Brakes

I have a 02 Grand Prix GT with 60,000 miles on it and was looking at replacing the front brakes. I was wondering if I should replace the rotors or have them turned. I do not see any unusual wear and the car still stops smooth. I also wanted to know how big a difference the stopping power is between the ceramic pads and the carbon metallic pads.

Unfortunately you can't tell how much wear is on a set of rotors until you mic them. At the price of rotors I suggest that you replace them with new ones just for piece of mind. As for Ceramic and Metallic pads the difference is the due to the discipation of heat. The ceramic pads will wear longer and probably stop quicker due the rate that the heat leaves the pads. I don't have experience with ceramic but they seem to work very well especially in high performance applications.

I had bad luck and experiences with the ceramic pads. I had name brand ceramic pads on my GTP and had some close calls braking before hitting desert at the end of the track. I switched out to the PFC Performance Friction Carbon Metallic pads and feel alot more confident. Keep in mind I am shutting down from around 109 mph through the 1/4 mile. The pull down power is so much better than the ceramics. I'll take that over appearance factors like no brake dust anyday.

Keep in mind these are not the regular old semi metallic pads but carbon-metallic based. With Raybestos PG rotors it is a hard combination to beat based on my experiences. That is all I use now in any of my GM cars. Part number: 0699.20.

Bob,

Do you use the same setup for your rear brakes? It looks like my rear brakes could be replace also.

Yes. I highly recommend doing all 4 wheels at the same time. Braking balance and overall stopping power is much better. Plus the rear PFC carbon-metalllic pads are cheaper than the front. Autozone has them for around $25.99. Front were $54.99. Pads have AZ's limited lifetime warranty too.

What I do: go with new rotors. Keep the old, you can have them turned and use them for the next brake job.

I replaced the brakes on my 02 GT around the same time as you. My rotors were shot, so I purchased powerslot rotors and hawk brake pads. What a difference. My cars stops quicker and the brakes work better in the rain as well. This is definitely not the cheapest way to go, however, the rotors are pretty thick, made in the usa, and coated so they won' t rust. Some of the rotors you get in the auto parts stores are made overseas and are very thin so examine the ones you buy. By the way, I've got 50,000 miles on these rotors/pads with no warping and no need of replacement.

BNaylor,

Can you list the name or part number for the rotors you got?

Thanks,

GT

BNaylor,

Can you list the name or part number for the rotors you got?

Thanks,

GT

Sure, no problem. The rotors are Raybestos PG Plus (Professional Grade).

Front PN: 56631 Around $50 each.

Rear PN: 56629 Around $40 each.


PG PLUS™ Rotors offer the most complete line of VSM™ vehicle specific metallurgy rotors, the latest development in rotor technology. These premium, high-quality rotors feature 103 distinct vane configurations, to ensure your replacement part matches Original Equipment design . The rotors have an ultra smooth braking surface to reduce noise, dust and maximize disc pad life. Compared to economy rotors, PG PLUS VSM Rotors are three times quieter, can stop your vehicle 22.5 feet sooner and provide up to 30% more pad life. They are designed to provide the highest levels of dependability, safety and superior performance.

Rotor Specifications:
Type: Rotor
Number of Bolts/Holes: 5
Bolt Circle Dimension: 4.645"
Discard Thickness: 1.208"
New Surface Thickness: 1.27"
Outside Diameter: 10.94"
Overall Height: 2.05"
Vented/Solid Design: Vented
Composite Design?: No
Outer Bearing Cup Included?: No
Inner Bearing Cup Included?: No
ABS Sensor Ring?: No

Bob:

I used the Raybestos Quietstop ceramic pads on my Park Ave. I bought them from Autozone. I would not recommend them because the squeaked and make a grinding noise at low speeds. Maybe the more expensive raybestos pad is better.

Would you recommend the abovementioned brake hardware (by BNaylor) for the ordinary joe who does not go on the racetrack? I am not sure if I can find them in Canada so can you supply info on a store south of the border just in case? Thanks for the info on the serpentine belt. It maybe all in my head but I think the GP runs quieter since I changed the belt.