Brake pads ATE or Raybestos
If you're keeping the vehicle (make sure you're keeping it), then I second getting the raybestos from Rockauto. Make sure you get the raybestos element 3 fully coated rotor and pad sets.
Even if your friend's dad does it free, maybe drop him $100 or $200 for the labor.
So $200 total. And less dust than OEM with decent stopping power. I went with this combo cause it's balanced stopping power and rotor longevity.
The OEM rotors wear very quickly. The OEM pads are Akebono semi organic which are actually pretty good. However the OEM pads create a ton of brake dust which makes the wheels look terrible. When I replaced mine about a year ago I went the aftermarket route and used Raybestos rotors and pads.
During this time I also replaced the brake pads with oem ATE one’s (low dust) and oem brake fluid flush.
Regular carbon ceramic brake pads, from Ate and I presume also Brembo, are better than normal pads. Same stopping power but much less heat generation and brake dust.
The best overall for my use are Raybestos “Truck and Medium Duty”.
I put ATE200 + Ferodo DS2500 pads on my Mk7 in prep for its one (half) trackday, have been on for a few thousand street miles and work well at all temps.
I'm really liking the ATE pads I got for my 340i with the brembo F/Rs.
I went with the pads from ATE and got them fitted today, all in all it cost around 200 USD / 2000 SEK. 2 years ago the mechanic told me all 4 brakes need replacing. Today when they were replaced the rear ones had about half of the material left and the front 1/3.
Get ATE or Textar pads, buying more known pads because they are "performance brakes (which you see at the register)" is basically throwing money away just because "they are expensive so they must be better" and is idiotic imo.
I've used Raybestos before on VW GTI. They had a distinct feel and reminded me of... Literally every other set of brake pads I've ever used. Just save your money bro.
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