Ditching Hawk LTS pads for something else. Thermoquiets?

Mossyoakglock · June 14, 2013

So my Hawk LTS pads squeal like a stuck pig so I'm going to bite the bullet and go with something else. Probably going to stick with ceramics and most likely will go with some Thermoquiets.

My question is this: Will the Thermoquiets work ok with the PowerSlot Slotted rotors that I currently have? I thought about the Hawk Ceramics but have read mix reviews and after having to deal with Hawk and their customer service, I'm staying away.

My other option is to go with AC Delco DuraStop pads.

Daryl LBZ · June 14, 2013

OEM ceramics. Report back at 100k more miles.

Na yo

DaveH71 · June 14, 2013

EBC makes a good pad if you need to go after market. I personally would go AC Delco

Daryl LBZ · June 14, 2013

I had the Hawk Severe Duty pads without any noise, but they were on EBC rotors not Powerslots. I would try EBC's pads next since you gave Hawk a try once already and had a bad experience.

03blackz71 · June 15, 2013

Hate to suggest this but are you sure they are the front pads and rotors making noise? I had some brake squeal on my truck and I thought it was my front brakes. I bought a set of EBC pads to swap out. But before I did I had the truck at the dealership for other work and I had them look at the pads and rotors and said all was fine. So I had them clean, inspect and adjust the rear drums and now my squeal is gone and my braking is sooo much better now.

Mossyoakglock · June 15, 2013

Had the truck in for alignment and they checked out the brakes. They said everything looked great and was lubed properly and the pads were contacting the rotor and wearing evenly and that the rotors were true and not warped so everything is good on the front brakes.

The rears are fine as well. I had the truck at the dealer to have the lines electronically bled and swapped out all the fluid and they inspected the rear brakes and adjusted the drums. I have about 10,000 miles left of the shoes so they'll be replaced soon.

The tech at Firestone suggested that if I want to get new pads and go back with ceramic, he suggested Napa's Adaptive 1 pads. Are those decent pads? Regardless of which ceramic I go with (either Thermoquiets or Dura Stops), will the PowerSlot rotors hold up to ceramic pads since they supposedly produce more heat?

DaveH71 · June 16, 2013

Is there a reason you want ceramic pads? Ceramics don't produce more heat, they just don't absorb as much heat as metallics so more of it stays at the rotor. They will also be easier on your rotors then metallics, wear wise. Only problem with ceramics is that they don't work the best until they hit their optimum temp.

Mossyoakglock · June 17, 2013

Is there a reason you want ceramic pads? Ceramics don't produce more heat, they just don't absorb as much heat as metallics so more of it stays at the rotor. They will also be easier on your rotors then metallics, wear wise. Only problem with ceramics is that they don't work the best until they hit their optimum temp.

Less dust and less noise. I'm running slotted rotors so should't that help dissipate the heat on the rotors? Plus OEM is Ceramic.

Help us help you. What was the original problem you were trying to fix when you put the crap pads on?

i was going for increased braking performance. I know that with performance brakes you are going to get a little more noise but I didn't think this much. I read countless reviews and everybody said that their Hawk pads were wisper quiet paired with the Powerslot rotors, so I took a chance. They seem to stop a little better but I wouldn't call it a night and day difference.

If they don't quiet down in the next month or so, I'm just going to go with some Wagner Thermoquiets since ceramic is what came on the truck factory. Plus the Thermoquiets have a friction rating of FF and I'm trying to find out what the Hawks have to compare.

I've installed Thermoquiets and ACDelco's on a few vehicles and none of them make a peep. I tow a few times so the ceramics will probably be fine. Just need to find out if the Powerslot rotors will be ok with the ceramics

Mossyoakglock · June 19, 2013

It looks like I'm going to ditch the Hawk pads. They make way to much noise for my liking. I think I'm going to go with Akebono's ProAct (ceramic) pads and keep my powerslot slotted rotors. I can get them from RockAuto.com for about $65.

If I decide to get new rotors, what is a good rotor blank to go with?

I considered Wagner Thermoquiets as well. It was about 50/50 between the two but Akebono seems to edge it out a bit.

ohenryx · June 23, 2013

I had Firestone do my brakes about a month ago. They used really cheap pads ("Laser Quiet"??), and I have been unhappy with the brakes ever since. Yesterday, I bit the bullet and bought Wagner ThermoQuiets for front and rear. I went with those as I know the brand name, I have read good things about those specific pads, and the O'Reilly's 6 blocks away had them in stock.

There is a noticeable difference, in the pedal feel and in the stopping power. This is on a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500.

uh6tdrvr · June 23, 2013

I just put a set of Napa Adaptive one pads on the front of my 09 because I was tired of the factory pads squealing (85K) with half of the measurable life left. What a difference. Going to replace the rear soon.

I have tried all of the part store brands (on other vehicles) and usually there isn't a huge difference, not with the Adaptives. There is a noticeable difference in braking now. Very happy with them!

Mossyoakglock · June 24, 2013

Yea, the Firestone tech mentioned Adaptive One pads and said they are some of the best pads on the market now. The problem is is that there is not a NAPA close to me anymore.

I'm probably going to go with Akebono's based on the reviews I've read online. Just want to get rid of the Hawks because they squeal constantly and they have the same friction rating as all the ceramic pads (Wagner, AC Delco, Akebono, etc) which is FF. Not really a "performance upgrade" in my opinion. More noise, more dust and the same stopping power as ceramic, maybe even a little less than before.