Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

Recommended Posts

Driving home from CT i realized its time for front rotors. I need an affordable source for rotors (tire rack is 50ish and reasonable shipping), and a recomendation on ceramic front pads.

 

Anyone?

 

Thanks

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a little secret or two....

 

1- we dont have any scrapyards or junk yards by me anymore(or worth talking about). Even poor real-estate is under development issues.

 

2- Since the car accident my self confidence has been shot to hell, so ive been doing little projects to build it back up (not to mention body strength and bending ability). It sucks when you get down on the ground and can't get back up because the wiring that makes those things work is broken to some degree.

 

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Advance Auto stocks Wearever front rotors at $41 and change. That's what I bought (I needed them right away), and they stop the car as well as anything else I've ever used. Advance also sells some really cheap ones for like $24, but those weren't in stock.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also like the Auto Zone rotor, not the cheap one they sell but the Duralast rotor somewhere around 28.00 to 30.00 dollars if I remember correct.

Nipper I know about that trying to get back up, I am still having trouble most of the time I have to crawl over to something I can get hold of to help me get up. But it is still getting better every day. I hope you are still improving each day. T.C.

importrp.com and wrxbrakes (http://wrxbrakes.knsbrakes.com/) are both well known vendors. Otherwise autozone has pretty cheap and straight rotors. Hawk HPS and Axxis Ultimate are both reasonably priced ceramic pads that I have used and liked. They're a bit dusty but handle hotter temperatures than oem.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also like the Auto Zone rotor, not the cheap one they sell but the Duralast rotor somewhere around 28.00 to 30.00 dollars if I remember correct.[...]
I haven't used AZ Duralast rotors on a Subaru, but my brother and I did the front brakes on his Corolla (sorry! :) ) using them. They're Chinese-made (not a factor unless you believe that the alloy is poor, or have some other concern), not badly machined, but not OEM in quality either. I miked them -- they actually were a bit thicker than stock, which might seem a plus until you realize that with new OEM pads, you'd better get the caliper piston fully retracted, or you aren't going to get things back together again. (Yes, there was just enough clearance so that the brakes weren't hanging when it all went back together.) Also, the center hole for the hub was slightly oversize, meaning that there was the potential for a bit of imbalance due to mis-centering. The surface finish was just a bit rougher than I normally like to see, but at least it was properly angled relative to the direction of rotation, and not concentric, which sometimes leads to poor pad seating and scoring.

 

After all was done, my brother reported that the brakes felt good, and last time I asked he still says so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think most auto parts are now made in China, I know the cheap rotors are but I thought I remembered seeing made in Canada on the Dura last ones. These have worked great on my Postal Subaru because they have to be changed so much that the price becomes another factor for me. I have not had any issues with the other things you bought up from the rotors but I understand your point, I bought a aftermarket radiator for our Saturn wagon and nothing about it wanted to fit right.

I haven't used AZ Duralast rotors on a Subaru, but my brother and I did the front brakes on his Corolla (sorry! :) ) using them. They're Chinese-made (not a factor unless you believe that the alloy is poor, or have some other concern), not badly machined, but not OEM in quality either. I miked them -- they actually were a bit thicker than stock, which might seem a plus until you realize that with new OEM pads, you'd better get the caliper piston fully retracted, or you aren't going to get things back together again. (Yes, there was just enough clearance so that the brakes weren't hanging when it all went back together.) Also, the center hole for the hub was slightly oversize, meaning that there was the potential for a bit of imbalance due to mis-centering. The surface finish was just a bit rougher than I normally like to see, but at least it was properly angled relative to the direction of rotation, and not concentric, which sometimes leads to poor pad seating and scoring.

 

After all was done, my brother reported that the brakes felt good, and last time I asked he still says so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a little secret or two....

 

Since the car accident my self confidence has been shot to hell, so ive been doing little projects to build it back up (not to mention body strength and bending ability). It sucks when you get down on the ground and can't get back up because the wiring that makes those things work is broken to some degree.

 

 

nipper

 

 

sorry to hear about your accident, i didnt know... i do hope you get all your strength and health back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

a little secret or two....

 

1- we dont have any scrapyards or junk yards by me anymore(or worth talking about). Even poor real-estate is under development issues.

