After seeing how much everyone likes their carquest blue semi-metallic brake pads, I went in today to get a set for my front. The guys there go "Oh you don't want those, you want the ceramic pads, the industry is pushing towards ceramics". I told them that I would be back later.

So, from the searching I did, it still seems that the blue semi-metallics are the best choice. I am ok with some brake dust, especially if its only about half the stock pads dust. And it seems the semi-metallics won't warp or chew my rotors and will give me great performance. Did i hit the nail on the head here or am I missing something?

So I will probably go back and tell them to give me the blue semi-metallic pads and pick up some of that brake quiet/anti-seize stuff for the back of the pads.

But let me know what you guys think. Thanks

 

Tell them thanks but fu<k off, give me the semi-metallics. I had Carquest's primo top of the line pads, painted "gold" and were Ceramics. Twice as much as the "blue" semi-metallics and sh+t compared to the blue ones. Stopping power= same, dust with Ceramics was normal for pads, lots more when they started eating my rotors, and the squeeling noise was too much, first set lasted 10k km's the second 7k. I even gave them the benefit of the doubt on the rears, nope still crap. This was with stock rotors that were turned. The blue's? Never a problem, dust is almost non existant even after a month. I never notice any dust, but most important to me? They are care free, no noise and as a bonus, no dust. Anti-sieze the pads where they contact things, caliper, piston, sliders that both ends ride on (important), but just coat it and be soooooooo careful not to get any on the rotor or pad face, triple check and brake clean over again to make sure.

I am hopeful someone has luck with Ceramics on a stock or OE replacement rotor, not me that's for sure. I think the rotor has to be suitable for Ceramics.

 

love my Blues just drove thure the mountians today braking was exelcent , dust is almost gone, need to install in back too
If you want to kill and over heat your rotors do the ceramics.