Raybestos Element3 hybrid brake pads, anyone have experience?

columrick · May 26, 2022

Approaching 60k; 2017 1500 LT doesn't need new pads yet, but getting close. I'm toggling between the police semi-metallic, or the Raybestos Element3 hybrid pads. The semi-metallics may provide better stopping, but I'm not looking forward to possible squeal or more dust. Then I found some reviews on the Element3 pads that were very interesting.

Anyone here use the Element3 pads?

16LT4 · May 26, 2022

47 minutes ago, columrick said:

Approaching 60k; 2017 1500 LT doesn't need new pads yet, but getting close. I'm toggling between the police semi-metallic, or the Raybestos Element3 hybrid pads. The semi-metallics may provide better stopping, but I'm not looking forward to possible squeal or more dust. Then I found some reviews on the Element3 pads that were very interesting.

Anyone here use the Element3 pads?

I've had them on my '16 for 25k miles, and maybe 5k miles on my BMW. Both vehicles stop at least as well as designed, but the major benefit for me is near-zero brake dust (which is one of my biggest pet peeves). I was having to wash the BMW twice a week simply to clean the front wheels, now it can go weeks and the front wheels are cleaner than the rears.

The BMW stops silently, the truck's front brakes elicit a slight squeal, only occasionally, upon initial light brake application, but not on subsequent or heavier applications. No change in 25k miles; I only notice it slowing down at slow speeds, and only with the windows open, so it doesn't bother me. The front-end cleanliness more than makes up for the occasional squeak. I've towed 4k lbs without trailer brakes, and 6k+ lbs with surge brakes, and the truck never wanted for more clamping under normal driving.

pokismoki · June 12, 2022

zero dust means they are ceramic most likely. I hate ceramics cause they dont stop when cold.

I preffer what the cops use, who cares if its dusty, they work all the time. I would upgrade to the T1 truck rotors and calipers if i was gonna be doing upgrades

pokismoki · June 12, 2022

EBC has a better truck pad, it might be the RED ones.

16LT4 · June 13, 2022

17 hours ago, pokismoki said:

zero dust means they are ceramic most likely. I hate ceramics cause they dont stop when cold.

I preffer what the cops use, who cares if its dusty, they work all the time. I would upgrade to the T1 truck rotors and calipers if i was gonna be doing upgrades

They are hybrid pads, and literally described as being a ceramic-metallic mix. These pads stop perfectly well when cold, and don't change their stopping ability with temperature. Their hybrid nature essentially yields the best aspects of both ceramic and metallic pads.

I care about dust because I don't feel like 1) breathing it 2) having it corrode wheels and surrounding metals 3) washing my (6) vehicles twice a week because the wheels are black. For under $30, I definitely recommend the Element3 pads as an upgrade.

Hawk pads are awesome too, I have them on my pro-touring 442, but pricey. I built that car with my E46 as its benchmark.

columrick · June 13, 2022

Rockauto had a Raybestos Element3 pad/rotor package, so I went with that. I have mileage remaining on the OEM brakes, so I expect replacement within a few thousand miles. Just a quick eyeball of pad material indicated it was good but getting closer to replacement time. Fun, gotta do dampers and brakes nearly at the same time.

16LT4 · June 13, 2022

3 hours ago, columrick said:

Rockauto had a Raybestos Element3 pad/rotor package, so I went with that. I have mileage remaining on the OEM brakes, so I expect replacement within a few thousand miles. Just a quick eyeball of pad material indicated it was good but getting closer to replacement time. Fun, gotta do dampers and brakes nearly at the same time.

Tip, because I just had to do this to mine last week:

With the rotors off, wire-wheel the hubs. I had some hub rust forming, pushing the rotors out unevenly.

More importantly, with the caliper off, clean out the pad shim channels with said wire wheel and a file to get the metal smooth and clean. Rust was lifting the shims, causing the pads to get jammed and not release from the rotor. Now, the shims sit as they should, and with some light grease, the pads easily slide in the shims.

Edited June 13, 2022 by 16LT4