My Review of Brembo Rotors and Wagner Thermoquiet Pads - reviews encouraged

[racer2086]

I figured I'd post this for other forum members who may be considering different options for brake setups.

I replaced rotors and pads front and rear about 2 months ago now. I've put a few thousand miles on the brakes since.

I went with solid Brembo rotors front and rear and then Wagner Thermoquiet semi-metallic pads front and rear.

I decided on the Brembo rotors because they were less expensive than the BMW ones, and cheaper than the cross-drilled Zimmermans. Brembo is also a trusted name in the brake business.

I decided on the Wagner pads based on other reviews that said they are virtually dustless and feel almost identical to OEM pads in terms of bite.

Anyway, installed everything (actually Dburt86 did most of the work), and bedded everything in according to protocol. They progressively improved during the bedding, and then for the first few hundred miles.

The rotors are great. No complaints, no vibrations, no juddering from uneven braking surfaces. I've done a number of heavy stops with them, and they still feel true.

But the pads are a whole different story. I'll tell you the virtually dust free part is true. I haven't washed my car in over a month and there is only a fine layer of "dust" on them. They really don't look dirty. That part is great. But I completely disagree about the feel. I'd say they are somewhere in the range of 50-60% the feel of the OEM pads. The bite isn't comparable to OEM. I noticed it immediately after installation, and I'm still reminded of it when I drive my girlfriend's 540i with her worn OEM stuff. It's a very stark difference. I imagine these feel like the Akes.

I wondered if maybe they incorrectly boxed them or something and I actually got the ceramics, but incorrect front and rear? That would be quite a coincidence.

So anyone else out there running Wagner Thermoquiet pads have opinions? Do you think they feel the same as OEM?


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Just a little add on...
I can't recommend these if you want the feel of OEM. If you want a decent nearly dustless set of pads, I could probably recommend them. But it seems there is nothing that will feel like OEM without the dust of OEM. It's like trying to have your cake and eat it too. I am personally struggling with the decision to put OEM pads on and toss these or just keep em.

[shenofjo]

i have heard good things about carbotech ceramic pads in supra forums. give them a try?

[KenR740]

Have you noticed the Wagners being any noisier that OEM? I got new rotors and brakes last month. When I asked my indy to put the Wagners on, also based on recommendations here, he said they were noisy and he hadn't had much luck with them. I didn't want OEM so I asked about the Akebonos and he said they were fine. It's great not having dirty wheels a day after cleaning them but I can definitely attest to them not having the bite of OEM.

[TheLadiesMan]

I have no idea what brakes are on my car, but the driver side I got from a junkyard and dusts like a female cat, and the passenger, from my parts car, doesn't dust at all. Because I don't have abs, only my driverside wheel locks up. I wonder if I have the same OE on the driver, and Wagners on the passengerside

[M I C H A E L]

I have the same setup as you. Near dustless on the front. My rears are OEM rotor and pad and they suck. The dust just cakes my wheel. Its a 80% difference dust wise.

The rotors are solid and feel great. They don't have a huge bite but I'm satisfied. I'm going to replace the rear pads with the Wagner semis im sick of the dust on my wheels.

Overall it was pretty cheap since I got the rotors on clearance for 70. And another 60 for the pads. :) I'm happy with the choice too. I recommend them to anyone else.

[daytonatrbo]

I put the Brembo OE style rotors on my e46 when rock auto had them on sale, and I'm not impressed. The Raybestos rear rotors I just got look and (so far) feel like a better piece of equipment. The only thing I don't like about the Raybestos is the directional cooling vanes that are the wrong direction on the passenger side. (I didn't look at the original rotors to confirm)

[racer2086]

i have heard good things about carbotech ceramic pads in supra forums. give them a try?

I'll look into it, thanks.


Have you noticed the Wagners being any noisier that OEM? I got new rotors and brakes last month. When I asked my indy to put the Wagners on, also based on recommendations here, he said they were noisy and he hadn't had much luck with them. I didn't want OEM so I asked about the Akebonos and he said they were fine. It's great not having dirty wheels a day after cleaning them but I can definitely attest to them not having the bite of OEM.

