Anyone recommend one brand over another?

Autozone or Orielly's or Etc?

My 2001 2500HD D/A rotors rotted out by 50,000 miles (rusted wierdly etc like they do) so replaced all rotors with stuff from Tire Rack: Rotors are Brembos (stock replacement).

Pads are EBC 6000 Truck/SUV pads. I am very happy with them so far; LESS dust than stock pads, and braking ability is better (stock seemed to overheat/fade/take more pedal with little benefit sometimes, these brake longer, harder IMO).

Rotor wear is reasonably good too. After 20,000 miles on these and still going, would use them again. Total came to $335 less installation (which I ended up having done at a shop, as most bolts holding brake calipers on would not come off despite my heavy half inch IngersollRand air impact wrench etc...guess shop's oxyacetylene torch heating helps some :)

Reybestos carbon metalic or a ceramic. No squeeling and long life with even wear.

Hawk pads are the best I have used but I'm not 100% they have them for the Dmax.

I use the NAPA ceramic pads. They stop well, have low dust and don't squeel. They also last very well. I have noticed that they actually stop better when they have a little heat in them. With consistent pressure on the pedal you get steadily increasing braking force as the pads heat up.

I owuld go ceramic, I believe that is the OEM material.

I just put OEM on mine. GM makes two different kind i put the better of the two cost me $240 for the front and rear. I only did the back right now and what a differance can't wait til the new powerslot rotors for the front come in. Total parts cost $240 pads, $232 front powerslot rotors, $160 NAPA rear rotors. dave

I use the NAPA ceramic pads. They stop well, have low dust and don't squeel. They also last very well. I have noticed that they actually stop better when they have a little heat in them. With consistent pressure on the pedal you get steadily increasing braking force as the pads heat up.

I owuld go ceramic, I believe that is the OEM material.

I had good luck with ceramic pads from Napa on my last truck too, and they were reasonably priced.:)

OEM are the best cost more but last longer with no noises...

Ceramic pads do not make noise either.

I have used the Hawk Super Duty pads and recently changed them using EBC7000 pads.

The Hawk pads are by far better than the EBC in braking performance but you sacrifice big time in cleanliness. The Hawk pads emits a tremendous amount of brake dust and squeeling. So far the EBC is as clean or cleaner than the stock pads but seem to require more pedal pressure than the Hawks.

I think I would go back to the Hawks next time. It takes a tough pad to stop a 9,000 lb truck at any speed. I'd rather have that comfort and wash my wheels more often.

My 2 cents.

I've had the best results with Raybestos Super Stop and Car Quest Gold series. It is my beliefe that most ceramic and aggressive metallic pads do not stop as well as a softer pad, especially when cold. A severe duty semi metallic IMHO is the best compromise between stopping power, fade resistance, and life...

I agree that the ceramics do show a noticable difference with temperature. Get them warmed up and they stop very well and don't fade, that may be due to other things like flushing out brake fluid regularly but unless you are towing past GVWR and need the last 2% of performance from the brakes, the ceramics are tough to beat.

Okay - so it is time to replace my brakes and here is what I am getting price wise......

GM Dealer - OEM pads for my VIN# (he didn't know of any other pads offered)
-Front $ 116.10
-Rear $ 106.69

NAPA
-Front $71.00 "regular" ceramic / $114 ceramic designed for specific vehicle heat range
-Rear $69.99 "regular" ceramic / $99.99 ceramic designed for specific vehicle heat range

-Rear Rotors $79.99 United brand (made by Brake Parts who also make Raybestos he says)

I put those Napa Rotors on my truck. Like I mentioned in my other post I used the Raybestos PG Plus. IIRC they were about $55 from Schucks.

Schucks is the same chain as Checker and Kragen.

Has anyone used Wearever Gold LT Semi-Metallic pads. Thoughts?

How bout stock there a little more expensive but didn't your stock pads last a long time, reliable and pretty much dust free. I have 52000 on mine and I still have a goodthird of the wear left. how bout that!

I used the NAPA ceramic $59.00 pads and NAPA "United Advanced Engineered" $79.99 rotors on the rear - haven't changed front yet. Just got done and truck stops real nice. My truck just turned 36,000 miles, so no the OEM didn't last long on my truck - I should note though, that my truck came out of Ohio so harsh winters may have done them in before I bought it.