With 88,000 original miles, the SSE is ready for some new brakes.
Front disc / Rear drum.

What do you guys recommend?

Generic drums and pads for the rear. NAPA is always safe. Good warranty also.

Powerslot rotors and raybestos ceramic pads up front. A couple internet sources for the Powerslots offer free shipping (slow, but free).

Thanks.
I'll check with a recently recommended shop that does ONLY brakes, and see if they can or will be able to get those parts.

Will, I sent you a PM.

Oh, yeah...I almost forgot...

If I need new calipers, is there something that might 'look' better than standard? or should I just stay with standard calipers?
I believe the brake lines will need to replaced at this point, too. Any suggestions there?

I'm picking up a full set of 5 American Racing Estrella wheels 16x7.
They've been discontinued and I'll probably pick up a couple extras when I find them.
They'll be mounted WITHOUT the center caps so the lugnuts will be visible in keeping with the 'NASCAR' theme of the car...
I'm putting my Goodyear NASCAR Eagles on them, White Letters OUT, of course.
The set of 5 HANKOOK HPW401 ZOVAC studded snow tires are staying on the green 12-slots.



Thanks.

WOW!
That combination of tire/wheel looks GREAT.
It livened up the look of the car by a long shot.

Still need to talk to the 'brake guy'.
I looked at the Raybestos site and saw some good stuff ( but, what do I know? ).
I'll know more in a week.

so you got your rims already, you got any pics with them

No pix yet.
Within the next couple of months I'll have a lot of pix.
New computer installation will have me taking pictures and posting fun-stuff.

I've got an 0800 appointment at the local Les Schwab on Saturday.
Powerslots & Raybestos QS; new hoses; rebuilt calipers on the front.
"Whatever" shoes; new cylinders and hardware out back.
Not exactly cheap pricewise, but I don't do brakes; and the parts are top-notch.

I considered going to another place, and checked out two.
One was with all Raybestos parts at just over $800.00 !!! There'* a few of these shops around, but not many.
The other was with some unknown parts I've never heard of before and the guy said "we've had good luck with these"... He wanted to have me show up, tear it down and decide what to do. The guy was knowledgable, and known to be honest, plus he had a nice shop. But something told me to keep checking. He said it would be around $400.00.
I went to Les Schwab and told them what willwren said, and what I'd read on the different sites. The price was a compromise, and there are so many Les Scwhab stores around, I felt that this was a good move.

So, there we are then!

On the calipers...many have looked for something else and come up empty handed. Which leads us to painting the calipers.

Just for future refrence, disc brakes are probably on of the easiest repairs you can do on a car.

Due to the need for calipers, I can definitely see going to the shop. But many, many miles down the road when you need new pads, you should look at doing them yourself, for about half the price of what the average shop charges for cheap parts.