The Wagners are silent. I have no noise. Very early on at specific speeds and pedal pressure, I'd get a very faint squeal, but that is gone. I've heard the same complaints about the Akes that they are nice and dust free but don't have the bite.

Do you have the Akebonos on your car? How do they feel to you?


I have no idea what brakes are on my car, but the driver side I got from a junkyard and dusts like a female cat, and the passenger, from my parts car, doesn't dust at all. Because I don't have abs, only my driverside wheel locks up. I wonder if I have the same OE on the driver, and Wagners on the passengerside

How do you not have uneven braking or pull when you brake? lol It sounds like you have one OEM and one non-OEM pad. I don't know if there's a single non-OEM pad that feels anything like OEM.


I have the same setup as you. Near dustless on the front. My rears are OEM rotor and pad and they suck. The dust just cakes my wheel. Its a 80% difference dust wise.

The rotors are solid and feel great. They don't have a huge bite but I'm satisfied. I'm going to replace the rear pads with the Wagner semis im sick of the dust on my wheels.

Overall it was pretty cheap since I got the rotors on clearance for 70. And another 60 for the pads. :) I'm happy with the choice too. I recommend them to anyone else.

I mean, the rotors are just a hunk of metal. They looked and felt nice. Very nice and think compared to the ones that came off. The issue I have is with the feel of the brakes, which I blame on the pads. Having no dust is great, but I'm having to decide if I like having to mash the brake pedal to get the car to stop or like not having to wash my wheels as often. The Wagners still dust, just way less, which I feel like is because they don't grab as much.


I put the Brembo OE style rotors on my e46 when rock auto had them on sale, and I'm not impressed. The Raybestos rear rotors I just got look and (so far) feel like a better piece of equipment. The only thing I don't like about the Raybestos is the directional cooling vanes that are the wrong direction on the passenger side. (I didn't look at the original rotors to confirm)

Brembo has a few different lines of rotors. I didn't buy the cheapest, and I didn't buy the most expensive (which was like 2-3x as much money). The vanes should be straight. The only rotors on BMWs that got direction vanes are on M cars. My dad's E46 M3 has directional vanes -- TIS says they have to be changed in pairs, and that there are different part numbers for left vs right. I don't know why your rotors have directional vanes...


Anyone else running Wagner pads? You get better bite or just the same old "gliding" feeling?

[M I C H A E L]

I'm fine with it. Yeah they dust some which is okay wheels should be Cleaned regardless anyway. I have to replace my rear pads and rotors again! This is only 30k on them. I'm thinking they weren't bedded properly and I brake too hard on them too soon.

I found a set of brembo kit on eBay for 150 with ceramic pads. Think I'll go with that one, unless you could suggest and better quality for cheaper???

[JTech007]

I went with Brembo rotors all the way around and Akebonos pads on my last change and concur, that like your Wagners, they are very low if any dust but the bite is a lot less than the OEM. I guess that is the trade off.

I just put Wagners on my 07' Denali and they seem to stop pretty well. OEM pads were a little better, but like the OEM BMW had a lot more dust.

[M I C H A E L]

I went with Brembo rotors all the way around and Akebonos pads on my last change and concur, that like your Wagners, they are very low if any dust but the bite is a lot less than the OEM. I guess that is the trade off.

I just put Wagners on my 07' Denali and they seem to stop pretty well. OEM pads were a little better, but like the OEM BMW had a lot more dust.

Yeah I will never buy OEM pads again lol

[ryunk]

........So anyone else out there running Wagner Thermoquiet pads have opinions? Do you think they feel the same as OEM?


I put on the same setup, Brembo rotors and Wagner Thermoquiets. I got rid of the Thermoquiets after about 5,000 miles, went back with Jurid Pads. The Thermoquiets had much less initial bite as the original pads.

[racer2086]

I'm fine with it. Yeah they dust some which is okay wheels should be Cleaned regardless anyway. I have to replace my rear pads and rotors again! This is only 30k on them. I'm thinking they weren't bedded properly and I brake too hard on them too soon.

I found a set of brembo kit on eBay for 150 with ceramic pads. Think I'll go with that one, unless you could suggest and better quality for cheaper???

