Ballinger

I upgraded to slotted rotors and aggressive pads. The pads make everything feel differently, of course, but the most significant differences are when they're cold (they groan) and when they're hot (less fade and notably so). I also have stainless-jacketed brake lines and Motul Blue brake fluid.

ExcelerateRep

I gotta say that a lot of this discussion factors in on how your driving patterns are. Heavy foot, riding brakes. We have different applications and its all about your driving style.



Excelerate Performance - European, Exotic and Japanese Performance Specialists!! - Homepage

rlx015

I am wondering if anyone tried or currently is brake and rotor kit om rockauto.com?
I was initially planning on getting all OEM (pads and rotors) but saw the review of this kit and kind of doing the due diligence of how good this kit is?

I used some after market rotors and pads, and I get pretty bad pulsating, and wanted to bring back braking power into OEM or close to OEM feeling, smooth braking and increased breaking power too.

Thanks all!

08KBP_VA

All I have used in past are Powerstops pad and like them a lot. Lower dust than OEM and good bite. I have them on my M and x5 and also on RL. I tend to not do drilled and slotted anymore so cant comment on rotors as they mean nothing in regular driving.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Here's the thing!
ALL rotors can be warped, although that's just a misnomer. instead, what is actually happening is brake pad deposit being melted onto the rotor, MAKING the rotor uneven and giving you a pulsing sensation.
THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ALL ROTORS.
the simple solution is to BED-IN the pads when installing/changing out brake pads.

onto your question about that specific rotor/pad combo...
it will do fine!!!!
any rotor/pad combo WILL stop your car and if bed-in properly, wont leave pad deposits on rotor.

RL09

https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...-issue-948965/
https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...%24600-947792/

KCRLgirl

Hi guys,

I usually just lurk to try to find what I need or to point me in the right direction. I have an 2010 RL with Tech. I am planning on replacing my brake pads and rotors here very shortly. I am looking at doing the Centric High Carbon rotors and Akebono or EBC Red.

I just drive my car under normal circumstances-no performance-do not care about looks. I am a lead foot and probably would be considered someone who brakes hard.... I plan on buying my parts online and taking them to be put on. I feel in the past when I have just went in to the dealer or to the shop, I get screwed. So, I am taking matters into my own hands.

So, I am seeking opinions on if these are good choices? I am in KC where weather is always a concern! I just want something that will last and provide good braking.

Thank you!!!

RL09

Just click above on the appropriate section: tires,suspension etc. and there's a few threads on the first page on brakes. browsing through will help give a pretty good idea, and you can ask further questions there.

oo7spy

Those will do fine, and he's right.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

In my attempt to make things more searchable, easier to fine and make the experience more informative, I have merged multiple threads discussing brake options and user experience for anyone wanting to go outside of oem with brakes. I have also changed the thread title to more accurate reflect the purpose of the thread.

TERRY A KHAN

Akebono ceramics in my 2011 RL really works well. Zero noise and extremely little dust. Stopping power is the same as the original factory brake pads.
I just did rotors and pad replacement because there was a slight vibration at high speed, My number one choice was Centrics which I think is more superior than the Honda rotors, however, my mechanic was not very thrilled installing the Centrics and preferred the original Honda rotors.
My mechanic's explanation is that there are not too many RLs on the road and aftermarket parts may not carry an outstanding track record, so I used the Honda rotors and Advics pads.
My 2005 RL factory pads was Advics and carry a soft feel, but the 2011 had a very hard feel and replaced with Akebono which was a bit softer.
The Advics carry a softer feel that I really enjoy, also noiseless and dust free.

rlx015

Time has come - pending delivery and installation of PowerStop Z23 4045 kit from rock auto.
Current set actually lasted longer then what I expected...

To someone's point who mentioned earlier RED stuff EBC pads, I had those in the mix with slotted rotors and then with regular rotors on my 05 altima v6 ageas ago, and have to say first year it was breaking like crazy, but NOISE! Oh boy - those things were SCREAMING non stop... loudest I ever heard, bought, installed... so, no thanks

It is really hard to find brakes that will: have no noise, have great breaking performance, have no dust... it is almost always two out of three lol

Shrink

Just had my 2006 RL serviced by dealer to address 3 recalls (airbags & master cylinder) and was told my front brakes are at 3 mm or less. they are recommending resurfacing for $521 and if they find it needs rotors, that will add another $340. I wonder if I should take it to our local mechanic and if so, should I ask for OEM parts? Does the cost sound unreasonable? Sounded very high to me.
Rear brakes were between 4-6 mm. the car has 76k. I've only had it 2 months.
any thoughts/opinions would be welcomed. I don't do any mechanical work myself except take it to get washed.

HDNBenjamin

that is way too much. i just bought front rotors and pads from rockauto for $150. my mechanic will install for $100. so about $250 total.AKEBONOACT1091Brake Pad$ 48.79$ 0.001$ 48.79CENTRIC12540066 (125.40066)Rotor$ 50.79$ 0.002$ 101.58

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

521 to replace pads and resurface the rotors Honestly, you can replace the rotors and pads with OEM and do it at that price yourself. That's probably with using the actual dealer and not on online one like curry acura parts or oemacuraparts.

