HALP!

"PatBateman" (PatBateman) 12/03/2015 at 23:42 • Filed to: Brakes

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So I’m looking at two cars in the area to replace my poor, crispy truck (as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! earlier). One of the vehicles has Brembo brakes on it (a Cadillac ATS Performance model). I have some questions.

First of all, how do they wear? Quicker than normal brake pads/rotors? I know that they’ll be expensive to replace, but this car has fewer miles on it and is a better deal than another ATS I’m looking at.

Secondly, how easily can a pad replacement be done on them? Could I do it myself?

I'm so pissed that I can even have to worry about this crap right now.

iSureWilll > PatBateman 12/03/2015 at 23:48

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I think how they wear would be more placed on the pad compound or the brake proportioning. For example, ‘03-’04 Infiniti G35s without the Brembos would run through pads AND rotors in 12k miles. If you get 20k out of them you're lucky. Cars with the Brembos would go 30-40k without pad replacement. I know this from being a tech at an Infiniti dealer roughly 2008-2009.

PatBateman > iSureWilll 12/03/2015 at 23:51

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Interdasting. I hope this concept applies to the Caddy pads.

Also, if no one has told you yet, you have CL authorship.

dogisbadob > PatBateman 12/03/2015 at 23:52

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So sorry to here about the truck on fire :(

I hope you find something soon. And of course, you can always get aftermaet pads and rotors that will last longer.

iSureWilll > PatBateman 12/03/2015 at 23:53

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Haha yea JCARR invited me.

Btw, brakes are brakes. Changing pads on them should be just as simple as any other system. I wouldn't be too concerned. Now if it had drums... Then just pay someone to do it. I hate drums.........

911e46z06 > PatBateman 12/03/2015 at 23:53

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I had Brembo rotors on my e39. They wore about the same as the stock ones.

JGrabowMSt > PatBateman 12/03/2015 at 23:55

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1) Condolences for the truck, that’s a sad situation.

2) When something has a “Brembo” sticker on it, don’t think dollar signs automatically. You just need pads that fit the calipers, you can move to hawk pads (great but super dusty), or whatever else you want. You’re not limited to Brembo. As for wear, it depends on the pads that are on the car. My Hawk pads are dusty as hell, but despite that, don’t seem to be displaying much wear (strange, but i’m not about to complain). Again, you can shop around for a low dust pad.

3) You could absolutely do it yourself.

PatBateman > dogisbadob 12/03/2015 at 23:57

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I wasn’t sure if they could be swapped out for regular pads/rotors.

I feel like a damned auto novice asking these things.

PatBateman > JGrabowMSt 12/03/2015 at 23:58

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Excellent. When I saw the “Brembo” calipers, I almost wrote the car off immediately.

PatBateman > 911e46z06 12/03/2015 at 23:59

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Good good. I'm not planning on using them to the extent that they are designed for, but I also don't want to shit $1k when it's time for a brake job.

PatBateman > dogisbadob 12/04/2015 at 00:00

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I'll probably get aftermarket pads when it's time to change them. I don't really need the performance at all.

AM3R shamefully returns > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 00:03

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Pads are gonna be the same, maybe even easier than before to swap out.

PatBateman > AM3R shamefully returns 12/04/2015 at 00:05

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Good good. I'm not at all familiar with the system.

JGrabowMSt > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 00:07

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I think all the SRT cars come standard with Brembos. Nothing crazy, it’s all a marketing thing. Since they’re a big name, it means the brakes go..... faster, or something. Are they red?

AM3R shamefully returns > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 00:13

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Hey no worries, I’m not super handy myself. Forums are a great resource though, lots of great DIY’s up that are usually pretty easy to follow for most minor jobs.

RallyWrench > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 00:15

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If you don't use them hard, I expect they'll wear as well as anything else. Also, Brembos are super easy to change pads on.

PatBateman > JGrabowMSt 12/04/2015 at 00:17

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They're beige, actually.

His Stigness > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 01:40

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The car may not necessarily have Brembo pads or rotors, just the monoblock caliper is from Brembo. That monoblock design is very popular and there are several other manufacturers that you should be able to get pads from including Textar, Ate, and not to mention all the aftermarket suppliers. When it comes to rotors though I always recommend Zimmerman if they make them for the application.

And in terms of the wear it depends on Cadillac set up the brake system. Generally American cars (and Japanese) use a hard rotor and hard pads in order to last longer. But, with the ATS and CTS they’re chasing the Germans, which use soft pads and rotors, which is why you always have to replace the rotors at each pad change, no turning German rotors.

Also changing the brakes on these is pretty easy, but does require a few more tools than your regular floating caliper. Monoblock calipers use pins that attach the pads to the caliper, so you need a punch and hammer to get them out. But taking the caliper and rotor off is really easy.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > PatBateman 12/04/2015 at 08:14

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First, sorry to hear about your truck. I’ve got a 2011 Lariat and they are very nice rides.

As for the Brembo brakes, no worries on those as far as wear and maintenance goes. I’ve also got an 07 STi that runs Brembo’s and they are easy enough to swap pads on. In fact they are the only brakes I’ve ever worked on. The stock pads and rotors only lasted me about 20k miles, but the replacement Hawk HPS pads and DBA rotors have lasted 40k and still going strong

I’ve seen posts of guys who will swap pads in the parking lot before an autocross or track day on their STi’s and Evo’s with Brembo calipers. There isn’t much to swapping pads, a spring clip/heat shield that is held in place by the two slider pins that hold the pads. The slider pins are held in by cotter pins. Thinking back you may be able to swap pads with nothing more than a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the cotter pins.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > iSureWilll 12/04/2015 at 09:48

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Working on drums is how you cut up your hands.