic combined; according to the packaging. Hope they stop okay and aren't too dusty! Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll try something else next, no doubt. (if I keep this car that long)

Actually dropped those pads on my GXP fronts this weekend, as well as new Raybestos rotors. Have been taking it pretty easy so far, so I can't comment on braking power, but I know that they are alot quieter and smoother than whatever pads were on there! (OK, new rotors helped that too )

Good luck!

I decided to go with the Hawk HPs on mine and Power Slot Cryo treated rotors. The rotors last a lot longer than stock or cheap replacements There is also a hawk performance that causes less dust but it does not have as "good braking power". I can live with a little dust.

^^^ You will be living with a lot of dust, not a little. The wheels will need a wipe down after every drive lol... Ceramics are the way to go, as last I checked, no one uses their Bonnevilles at a road course so the performance will be good for normal driving... Even the ceramics will dust a little, but anything metallic or hybrid will dust a lot! I had metallics on for a short time and got sick of cleaning the black thickened dust off the inside of the wheels.

Yes!

I clean mine daily. Both on the Bonneville when I had it, as well as the Caddy (which I also have HPS pads). However, the Caddy isn't nearly as bad as the Bonneville was. The Bonneville was so bad, I cruise around the block and they needed a wipe down.

But regardless, they work phenomenal.

PaulyGXP wrote:last I checked, no one uses their Bonnevilles at a road course

Check again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJCYnZ7ar30

And even not taking it ao auto-x course, I drive extremely aggressively.

I discovered a little pouch of grease included with the Adaptive One/ NAPA shoes, what/where do they want to be greased ? Most pads I've gotten in recent years required that absolutely nothing be applied to the pad backs, ears, or anti-friction bushings. I wonder if it's for lubing the guide pins or, possibly for applying to the backs of the pads. Anyone know what "they" want to be done with that grease pack ?

I apply it (or just anti-seize) to the pad ears and behind the clips where they go on the bracket. I use my own tube of dedicated brake caliper grease for the slider pins.

Apply it to the ears where the pads will slide. I also use high-temp synthetic brake grease on the pins. Also ensure the pads slide freely, if they don't, you'll need to file down the tabs a bit so they slide easily. If the pads didn't come with new clips, buy new ones as well.

I have the Adaptive One pads on the rear of my Ei, and no complaints as far as dust and/or performance.

It's a cushioning compound that helps keep the pads from vibrating at a high frequency, metal to metal against the piston face (or even contact points potentially on the caliper), which is what the squeal you hear when you brake.

It can be a grease, it can be a silicone compound, or it can come in the form of a "glue" (like the CRC orange "Disc-brake anti-squeal"), or what GM calls "Ni-glue". It pours out in liquid form, but then hardens to a rubbery compound that accomplishes the same task when applied to the back of the pad.

I don't feel like cleaning the dust off every day so I changed my order to the Hawk Performance ceramic pads.

It's habit for me. After every drive, my wheels and tailpipes get wiped down/clean.

Update: Compared to the EBC Redstuff pads, the Adaptive Ones are pretty lousy and prone to heavy fade on our GXP. Will be switching back to EBC pads and rotors from now on.