I would favor a setup like Centric rotors and Akebono pads. I've run Akebono pads on my RL and I'm happy. Centric rotors have taken a good beating on my Camry. One of my rears even survived a seized caliper if that says anything....

truonghthe

I ran Centric blank with Autozone former Duralast Cmax pads without any issue.

RL09

Any updates on this?


I'm also wondering if anyone researched this product I had posted then: https://acurazine.com/forums/second-.../#post15834584

RL09

From my re-read of three threads (this one, and the two I linked up in this one last year), I think it's safe to take two members' advice: thoibi and spy007.

thoiboi: 'Slit rotors have a space where metal brake dust can rest'. I agree, I'll be buying no drilled not slit.

007spy: 'OEM are advics. Better to buy high performance ceramics'.

I personally wore off those advics in one year and now need new ones. Advics are composite, so dust on wheels and they ware off faster. No surprise, stealerships wanna make money (just like their 2 year warrantee-2 year lasting batteries).


Seems centric and powerstop are good rotors or anyone got a good price great quality rotor.

Spy also mentioned adaptive pads from napa, someone else mentioned evolution, and another EBC red. Someone said ebc red are noisy.


Any confirmations?

RL09

I have also noticed a difference in the rotor diameters. Example: Wagner is 350mm diameter and Centric is 319mm (front rotors).

Is it normal for the same car to have a 3 cm difference? and what's better?

nickelrw87

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Akebono ceramic pads are great for your average daily driver.

RL09

I'm curious about rotors, the OEMs are branded Honda and are 160$ each. Does anyone knows who makes them? And why are they 160$ vs most quality ones can be obtained for less than 80 bucks each? Let alone some good options for 40 and 50?

Do we know what kind of rotors are the OEM? I've searched but unable to find what they are. i.e. high carbon, or coated, etc.

RL09

Does the car have a brake pad replacement time light?

I'm almost finished with these pads, pedal low, and no lights on dash.

truonghthe

No, as I can remember the RL still using the good old metal wear indicator, it will made contact with the rotor once pad material got low, trust me you don't want that wear sensor. I learn that valuable lesson from a LS430 and LS460, it cost $40 each.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, those damn wear sensors lol

RL09

Thanks. It was odd. But it makes sense. my ex mechanic would just not install new ones on the audi saying: not worth it.

Thing is, I felt the disks up, and they got a tiny very thin feel of lines going on. Damned brakes seem to have gone too fast, replacements still in transit.

Would ceramics smoothen those babies up or should I order disks?

RL09

Weird. I could've sworn two days ago the disks felt like lines.. today, smooth. Like butter.

truonghthe

RL09 what pad you are using now? OEM or aftermarket? I noticed the Duralast Max clean up the rotor way better than my old OEM pads. Pedal feel is improve too.

As far as for the brake wear sensors on the Lexus, I just use a zip tie to bundle it all up and make sure they touch no moving part and tuck it away.

RL09

I've put the dealer ones, Advics. They surely won't clean a disk i suppose; they are composite. You can find those online at half the dealer price. I thought of repeat since im not buying disks and hope ceramics won't be too harsh; but I'm risking it.

I'm going Powerstop z23. Given that rl015 didn't come back screaming (see above) probably means he liked them

RL09

Powerstop evolution z23 installed a week ago.

Nice feel. Not a whisper, and quite the grip.

I'll see how long it'll take them to run out, but, I like em much so far.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

RL09

I didn't install any rotors. Just the pads.

RL09

These brakes are better than the OEM composites.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

truonghthe

I told you so lol.

RL09

Was a long research, and finally decided my disks are dealer ones that cost 160 each. Gonna keep them.

And as I wrote above, not a whisper, not after installation, not morning, not ever. I'm quite happy with them. They grip and stop better than than composite (Advics). Hope they last long too, which ceramic and carbon fiber is supposed to.

I didn't go with Duralax I went with powerstop evo z23.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Great to hear. I know a lot of "performance" pads come with brake noise, especially when cold. Glad that's not the case here.

rlx015

In MAy 2017 I got PowerStop Z23 kit, pads + rotors and here is my 11-month review:

- Steering wheel pulsation THROUGH THE FREAKING ROOF! I read their "warranty" and according to what they state, they do not cover bent or warped rotors, but I do not think there is anything warped or bent in my case. I do not drive my car like a maniac, normal drive as the normal average driver can do... nope, does not matter: pulsation will not only screw up my steering column but who knows what other parts will be affected because of it.
- squeal developed about 3-4 months ago, and while it is not on the loudest side of squeal noise, it is consistently there. After washing the car and manually sticking the pressure hose behind the rim kind of solves it for about couple of days, then squeal is back.
- the plan is: will contact PowerStop directly to claim the warranty, then will proceed to rock-auto. If there is no satisfactory outcome, BBB complaint will be submitted. Not much else I can do unless they honor their 3yr warranty.

The ultimate decision I made was based on their 3 year warranty - I was on the fence what to get, and seeing their advertised warranty I gave them the chance but honestly, at this point, I can only recommend staying away from this PowerStop z23 kit.

Close-up pic of rotor and pad (front)

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Yikes :/ And that's why I would avoid powerstop rotors...

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)