A couple of things.

1) My brakes have just started to squeal. Have any of you folks (2000+) changed your rotors or brake pads? I've seen a lot of good stuff mentioned about ceramic pads and new rotors. Is this something I could do, or should I take Gracie (my car) to a shop to have it done (keep in mind, I'm a newbie)? Also, where would be a good place to find rotors/pads made for my car?

2) I want to paint my calipers. Have any of you guys done that? Should I wait until after new rotors/pads go in so that the paint doesn't get chipped? (I imagine the calipers don't get replaced with the pads, correct?)



Thanks for any info!

Well if you want to go preety cheap and having awesome braking at the same time then go with the stuff I got at Tire-Rack.com. I have Hawk Street/Stock brake pads that guraty(spelling sucks) that will give you more braking power and less fade and decreasing your braking distance, which it does, they cost 53$ for all 4. And I went with Brembo stock rotors that are a little better than stock for 53$ a piece. My braking is good.

I've heard my brakes squeaking from time to time but not a lot. I've painted my calipers. Take a look at my webpage and you can see. They come out really nice on a Silver car.

Looks totally awesome ridic! I can't wait to do that to my own. And are those the MIlle Miglia Evo5 rims? I've been looking at those myself. Just a bit costly. Probably totally worth it, though. You'll have to post a picture when you get those bad boys on there!

With the Pontiac Dashlights (red) setting the tone, I want random red accents here and there (interior and exterior) and calipers are a good place to start, I think.

Thanks man. I am going to install some red neon lights on the inside this weekend and maybe a neon under body kit this summer. But with the way the police are always cracking on my A$$ for the tints I don't know if I will do the underbody kit But I will surely take more pics once I get the rims on there.

I can get Brembo high carbon rotors for club members for $44.00. The ones tire rack sells are not "High carbon" so they will warp much sooner. My slotted Rotors are more expensive at $79.00 per rotor. Ceramic pads are good but don’t go after the "best" or you will find you are paying over 100.00 a set and that they are designed for track conditions. It is always better to spend less money on a softer street ceramic pad and replace more pads and fewer Rotors.

Go look at the Brembo site and read up on High Carbon Rotors.

You will find they are a superior unit when it comes to handling heat and abuse.

Ty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGH-CARBON CONTENT CAST IRON DISCS

Made with special Cast Iron, thanks to the use of high technology equipment and special metallurgical knowledge.
Brembo’* philosophy has always been to only offer replacement market discs designed and produced with the same criteria as original equipment, both from the point of view of quality and finish, and the material used. Criteria that Brembo knows to perfection; it is, in fact, one of the principal European brake disc producers and supplies almost all the Car Manufacturers.
ADVANTAGES OF THE COMPLETE CYCLE
The Brembo technicians are very well aware that, in certain car *, only the use of discs made with special high-carbon content cast irons allows possible noise problems to be eliminated. Cast irons that Brembo, unlike the majority of its competitors, develops and produces directly in its own foundries, controlling their quality in all stages of production.
THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR THE MOST CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
Currently special high-carbon content cast irons are used for over 140 part numbers of discs produced by Brembo for cars and commercial vehicles. The codes are identified on the new packs and in the 2002/2003 Catalogue with the international code HC (High Carbon). A disc offers its user the maximum guarantee of quality for the best performance, even with the most critical applications.
IDENTIFIED BY THE CODE HC, THESE BRAKE DISCS OFFER HIGH TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS, TO GUARANTEE OPTIMUM RELIABILITY EVEN WITH THE MOST PROBLEMATIC APPLICATIONS.
TECHNICAL OPINION
Why high-carbon content cast iron?
The principal difference between this type of cast iron and the standard one normally used lies in its specific chemical composition. It is therefore much more suitable both to damp possible noise, guaranteeing better comfort, and to improve thermal conductivity and, consequently, the discs cooling capacity. Depending on the specific application, HC cast iron can also contain alloy elements able to improve the mechanical properties even further.


Just for the record the slugs I offer are a racing slug so they are not just plain stock slugs.
If Tire rack can get them for you go for it but as of yet they sell OEM replacement units that do not have the high carbon content.

Ty

I was going for stock with just more braking, which I get from Hawk brake pads made out of Fierro Carbon. They have a few different brands for stock or slot and drilled but real pricy. If I ever do get better than stock or slotted or something I will give you a jingle.

Just another thing, if you don't race at a race track or doing over triple digits all the time you don't need high perfomance rotors or high perfomance pads. I'm just a normal driver looking for a little better braking not rotors or pads that say there made for race conditons, that'* whats most of Tire Rack had, that'* why they cost so much, but it said if you don't race at tracks or anything then no point.

I'm not racing this thing. Just after a tad better stopping power, like tutu mentioned. Thanks for all the info guys! It'll help me quite a bit!