Brake Pads

Dear all,

I already made up my mind that I wanna change my brake pads, but I dunno which brand to go for... Sigh...

Finally, I shortlisted 3 brands, namely Mintex, Bendix and Trestor...

I just wanna get a comparison for the following criterias:

1) Performance (Good grip, so so grip or lousy grip...)

2) Technical (whether requires hot temperatures to operate properly or can operate from cool, requires "running in" or not, whether can still grip when the rotor is wet or not, etc etc)

3) Grade (Normal or Performance)

4) Price (How much and where to get it)

PS My car is a Myvi 1.3 manual without ABS with above 100 km/h normal daily driving speeds...

Thanks all!!

It is not difficult to make your choice:

1) Performance:
-Bendix (for Malaysia market)= very good grip but not progressive, lots of dust and quite a rotor disc "eater".
-Trestor = Came from the same factory that made Bendix, good grip but not progressive, lots of dust and a slightly less of a rotor "eater".
-Mintex = Made in UK, good grip with good amount of progressiveness, slight less dust and gentle to rotor.

2) Technical:
-All 3 are for normal street use, temperature range should be close for all

3) Grade:
-Bendix = No specific grade, for SEA market
-Trestor = No specific grade, for SEA market
-Mintex = Like any brake pad that sold in EU, grade approval such as EE, EF or FF is required. Mintex gets FF

4) Price:
-Bendix = Most expensive
-Mintex = Cheaper
-Trestor = Same price or cheaper than Mintex


Hope this data would help. Anyway, you still need to use it in order to tell whether you like it. Different pads for different driving style.

You cannot compare the brake pads by just mentioning the brands like that.
For example, Mintex have the 1144 model, the 1145 model and others, Bendix have the General CT model, Metal King Titanium model and others, so which are you referring to in comparison.
Daily Driving at 100km/h, normal brake pads also can handle. If you are more towards heavy braking and/or Uphill kaki, then the heavier duty pads will be better to withstand heat.
I am using the MK Titanium on my turbo ride, and I will say since they can stop this ride, then stopping the Myvi is nothing.
This pads grip is good, needs slight heat to bite well and don't need run in because of titanium stripe, they are performance pads, for Myvi should be below RM100.
The other 2 brands, I have not use, so cannot commend....

rdgs,

Hi VR2,

No doubt about the stopping power of the Bendix Metal King with Titanium, Could you share the other performance such as dust emission, noise level, and disc wear rate, thanks!

Hi YSW,

How are you?
Dust emission to me is okay. I wash my car once a week therefore just in time to clean them too.
I don't have a noise issue. I have heard some complaint from the previous Metal King Plus.
Disc Wear. - My disc were transplant from the Original VR4 Twin Pot. It was skim and cross drilled.
Use one set Metal King Plus, and another set of Metal King Gold. In between use of MK Gold skim another time.
Now on Metal King Titanium, therefore I should say they are still okay....

rdgs,

WAH!! Firstly, to all the taikos' replies, THANK YOU very much!!

It looks like Bendix Metal King Titanium is highly recommended, but (posted to VR2) is the "eating" or the rotor really at the worrying level?? I saw quite a few reviews about this matter already. Can you comment or in any comparison justify how much is the "erosion" occuring to the rotors?

Dust levels... I don't wash my car often... Too seldom... Maybe 1 year once or twice only... Coz it'll get dirty almost immediately... So, can be said I only can take care of the car "systemically" or "in the engine and parts only".... The rest, such as outlooks, I dun care... Just wondering is the dust a lot? What color is the dust? What color of rims do I need to change to, if I need to "camouflage" or blend the dust with my rims? (I know this is a funny question from a f**king lazy guy like me, but it's juz me...) Hahaha....

Thanks, bro VR2 and YSW again....

PS - Lari from topic a bit, is there twin pot brakes for Myvi (non ABS model)? Also, any rotors you can recommend to work together with Bendix MK Titanium so that rotor wear is minimized and rotor warping problem is eliminated? Thanks a million!!

Regards.

I am using Titanium too..(recommended by Vr) very good braking...uphill/downhill no problem..and cheap also...

In fact dust is less than my previous pads..about makan disc i not sure yet just using few weeks only..

Hi, VR2,

I'm fine, thanks!

Wow, Your are really a loyal user of Bendix, no doubt about that!
I was like you sometimes ago, I wouldn't use anything other than Bendix, that time Bendix was made by FMP Australia (by Allied Signal, aka Honeywell), grip is progressive, anticipated and minimal rotor wear and noise. Metal King plus and Gold were my choice. the last Bendix was bought in 2003 which the performance was starting to deteriorate, at that point of time, Federal Mogul showed interest in buying Bendix from Honeywell. if I'm not mistaken, Don Malaysia, which was the maker of Don brake pad, competitor of Bendix at that time stopped making Don and changed its name to FMP Malaysia and started production for Bendix and Trestor. Probably that explains why there were sudden change of quality on Bendix Metal King at that time.

Frankly, I still have doubt with the quality of the brake pad made by FMP Malaysia. Maybe I would reconsider buying Bendix CT for my next change with regards to your review.

Hi, CLV,

There are a few more famous brands that you can consider:

1) AFI Magnum, Made in Terengganu, High temp, up to 500deg, but need to upgrade your brake fluid to higher grade such as DOT4 or 5.1 due to higher temp generated due to higher coefficient of friction.

2) Bosch Powerplus, contract manufactured by FMP, too. Before that it was made in Melaka, by Mintye. Fair performance with a SIGNIFICANT WHEEL CLEANINESS, in my case before, sport rim was still clean after traveling for more than 2000Km.

3) DON, sharing same umbrella, known as TMD Friction (Germany) with Mintex. it doesn't made in Malaysia anymore. Graded FF

4) Akebono, made in Japan, not sure if you can still able to find in Malaysia

5) Sumitumo, made in Japan, too.

Bendix titanium are made in Australia or FMP malaysia?