SodaLuvr

OK, I was looking at some Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads for the 2G TL. For both the front and rear applications, the part #s recommended for our vehicle begins with PD-, which means that it is an organic type pad. (MX- means semi-metallic)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with ThermoQuiet pads, they do not allow the buyer to pick the friction material. Wagner supposedly takes the guesswork out of it, as they only sell the ThermoQuiet pad for your vehicle with the same type of friction material as the original equipment pad.

However, I'm confused and also in disbelief. Raybestos and AutoZone both say that the original equipment pad on our cars is ceramic, and replacement pads should only be ceramic. Now Wagner says our pads were actually organic? OTOH, some Honda tech told me that he thinks OE pads are semi-metallic...???

So, can anyone confirm for me what the true OE brake pad material is ??? Ceramic, semi-metallic, or organic?

Gfaze

The OEM pads on these cars are ceramic. You can contact your Acura dealer, not Honda, to confirm this. Although the Hondas also have ceramics.

01tl4tl

Soda

Ceramic is the OE- it helps keep noise and brake dust to a minimum
while still providing ~good enough~ braking for normal humans

You can use a semi-met pad like Hawk or Rotora with no issues as long as you understand they are hi performance parts and need to be treated as such
ie: good brakes make dust because you drive hard-they are working hard!!!

If not replacing or turning the rotors- clean them with 150 grit sandpaper and then soap and water wash. There is a layer of pad material on the rotors that must be removed between sets. Otherwise you get probs with incompatible materials rubbing against each other.
With the fresh surface - you lay down a new layer of pad material on the rotor- thats what makes brakes stop good- the established transfer layer by, bedding in the pads properly after install.