GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I do a lot of mountain driving and I have been known to drive aggressively on those awesome mountain passes. I think it's time to invest in better performing brake pads and rotors on my 09 GT due to the progressive front steering wheel vibration ONLY when braking (started late last fall). I had the same phenomenon in my Honda Accord, and after getting new pads and resurfacing rotors the problem came back in no time. I have a few questions.

Is it necessary to replace all four sets or can I just do the front two? I imagine I must do all four.

I hear it's an easy job to DIY, but due to time constraints and the fact that I'm not naturally good at working on the car, what's a fair price for having a shop do the work if I supply the hardware?

I'd like to get some recommendations on what I should buy. I'm hoping to get good equipment that won't warp but I don't want to pay an arm and a leg if I don't need to. In searching the forum I've gathered that Stop Tech slotted rotors are good, and perhaps Hawk ceramic pads?

Th17kit wrote:I do a lot of mountain driving and I have been known to drive aggressively on those awesome mountain passes. I think it's time to invest in better performing brake pads and rotors on my 09 GT due to the progressive front steering wheel vibration ONLY when braking (started late last fall). I had the same phenomenon in my Honda Accord, and after getting new pads and resurfacing rotors the problem came back in no time. I have a few questions.

Is it necessary to replace all four sets or can I just do the front two? I imagine I must do all four.

I hear it's an easy job to DIY, but due to time constraints and the fact that I'm not naturally good at working on the car, what's a fair price for having a shop do the work if I supply the hardware?

I'd like to get some recommendations on what I should buy. I'm hoping to get good equipment that won't warp but I don't want to pay an arm and a leg if I don't need to. In searching the forum I've gathered that Stop Tech slotted rotors are good, and perhaps Hawk ceramic pads?

Hi TH:
My answer is not Vibe specific and I am not an aggressive driver (anymore). So keep that in mind. I would love to have your roads around here where it's flat.
You can do just the fronts. They do the hard work anyway. Obviously cheap rotors will do you no good. Drilled rotors would help with pad contact but they can crack starting at the holes. Dimpled rotors will enhance pad contact without the cracking issue.
Slotted rotors will increase pad wear. I would avoid them.
When you shop for rotors consider the weight. The lightest will wear out the fastest. Consider more so the overall quality. I have had good experience with Wagner products and I have had bad experience with store brand products.
I looked at Rock Auto. Unfortunately it is impossible to get consistent product information across the brands. Raybestos does a good job in providing information but that does not mean that the product is the best. But this is the kind of information I would like to get form all of the brands:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinf ... cc=1442296" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe you need to go to the brand websites to find out the specifics.

I once got AC Delco rotors for a Mazda pick up. These rotors were the finest looking ones I ever unpacked. Smooth as glass and fully balanced. There was also detailed info on the web. I found no details today.

That is all I can do to add to the confusion.

Th17kit wrote: Is it necessary to replace all four sets or can I just do the front two? I imagine I must do all four.

I hear it's an easy job to DIY, but due to time constraints and the fact that I'm not naturally good at working on the car, what's a fair price for having a shop do the work if I supply the hardware?

Just doing the fronts is fine if the rears are still good. You just shouldn't replace only one side of the fronts or rears!
Can't help ya on the best replacements.... Got my last set of pads from the Junk Yard!

What's aggressive? Stop tech rotors are good. Are you getting blanks or cross drilled set? The cross drilled set will keep your temps down if you drive aggressively. Couple that with good brake fluid and you got some good stopping power. For really aggressive mountain driving I like Motul 600. If not Amsoil. As far as brake pads go. Hawk makes good pads but be prepared for a lot of brake dust.

None of this stuff is installed yet as I'm still in the process of gathering the parts, but check out my Project PowerStop: Complete 2009 Vibe GT brake upgrade thread. I have a ton of links and info for the products I'll be using: PowerStop cross drilled and slotted front and rear rotors, PowerStop Z17 Evolution Plus ceramic front and rear pads and Techna-Fit braided stainless steel front and rear brake lines. I fully expect it to be a killer setup!

Don't forget the brake fluid. As noted I like the Motul for spirited driving.

http://takubanmotorsports.com/index.php ... duct_id=67

I usually like to remove the reservoir and clean it out so when you add the brake fluid it goes in really clean. Just don't let air in the MC .
.

When I installed ceramic "Performance" Pads on my car the stock rotors would warp. I finally ditched them for an OEM quality pad and no more wrapped rotors.

Salsa Guy wrote:When I installed ceramic "Performance" Pads on my car the stock rotors would warp. I finally ditched them for an OEM quality pad and no more wrapped rotors.

I had big warpage issues with my ceramic pads when I had the OEM and cheapo-emergency replacement rotors. I got brembo blank rotors and don't have issues, but would like to have them turned and sand the akebono pads back smooth so they look better.

Thanks for all the input folks! I haven't made a decision on what exactly I'll do yet cause things have been busy, but when I do I'll post it here.

It sounds like I should start with fronts only, buy quality rotors and ceramic brakes, and when changing out my brake fluid will go with a high performance version. Hopefully that will be enough.

In terms of aggressive driving - I use a fair amount of repetitive braking on winding mtn roads, say 60-70mph down to 35-45. One extreme example: I was late to leave the Pike's Peak toll road and they were going to fine me if I didn't make it to the entrance by a certain time. I managed 17 miles down the hillclimb route in 19 minutes. My brakes smelled so strongly after that stunt.

I went with a full set of Powerstop rotors and ceramic pads and got the recommended brake fluid as well. I saved about $15 buying the parts piecemeal on eBay rather than a kit on Amazon.

Did you get the Motul? Let us know how you like your setup once you get a good drive in.

@ triz: What brake fluid would you recommend for an automatic 2009 Vibe GT that sees no towing, no hilly or mountainous driving and hardly any stop and go traffic? Since I am going to be installing all new performance pads, rotors and brake lines on both our 2009 Vibe GTs, I figured I might as well put all new fluid in as well. Thanks in advance!

*Sorry for the threadjack Th17kit .

vibenvy wrote:@ triz: What brake fluid would you recommend for an automatic 2009 Vibe GT that sees no towing, no hilly or mountainous driving and hardly any stop and go traffic? Since I am going to be installing all new performance pads, rotors and brake lines on both our 2009 Vibe GTs, I figured I might as well put all new fluid in as well. Thanks in advance!

*Sorry for the threadjack Th17kit .

Well on my daily driver vehicle (Chevy Trailblazer) I do use the Amsoil 500. It's good brake fluid for your normal vehicle.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/o ... e=BF3SN-EA

If your looking for an off the shelf option readily available at the local auto parts. The Prestone High Performance DOT3 brake fluid is hard to beat. It has a slightly lower boil rate than the Amsoil 500 but higher than most other off the shelf applications. Valvoline included. I think its about 8 bucks for 32oz. So price wise and what you get its a great value.

Motul for high performance driving.

I only sell Amsoil though.

triz wrote:Well on my daily driver vehicle (Chevy Trailblazer) I do use the Amsoil 500. It's good brake fluid for your normal vehicle.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/o ... e=BF3SN-EA

If your looking for an off the shelf option readily available at the local auto parts. The Prestone High Performance DOT3 brake fluid is hard to beat. It has a slightly lower boil rate than the Amsoil 500 but higher than most other off the shelf applications. Valvoline included. I think its about 8 bucks for 32oz. So price wise and what you get its a great value.

Motul for high performance driving.

I only sell Amsoil though.

Thanks a lot for the information! I'm a ways off from needing the brake fluid yet, but I will definitely check out the Amsoil and Prestone.