Precisely! If you don't get the residual crap from the AutoZone pads off the rotors prior to installing new pads, they're not going to bed in properly and you're not going to be that much happier than before, except with $200 less in your wallet.

 

So after reading this thread, I've been considering what I will do when my 07 MC needs brakes. I definitely want something higher life and lower dust, without sacrificing braking. It would appear from this thread and a little research that the carbotech bobcats would be best, followed by Hawk, the eBC greenstuff.

My use is light conservative driving where I want longevity, braking ability, low dust and low wear on the rotors. Did I grade them about right?

Another question, when I need new pads, how do the OEM rotors hold up, will I also need new rotors or can I get another set of pads out of them. If I need new rotors, any recommendations?

 

As to rotors, for the Just-A-Cooper R56 you will be looking at OEM Rotors. The sooner you change over to a CT pad the more miles you will get out of the rotors. Not knowing the number of miles you have on the OEM setup it's going to be hard to say for sure how many sets of pads you can get to rotors.

 

I love the Hawks on my 02 JustaCooper. Much less dust and good bit for daily driving. I also love my Brembo's for my 02 R53 that sees several track days per season. They never fade on me. Very different capabilities for very different situations.

 

Right now I'm at about 10,000 miles on my 07 MC. I was hoping to be able to run out these pads, then switch to CT and hopefully not need new rotors. If there is some advantage to switching pads now relative to my rotors, I could do that as well.

 

^^^ with 10K on the rotors you might be better off running them out in the hope that the dealer will replace the rotors and pads within the service agreement. If you did that, then I'd step up to the CT pads on the new, new rotors.
The reason why is we have found that the OEM pads corrupt the OEM Rotors so much in the 1st 10K that bedding in new CT pads is very hard and defeats the goal of changing pads for longer rotor life.
If the goal is more about dust control and less about cash then you could do one of two things. 1, get the OEM rotors a very SLOW and SMALL turn at your local shop before putting on the CT pads. 2, get new OEM Rotors for the CT pads.

 

Thanks for the reply, I'll just keep going on these till its time then switch to CT pads. I'm not sure I'll get enough miles to get a free pad change in the service period of three years. I'm already 1 year and 8 months in and only just passed 10K.

From my research I think long term CT pads will be the best for me. After reading about them, I think when my 99 Honda CRV is due, I'll do CT pads on it all around as well (front pads, rear drums). I just did OEM pads on my wife's accord, if only I had known...

 

Sounds good, I can also get you pads for your Hondas too.

 

Yeah, put the stock pads on rear and get a set of Carbotechs on front. I have the Hawk HPS Plus pads which is their auto-x/track pad, but there was still some brake fade and cooking at track day. Keep the Zimmerman rotors, just next time get solid rotors, less cash-better reliability.

Ouch...AutoZone pads??

 

The Carbotech Bobcats that so many have been praising on this thread are well worth the investment. I had mine on from Nov. 2005 until May 2008. 90,000 miles and they were great all the way down to the backing plates! If you are paying someone to do your brake jobs, as I read you do, then the CT pads will pay for themselves over the life of the pads. I had the same rotors that entire time as well. Good luck! Merry Christmas!