My mom has an 04 TL and her pads are shot.

What are some good front brake pads for an Auto 2004 TL? This is my moms car so just used around town, no track time etc. I want something that will last a long time, provide good stopping power and not dust too much all for a decently cheap price. Any ideas?
And how do you determine when rotors need serviced?

 

Run your fingernail across the rotor, do you feel grooves? If yes, you need to replace them or cut them so the grooves are gone. As far as pads go, I think you should be fine with the acura ones,

they are 110 dollars at acuraoemparts dot com...

 

You can get OEM pads on eBay from DCH Acura of Temecula for $40. Search for "genuine acura pads". They're an excellent seller and the two times I've purchased something from them they arrived within 4 days.

 

all around or just fronts? thats pretty cheap...

 

Just the front but I doubt you need pads on the rear yet. They wear at about 1/2 the rate of the front. Here's the LINK

 

I actually need to check the rear, thanks for reminding me, the car is at 58k miles and this is the second set of front pads. Are there not better after market pads? I have not been too impressed with the life of the stock acura pads.

 

Wow, second set at 58K on an AT (non-Brembo) TL? Does your mom drive with her foot on the brake? I changed mine at 60K (probably had 20K left of material) and I drive the car pretty hard.

 

Check with AZ vendors Excelerate & Mr.Heeltoe. They have great aftermarket brake parts.

 

Ok I just checked, it is at 60k. Her pads were replaced and rotors resurfaced at 16,700 miles because of sqeeking under warranty, so she got about 40k out of these pads.

 

Are those OEM brakes ceramic?

 

Probably depends on your local road conditions as well. We have lots of hills over here... Most all my cars regardless of what types of pads they are, or who is driving, need new pads every 30-35k miles.

For our TL, I got Akebono ProACT ceramics. Stop just as good as stocks, but dust way less. Got it from Tirerack for like $90 or something like that.

 

I have EBC Red stuff pads... but my rotors have a bunch of concentric grooves.

Should I get the rotors resurfaced when I change my pads?

 

Probably a good idea. If you do it yourself, you can take the rotors to a shop and they should do it for about $20 or so.

Has anyone checked out rockauto? They have a bunch of choices for brakes and Im really confused. I was thinking of getting the $65 AKEBONO ProACT. But the others pads look good too, and cheaper. I dunno?! Help?