 

2- Since the car accident my self confidence has been shot to hell, so ive been doing little projects to build it back up (not to mention body strength and bending ability). It sucks when you get down on the ground and can't get back up because the wiring that makes those things work is broken to some degree.

 

 

nipper

 

Sorry to hear..........

 

My dad got into a accident when he was in his toyota tercel which effected him alot he got serious whip lash i believe? He used to always look like he had a cold AND ALOT of complaints about his neck and ALOT of advil. Now hes better after about 10 years later.

 

Things just happen though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Driving home from CT i realized its time for front rotors. I need an affordable source for rotors (tire rack is 50ish and reasonable shipping), and a recomendation on ceramic front pads.

 

Anyone?

 

Thanks

 

nipper

 

I got the brembo oem's and also put on the Hawk HPS pad. I like!

 

Hang in there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got the AZ discs (made in taiwan .. i can deal with that much better) and the AZ ceramic pads. i did a net search and people seemed to like them.

 

Also got a generic downstream o2 sensor. Hopefully thats something else i can do myself.

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think most auto parts are now made in China, I know the cheap rotors are but I thought I remembered seeing made in Canada on the Dura last ones.
Although "Canada" and "China" have the same first and last letters, and an "n" inbetween, the ones we got definitely were Duralast branded (2-year warranty) and made in China. :)

 

 

These have worked great on my Postal Subaru because they have to be changed so much that the price becomes another factor for me. I have not had any issues with the other things you bought up from the rotors but I understand your point, I bought a aftermarket radiator for our Saturn wagon and nothing about it wanted to fit right.
Just so there's no misunderstanding -- the rotor's seem to be working fine, even though they varied slightly from OEM specs. Not quite being to spec isn't unusual with aftermarket parts, since they're often reverse-engineered; they start with a sample or two of the original, then work backwards and figure out how to make the part, without the benefit of engineering diagrams or specs. In the fashion field, they might be referred to as "knock-offs". :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just so there's no misunderstanding -- the rotor's seem to be working fine, even though they varied slightly from OEM specs. Not quite being to spec isn't unusual with aftermarket parts, since they're often reverse-engineered; they start with a sample or two of the original, then work backwards and figure out how to make the part, without the benefit of engineering diagrams or specs. In the fashion field, they might be referred to as "knock-offs". :)

 

OR.. when i worked for a parts MFG, they came out the back door of the same factory that made the OE parts.

 

But when it comes from china, reverse engineered, poor quality, and a we-dont-give-a-damn-they-must-buy-from-us-because-we-are-great-communist-country mentality appears, Whats acceptable at home isnt in other markets.

 

I hope no one has nay chineese tires.....

 

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OR.. when i worked for a parts MFG, they came out the back door of the same factory that made the OE parts.
Yep; read my posts in this thread: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=71584

 

 

But when it comes from china, reverse engineered, poor quality, and a we-dont-give-a-damn-they-must-buy-from-us-because-we-are-great-communist-country mentality appears, Whats acceptable at home isnt in other markets.[...]
Not every product from China is inferior; if someone is willing to pay a fair price, they are often capable of producing quality goods. The problem is that the Chinese need to employ a lot of people, want (although less so, as time goes by) US dollars, and will make things for a negotiated price that doesn't leave a lot of room for good materials and QC. As in other Asian countries, quality will likely improve over time as goods from China are more accepted, and the prices will rise accordingly; remember what happened with Japanese, Korean, etc., products.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep; read my posts in this thread: http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=71584

 

 

Not every product from China is inferior; if someone is willing to pay a fair price, they are often capable of producing quality goods. The problem is that the Chinese need to employ a lot of people, want (although less so, as time goes by) US dollars, and will make things for a negotiated price that doesn't leave a lot of room for good materials and QC. As in other Asian countries, quality will likely improve over time as goods from China are more accepted, and the prices will rise accordingly; remember what happened with Japanese, Korean, etc., products.

 

Yes and no. Its better to look at products from Russia and N korea. The other coutries listed are answerable to the public. CHina is not answerable to the public as a communist regime, and have such a large volume of sales they really dont feel any backlash (yet).

