My 2007 Tahoe LS has 37,000 miles and is ready for it's first set of replacement brake pads. I'll be doing it myself since money is tight, and I don't plan on keeping it much longer. It has never towed anything, been driven like a car, and there is no pulsation whatsoever from warpage. I've had bad experiences with having rotors turned, they always seem to warp soon afterwards, so I plan to just do a pad slap. Any pads inparticular that lend themselves to surviving on used rotors?

Thanks

 

how do you know you need new pads? I have 48k on my Tahoe with the original pads, plenty left. If you keep the original rotors be carefull because until the new pad "meshes" with the rotor you will not have the full surface area available for braking.
I would stick with stock pads or go to TireRack and see what they offer. since you do not do any towing or hard driving, a stock type pad will be just fine.

 

are they squeeeeelling? the pads have metal clips behind them that scrape the rotor when you apply the brakes, like screaming loud, god awful noise... if your not there yet, or you know they are so thin they won't pass inspection.... don't bother. waste of time and money.

Unless you put better ones on it... had factory brakes all the way around on the wife's Tribute... 30,000 miles they were looking not so fresh. put new ones on it (pads)... DAMN it stopped 2x as fast as factory! we get the best ones at advance auto (gold, silver, etc).. for a few $ more, save your self from a rear ending...

 

I have not check the price of rotors for the 07 but often times you can replace the rotors as well when you do the pads.... no turned needed just be sure to clean them with alcohol

 

1Aauto has the pads and rotors listed for the 07 for $135 bucks
I bet you can find them for a bit less locally...

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/brake-pads-...01/371016/2007

 

I put in 09 Tahoe LTZ - Flex (flex = 4x4)

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...ums+and+Rotors

$47 fronts, $61 rear. free shipping over $100 AND 15% off. code H115

odd that the rears cost more, but whatever.

i agree, now-a-days (lol, i'm 27) it's cheaper / easier to replace your rotors than deal w/that turning down crap...

 

Had Durolast Gold front pads put on by Midas. Stops fine but will squeek at low speed application. No evidence that new hardware kit was installed. Should have done it myself.

 

I'd be surprised if you need new pads at 37K. Be sure that you clean the rotors w/ brake clean, don't touch the pad surface, and lube the caliper slide pins w/ the correct grease. Also be sure you go thru the proper break-in procedure w/ the new pads.

I'm on my third set of pads on my 73 Corvette at ~75K (lot of autocrosses) and never turned the rotors. In fact, I've never turned rotors on any of my cars.

 

Last fall when I rotated the tires for the last time, I looked at the pads and they were getting thin, last week the wear indicators sound like they started squealing, my wife is tough on brakes stoplight to stoplight in the city every day, but no hills or towing.

Thanks for the tip on pad break in with used rotors. I considered OEM, until I priced GM pads last week the actual ones that came in it, not AC Delco replacements, outrageous at 300 for just the fronts! Must be the dealerships can’t keep the facility open without raping the public on parts.

 

No one likes to do things twice, I agree, but my experience with cheap Chinese replacement rotors has been nothing short of disappointing. My Cadillac STS’s original rotors amazingly lasted 60k before my wife warped them, so I had them turned, which got another 10K out of them, so I installed new cheap Napa Chinese rotors, and she warped them in 3K. Then I stepped up for AC Delco rotors and they have been on it for 3 years since.
I'm thinking I’d rather take my chances with half worn OEM rotors than with Chinese crap after the STS experience. What good is lifetime replacement when you still have to install them?