OK - i am way overdue for some brake pads but i have a few questions.

I really want to paint the.. i think they are called calipers?.. can i do this?

also, i have heard that aftermarket brake pads do nto fit in proper... would someone like to share some insight please?

thanks!

-sn0wfr0g

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Yes you can paint your brake calipers. You can either powder-coat it or use Dupli-Color Caliper paint. I used Dupli-color though. As far as aftermarket brake pads, they do fit on the car. Go to tirerack so you can get exact fitment brake pads for your celica. Good luck

This post has been edited by netrata: Jul 27, 2006 - 3:54 PM

You can paint the calipers if you want. But you need the right paint (high temp paint) and also you have to unbolt 2 large screws on each side to get the caliper out, which are really in there... As for aftermarket brake pads? I've really never heard of aftermarket brake pads. I've never had any problems with new brake pads being fit unperfectly as long as it was made for your car but when it comes down to brake pads, there are different types of brake pads to choose from. Please click here for more info. Also, if you plan on replacing your brake pads, you must resurface your rotors or get new ones becuz if you install new brake pads on a non-resurfaced rotor, the brakes will make your steering shift sides and wobble (made my car shake everytime I stopped). I hope this helps. I also suggest using Brake Part Cleaner and Non-Squeek Spray. Non-Squike Spray helps alot becuz I didn't use it before and with new brake pads and new racing rotors, it squeeked everytime I braked. LoL.

This post has been edited by ExSane: Jul 27, 2006 - 4:08 PM

what kind of driving do you do then we can recommend a setup that would fit your pocket and style....

ie hard street driving? normal daily driving?

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I'd say more aggressive daily driving.

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Thanks for the feedback. I guess when I say aftermarket what I mean is non OEM pads. I seem to remember someone telling me that most non OEM pads would not fit entirely correctly and cause the pad to shift a little bit.

*shrug* Likely a myth.

trust brands that work...oem are nice but leave allot of brake dust and still squeel on occasion...ceramics are nice, low dust, last longer...and theres metallics which not many use. brand name aftermarket brake pads such as....ebc, akebono, hawk...these are cheaper then oem since toyota charges extra for shims.

Im getting some Hawk brake pads for as soon I get the money.. their around $10 more than OEM for me

$123 for both sides...
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/performa...12&brandid=1840

toyota wants 60 for fronts and 40 for rears plus $40 for shims each side!

meh! theres no Hawk pads for my ST

Get ceramic brakes, they don't leave any nasty brake dust like cheap brakes found at every store.

aggressive street my vote goes to EBC green stuff

i had them on my celica and loved them
and about to order a set for my Jetta

crossed and slotted rotors from nopi are good stuff too for a good price at that

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thanks for the link! still not sure what i am going with yet but ill let yall know. (weekends are just not long enough)

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where would i look to price / compare ceramics?

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ebc green stuff?

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bull****, i have the same calipers as you and a set of hawk HPS pads in there as im typing.

EBC greenstuff are TOO agressive and dusty and dont stop any better than other pads.

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brakes.jsp?...lar=&perfCode=S



This post has been edited by Bitter: Aug 1, 2006 - 10:25 AM

EBC green stuff are by no means too aggressive....i know people using RED STUFF on the track.....and i use green stuff on the street and love every minute of it....plus wear is AWESOME i drove nearly 10,000 miles on my EBC green stuffs around the entire east coast and have nearly a full pad still

greenstuff pads will eat through rotors and get really really noisy when theyre about 3/4 worn. ive seen a few cars with rotors that were just gobbled up by greenstuff pads where the pads still had 1/2 of their life left.

hawk hps work just as well, hawk hp plus are even better. the hp plus are amazing pads, they're trackable and work just fine on the street. theres no low-temp problems and they are very heat fade resistant. the ONLY complaint that i have about the hps's is that the initial stop when theyre cold lacks bite, but once you're used to that theyre fine. i suspect thats just corrossion scrubbing off more than anything since the rest of the day theyre fine.

really i noticed my rotors were completely fine...cross and slotted of course...and no noise complaints....

but then again ebc pads have proved to be slightly hit or miss...
i know a couple dubs running them no problem as well as i'm ordering a set for my dub

and yea hawks are good stuff too...heard great things about them

well maybe the celica is a lighter car than my moms 98 626 and my friends 2000 Eclipse GS? the eclipse went through 3 sets of EBC greenstuff pads with EBC drill/slot and slot rotors. the pads just chewed up the rotors, heat cheques, cracks, transfer spots, ect. the rotors did fine when he had stock brake pads against them, but the greenstuff just ruined them. my moms rotors were eaten by the greenstuff pads as well, but honestly i dont take anyones word on anything without seeing with my own 2 eyes, i think that mechanic just wanted to sell her some ceramic pads and new rotors, but who really knows. she likes the ceramics since they hardly dust.

ive got greenstuff pads on mine and i havent been too happy with them, they are super dusty, and dont bite at all when they get hot. im gonna have to try something else next time