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Brake pads + rotors recommendations

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13K views 39 replies 23 participants last post by  ZeGerman  
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#1 ·
I am changing my front and rear pads and rotors on my 2014 ATS Luxury 2.5 (non turbo), the front Brembo set up. Dealership says their pads are 400+. I'd rather get my own than pay the dealer price which I am sure is inflated.

Just looking for some recommendations or advice for the fronts and possibly the rears. But I hear the rears are nothing special.
 
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#2 ·
Make sure that the rotor hubs are clean of rust so the disk can fit flush. I used EBC disks and rotors but had problems with the fronts that warped shortly after the Caddy dealer installed them. They then blamed the EBC brakes and l had to run around trying to fix the problem and wasting hundreds of dollars. I got a refund for the EBC front disks and ended up refitting the original front disks and turning them on the car(machining them). Click on my ID to read my posts about my bad experience. I should have installed them myself but at my age I don't like working on cars anymore.
 
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#3 ·
First, are you sure you have Brembos on the front? I thought those did not come with the 2.5L, just a single piston GM design. (others, please correct me)

Second, there are many GM online re-salers if you want to stick with OEM but don't want to pay dealer prices. I ran StopTech with EBC red stuff on my prior vehicle, but I've stuck with OEM rotors and pads for my ATS as I really like how little dust the pads produce and how the rotors have essentially zero rust (the Red Stuffs were pretty bad for dust).
 
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#6 ·
In general, going with OEM parts for whatever needs replacing is a good choice. However, when backing my 3.6 Premium coupe out of the garage in humid weather and the brakes squeal all the way to the street to the point of embarrassment, I definitely will not go with OEM pads. I've had great success with Akebono pads on my Mercedes. Dust free and best of all, they don't need bedding in.
 
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#5 ·
If really $400 just for the pads it seems like a huge price. I would expect either online OEM or EBC would be far less than half of that. One issue can be if you aren't planning on DIY then many won't accept your parts. I also think I will go with OEM on this car as I have been happy with the performance and lack of dust.

I quickly found rear rotors and pads from here (never shopped with them, just looking for a quick price) for my car $356 (includes shipping)- PARTS LINK
 
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#12 ·
artscadillac said:
I also don't think the Base 2.5 ATS has Brembo.

Verify what the price includes. Dealers usually include turning the rotors, if not replacing.
Don't compare that to just pads DIY. The original equip also creates basically no dust.
Click to expand...
2 dealerships told me I have a front Brembo set up. Is there a way that I can visually verify this myself?

Thanks all for the input and advice. And yes I plan to install myself.
 
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#13 ·
Post a picture of them, up close preferably. The Brembos are 4-piston fixed units, so two pistons on each side - they will look like this (notice the "dip" near the middle to visually indicate the two pistons):
586217
 
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#21 ·
+1 for going oem. $400 would be about right for a dealer brake job complete, not for a cash&carry set of pads. Autozone sells genuine brembo if you insist on DIY. I get brakes for my jag and audi from them. They even offer 20% off online orders. That said, just because the pads say brembo is no guarantee they are the same compound as OE spec.
Another reason to go dealer is their ability to turn rotors ON THE CAR, which negates any variation in hub flange runout.
If you can afford the car you can probably afford the correct service?
 
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#22 ·
Stay oem. They are easy to change. Shop. Someone suggested rock auto. There are also dealeers that have a big discount parts business. Get on the web, find a part number, then google the part number. You would be surprised. I changed my front discs on my CTS V. Bought them from Amazon. They were returns and about 60% of the best price I could find. Brake pads are a black box. They are like shocks. Who the hell knows how they will perform? You pay your money and take your chances. Good luck.
 
#24 ·
FRONT: Akebono ASP 1001. Best, smoothest, quietest brakes I've ever had. Amazing stopping. $95 at my local NAPA dealer.
REAR: Monroe FX1659 pads. Also, smooth and quiet (I had some trouble putting in the new springs on one side but all is ok now). $25 from RockAuto.
 
#29 ·
Take a look at what is on many Grand Prix cars and most Grand Prix motorcycles, and you will see a familiar name. Brembo makes the very best brakes in the world, and now they also make yours. Sure, that doesn't mean you are getting their best, as this push to grow their brand has probably resulted in plenty of things being manufactured to a budget, but you can bet that they have the most experience and expertise in the world. If only they could simplify their distribution in North America...
 
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#35 ·
Hi, living in Europa, so Cadillac parts are hard to come by. Thinking about ordering the Powestop Z23 setup for my 2017 Coupe with J55 brakes.
On Rockauto I see specifically 'Coupe' or 'Sedan' mentioned with some brands.

Can anybody tell me if there really is a difference in rotors/pads between coupe and sedan J55 setup?

Thanks, Richard
 
#36 ·
Hmm it is not that hard as you may expect. There are many interchangeable parts of Opel Insignia A and B or more common Chevrolet Camaro. Same with the brake stuff.
The GM brake code is J55, so it doesn't matter if coupe or sedan - it is same, same. The front discs are 321 mm in diameter, the rear ones 315 mm. For the brake pads I may expect you will have JE2, so (high) performance brake lining. Stick to that.
 
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#38 ·
Thanks!
I know, 'shouldn't be to hard' was what I thought also.
But looking at eBay.de it does not give many options for ATS or at least it is not clear to me if it is for J55/JE2 setup.
Anyway, I need four discs with pads and want premium brand, so I might end up ordering PowerStop product in the US.
At my local Kwikfit (ATU) they could not help me and there is no official Cadillac dealership in 'die Niederlande'.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Richard.
PS Only 28 Cadillacs ATS in the entire country of which 6 Coupe and mine the only one in Red Obsession. Imported it myself from Potsdam.
 
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