Brake pads can make a HUGE difference.

[WoodsWagon]

I replaced my front brake pads last july after my old ones spat out coming up to a tollbooth. The Buffalo subaru dealership wanted $75 for a set of pads, so I got the $12 duralast set from a local parts store. They worked... but I called them my passive ABS system. The brakes sucked, and you could never lock up the wheels (235/75r15's) on pavement, wet or dry. Dirt and snow, yes. Pavement, it would slow down pretty fast, but there was always that bit of excitement when you wondered if it was going to stop in time.

 

I found a set of unused blue Wagner pads in the back of my garage, must have been left over from when my dad had one of these cars. When my squeeler tab started making noise yesterday, I decided to throw the wagner pads in. What a difference! I can lock both fronts on dry pavement! The pedal feels better, the brakes start stoping the car sooner, and you can trust the brakes to stop the car in a closer to normal time now.

 

So pretty much keep away from the cheap POS pads. They really do suck. They didn't even last a year, and they were sketchy the whole time.

[desertsubaru]

I had that same thing happen on mine with13 inch tires. It just took an hour of driving to lets say ruff the new pads up. After that mine worked great. I put a set of those $12 pads on and they lasted 3 1/2 years on the front of my sube. Even going 3000 miles with 800 pounds in the car didnt ware them out. Your right wagner is a better pad though.