 

Just look at how they have been handling the product issues all over the world. They have killed people in other countries with thier products. All they do is stonewall, deny, threaten.

 

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56056

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/17/business/trade.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR2007053100901.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/28/health/main2992320.shtml

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=ea8c428ff274b708c71a4514aec25bab

China cant be sued like you would in the western world. CHina has very little tracabilty on the product. China itself doesnt even knowa lot of its products are coming from. They just executed the head of the (equivilant) of the FDA, but they have done nothing to correct the situation internally.

 

China's sudden rejection of food products from the USA seems suspect at best, in a tit for tat way that China does diplomacy.

 

 

(tires http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/wireStory?id=3315045)

 

Luckily i have a simple taste in food, so im not worried about most of this as far as food wise, but have been paying alot more attention to the source of where things come from.

 

 

Interestingly some of the Chinese cars that are due to be importes to this country have gone through crash tests, and have gotten zero or one star.

i wonder if anything will be done about that.

 

have a good 4th....

 

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interestingly some of the Chinese cars that are due to be importes to this country have gone through crash tests, and have gotten zero or one star.

i wonder if anything will be done about that.

 

See the following article regarding the Briliance BS6 crash test.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/brilliance-bs6s-adac-crash-test-is-anything-but/

 

Also, follow the links in the article to the youtube videos of the Jiangling Motors' Landwind SUV crash test.

 

Scary stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See the following article regarding the Briliance BS6 crash test.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/brilliance-bs6s-adac-crash-test-is-anything-but/

 

Also, follow the links in the article to the youtube videos of the Jiangling Motors' Landwind SUV crash test.

 

Scary stuff.

 

EEEKK

 

Maybe that will stop them from the US Roads. Just wait for the first time somone tries to sue the Chinese Auto mfg (essentially the chinese govt) and see what happens. Same thing that always does, they ignore it.

 

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I vote for brembo rotors and pagid (black) pads.

Zimerman rotors are exquisite, can you get them for subaru?

Had this mechanic who meticulously drill wire brushed the cad plating off the contact surface before pad installation. He claimed the cadmium would forever contaminate the pads. Best brake job I ever had!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I vote for brembo rotors and pagid (black) pads.

Zimerman rotors are exquisite, can you get them for subaru?

Had this mechanic who meticulously drill wire brushed the cad plating off the contact surface before pad installation. He claimed the cadmium would forever contaminate the pads. Best brake job I ever had!

 

 

Doesn't that stuff come off with brake parts cleaner? That's all I've ever used on new rotors.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes and no. Its better to look at products from Russia and N korea. The other coutries listed are answerable to the public. CHina is not answerable to the public as a communist regime, and have such a large volume of sales they really dont feel any backlash (yet).

 

Just look at how they have been handling the product issues all over the world. They have killed people in other countries with thier products. All they do is stonewall, deny, threaten.

 

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56056

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/17/business/trade.php

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR2007053100901.htmlhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/28/health/main2992320.shtml

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=ea8c428ff274b708c71a4514aec25bab

China cant be sued like you would in the western world. CHina has very little tracabilty on the product. China itself doesnt even knowa lot of its products are coming from. They just executed the head of the (equivilant) of the FDA, but they have done nothing to correct the situation internally.

 

China's sudden rejection of food products from the USA seems suspect at best, in a tit for tat way that China does diplomacy.

 

 

(tires http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/IndustryInfo/wireStory?id=3315045)

 

Luckily i have a simple taste in food, so im not worried about most of this as far as food wise, but have been paying alot more attention to the source of where things come from.

 

 

Interestingly some of the Chinese cars that are due to be importes to this country have gone through crash tests, and have gotten zero or one star.

i wonder if anything will be done about that.

 

have a good 4th....

 

 

nipper

 

I do agree with you whole heartedly on your above statements regarding China. At least here in Minnesota we started to do something about Chinese imports:

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2028740.ece

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do agree with you whole heartedly on your above statements regarding China. At least here in Minnesota we started to do something about Chinese imports:

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2028740.ece

 

Got to love the brits with thier great industrial based ecnomy producing and exporting to many great things ....

 

(read sarcasim).

 

nipper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...