From reading here and pricing brake pads over the last 15
years (for my 91 Civic LX, 176k miles), I think OEM is the
way to go. First, OEM costs about the same as high quality
non-OEM. Second, IIRC less dust results from the OEM ones.
Third, and perhaps the most important, the so-called
"long-life" non-OEM pads get their long life via using a
harder material. That produces more wear and tear on the
brake rotors.

Online OEM Honda parts stores:
www.slhonda.com (parts section, in California)
www.cheapesthondaparts.com (Colorado)
www.hondaautomotiveparts.com (Rhode Island)

I have used all three and was satisfied, though keep an idea
on the Colorado outfit. I had to follow up with phone calls
twice recently to make sure my order was shipped. Otherwise,
I think the Colorado store is the best deal for prices and
shipping costs.

stick with oem.  best fade resistance, best squeal resistance, least
dust, most disk friendly.  fade resistance is by far the most important.
 a lot of aftermarket pads are abysmal in this respect.  it may not be
apparent when first using a set of after-market pads, but when you're
descending a multi-mile steep mountain switchback with a loaded car,
believe me, you figure out what you're missing real quick.

Yup  have to agree with the others  HONDA  quality pads are really the way to go here.  not to say all aftermarket brake pads are bad.   but if you want long life"  no squeeling   and a  nice pedal feell when aplying brakes  get the Honda stuff & forget it. on my 95 civic Lx  first set were replaced at nearly 96.000kms  i kid you not".  are you doing the brake job youreself

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johnin

I believe you, because I have 120,000 kms on my first set, although
lot of it is highway. Yes, I 'll be doing the job myself

The reason I posed the question in the first place was that I ha
recently done my mom's brakes with cheap aftermarkets. The OEM For
Focus pads are the best I've ever seen, they stuck like glue. Like a
idiot, I went and replaced them and the difference is unbelievable

I might redo her brakes with the OEM pads, but I was just wondering i
there was anything better out there
Told you so ;
"make sure you grease the sliders with some  "synthetic brake grease"  and  bleed the old brake fluid out.  using a premium dot 3 brake fluid for a good  job =

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johnin

I have Raybestos QuiteStops on my '03 Accord right now front and rear
and am very happy with them about 1 year into use.  I believe that they
are a ceramic type formulation.  Considering that the factory rear pads
wore out so rapidly and that the factory front disks warped at a young
age I saw no reason to buy Honda replacement parts.

John

mrg wrote:> I will be replacing my brake pads soon on my 03 Civic EX, and I want t

I have Raybestos QuiteStops on my '03 Accord right now front and rea
and am very happy with them about 1 year into use.  I believe that the
are a ceramic type formulation.  Considering that the factory rear pad
wore out so rapidly and that the factory front disks warped at a youn
age I saw no reason to buy Honda replacement parts

Joh
John on my 95 civic Lx with- 223.000kms                                                                                                          the rear brake drums on my car were still good all thats needed to keep them working properly is rear brake adjustments every 25-30,000kms  secondly as far as the front brakes are concerned i  take off the front wheells every year  to inspect & grease the sliders with synthetic grease put the wheells back making sure to Torque each bolt on the wheell to exactly 80 foot pounds.  so i dont worpe roters & get a shaky wheell   ;) :cool

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johnin