Replaced the front brake pads

[CanAmChris]

I have a 2012 GS with just over 19K miles. The front brakes were getting so loud I just couldnt stand it anymore. After reading up on the available brake pads, I decided to go with the Duralast Gold Cmax DGC 1001. A typical, the Autozone computer did not have any correct pads listed for the Brembo calipers. Thanks to this forum I had the correct information when I went to pick them up.
Talk about the easiest brake job, it took me longer to jack the car up and get the wheel off than it did to replace the pads. I wish all brakes were that simple.
I will give more feedback on the pads once I put a few miles on the them.

 

[NHRATA01]

Yes, the Brembo fronts are very easy to do - haven't done it on a GS but have on others. They're designed that way, so you can swap pads quickly in the pits on race day. 🙂

 

[NHRATA01]

Hey out of curiosity, how much material was still left on the pads? I see a lot of people changing them before 20K, I'm at 12K, wondering if they wear that quick or if it's just owners tiring of the squeaking and dusting. I'd like to think I can get 30-40K easy out of a set of pads with the way I drive.

 

[CanAmChris]

Mine were just about shot. Almost down to the backing plate. I think I could of made it to 20K miles without a problem, but not much further.

 

[GSGTHD]

I have almost 25k on 2012 GS and the front pads are just about done and will replace them next week with original Brembo pads. Also will definitely have the rotors machined. No vibration, just grooved a bit. I coulda got close to 27k maybe 29k on the Pirreli tires, but road noise was annoying. No issues with the car, runs and drives pretty good.

 

[GS6spd]

Wow, even for a performance oriented vehicle, the mileage most owners seem to be getting out of the brakes and factory Pirelli's is abysmal! With a bunch of track days I could see it, but with just normal driving, not so sure........?

 

[Walt G]

Wow, even for a performance oriented vehicle, the mileage most owners seem to be getting out of the brakes and factory Pirelli's is abysmal! With a bunch of track days I could see it, but with just normal driving, not so sure........?

In GM's defense, they do offer the 19" wheels and are putting in different front pads for those that complain about the dust (or pad wear rate?).

They need those tires and brakes on the top-performing version of the car to put up the performance numbers everyone looks at in the car magazines. Can't really blame them... that's how it works. Cars are tested with the original equipment.

But I do agree about the tires and brakes... so I made sure my car had the 19" wheels and I replaced the front pads with the AutoZone C-Max pads ($50), and I am one very happy camper.

 

[2012gsguy]

In GM's defense, they do offer the 19" wheels and are putting in different front pads for those that complain about the dust (or pad wear rate?).

They need those tires and brakes on the top-performing version of the car to put up the performance numbers everyone looks at in the car magazines. Can't really blame them... that's how it works. Cars are tested with the original equipment.

But I do agree about the tires and brakes... so I made sure my car had the 19" wheels and I replaced the front pads with the AutoZone C-Max pads ($50), and I am one very happy camper.

The 19's wheel tires dont wear any better at all. I am replacing all 4 tires at 12,450 miles and I am at 2/32" front AND 3/32" rear...I rotated the tores 3 times!! The factory tires are total SHIT!

 

[EnderWiggin]

Goodyear RSA tires have never been that great in my book, I avoid Goodyear like the plague. I currently have the TSB Pads with great sucess so far, but I don't do track driving or the sort. Dealer offers brake pad changes for $80 an axle, and I was told that was for OEM pads, might be something to check out... I'm sure they'll weasel some extra charges into it to make up for the loss in pad costs.

 

[NHRATA01]

Yeah, RSA's were the baselevel tire in F-bodies up to '02, and no one ever liked them. But I have 13K miles on my so far and honestly there's plenty of tread left. Nowhere near the wear bars.

 

[rodstafford]

I'm still curious as to the compound and supplier of the OEM Brembo pads, as queried in my original post:
Can someone confirm that Regal GS OEM pads are made by Ferodo? Plus, any details on which compound: DS1000, DS2000? The OEM ZO6 pads are allegedly made by Ferodo and are the DS1000 compound which is their performance street offering.

 

[Walt G]

I don't deny that others have had bad experiences with the Goodyear tires. Many have said that there are 'good' and 'bad' GSAs out there. I'd like to hope that their quality control is tighter than that, but perhaps it is not.

I can only report my own experience. 19", GSAs, 14,000 miles so far, and they look close to new. I've got 8/32" all around... brand new they are specified to have 10/32". I'm on track to get 45,000-50,000 out of mine.

I purchased the car with 6000 miles, so I don't know if they were rotated between 0 and 6000, but the selling dealer rotated them at 6000, and then I did it again at 11,000.

I'm totally happy with the tires so far, but I'm heading into my first winter with them. Unfortunately, I'll soon learn how they do in light snow.

Sorry to hear that others have had worse performance, but I'd hate to see potential Regal buyers turned away if some (or maybe 'most'?) people don't have a problem.

 

[TimLang]

I consider myself a moderate-aggressive driver (especially with this car ) Bought my GS with 85 miles. Once i picked up a set of winters i put my Goodyears up for sale at a great price just to move them. I will be getting nicer tires in the spring. I had 13k miles on them, rotated once and all four tires were at 7-8/32.. not bad. I just considered them average tires. Definitly wouldnt buy them again though

Tim

 

[jepva]

I'm at 17k, no squeaking from the brakes yet. I will probably need tires within the next 10k, but I don't know if I can make it through winter with the Pzero's at this point, traction in under 40 degree weather has been abysmal so far.

For the handling and braking performance this car puts out, the wear items are typical. Max performance summers don't last very long either way, and especially not on a 3800lb car with high damping rates. Neither will the brakes. Any cars with similar performance (and especially German) cost at least or most likely more.

 

[FatherDeth]

Any advice on jacking these cars up?