Wait, I thought you had oem rotors and pads on the rear? Or did you replace them with Wagners, and they're already worn out in 30k miles? I hope not, because that would be unimpressive.


I went with Brembo rotors all the way around and Akebonos pads on my last change and concur, that like your Wagners, they are very low if any dust but the bite is a lot less than the OEM. I guess that is the trade off.

I just put Wagners on my 07' Denali and they seem to stop pretty well. OEM pads were a little better, but like the OEM BMW had a lot more dust.

Yup, I think that's the trade off. I'm not sure whether it's something that is worth it. I like the feeling of knowing full well that my car is going to stop no problem. Although, the Wagners do well stopping the car and have very little fade. I can really make the car stop on a dime if I really jam on the brake pedal. It's just about the feel.


I put on the same setup, Brembo rotors and Wagner Thermoquiets. I got rid of the Thermoquiets after about 5,000 miles, went back with Jurid Pads. The Thermoquiets had much less initial bite as the original pads.

I agree 100%. I just wish I knew that before. Everything I read on here was touting them, and I don't understand why. Anyway, I made this thread, so future members have feedback on these pads. Not terrible, little dust, but NOT oem feel. The ceramics on the front of my Mustang have more bite. I'll post back if they get better after 5k miles.

[M I C H A E L]

Wait, I thought you had oem rotors and pads on the rear? Or did you replace them with Wagners, and they're already worn out in 30k miles? I hope not, because that would be unimpressive.

Yup, I think that's the trade off. I'm not sure whether it's something that is worth it. I like the feeling of knowing full well that my car is going to stop no problem. Although, the Wagners do well stopping the car and have very little fade. I can really make the car stop on a dime if I really jam on the brake pedal. It's just about the feel.

I agree 100%. I just wish I knew that before. Everything I read on here was touting them, and I don't understand why. Anyway, I made this thread, so future members have feedback on these pads. Not terrible, little dust, but NOT oem feel. The ceramics on the front of my Mustang have more bite. I'll post back if they get better after 5k miles.

I replaced the old crappy rusted rear rotors and pads with OEM and now they are very thin and worn and the rotors are warped after 30k...

I'm going to now replace them with a rear brembo ceramic kit from ebay for 150.

I think I was way too hard on them and didn't let them settle and bed in... Hope these next ones last. ( so glad that money wasn't from my wallet, actually won it at a casino lol )

I replaced the front with brembo and Wagner semi metallics. Still good so far...

[740iSport303]

Your rear brakes should last MUCH longer than that. You may have something else wrong, like a sticking caliper or two causing the rears not to release 100%. That would also explain the warping you've encountered.

[M I C H A E L]

Your rear brakes should last MUCH longer than that. You may have something else wrong, like a sticking caliper or two causing the rears not to release 100%. That would also explain the warping you've encountered.

When I do the rears again I'll inspect the calipers. Hope if something is wrong that it won't be an expensive fix haha

[racer2086]

I replaced the old crappy rusted rear rotors and pads with OEM and now they are very thin and worn and the rotors are warped after 30k...

I'm going to now replace them with a rear brembo ceramic kit from ebay for 150.

I think I was way too hard on them and didn't let them settle and bed in... Hope these next ones last. ( so glad that money wasn't from my wallet, actually won it at a casino lol )

I replaced the front with brembo and Wagner semi metallics. Still good so far...

Those were new rear OEM rotors and pads? Out after 30k miles? I don't even know how you could scrub through a rotor that fast...

[M I C H A E L]

Those were new rear OEM rotors and pads? Out after 30k miles? I don't even know how you could scrub through a rotor that fast...

Yeah that's correct
About 35,000 miles. I must have been very hard on them...

[M I C H A E L]

Checked the rotors again. They are fine
I'm just going to replace the pads and buy a sensor. Will be going with stop techs.

[racer2086]

Let us know how they dust and perform. Although, if you think the Wagners are decent then that may not help lol. But if they bite better that'll be good to know.

Edit: you're just changing the rear. You probably won't perceive much of a difference.

[M I C H A E L]

Let us know how they dust and perform. Although, if you think the Wagners are decent then that may not help lol. But if they bite better that'll be good to know.

Edit: you're just changing the rear. You probably won't perceive much of a difference.

I'll keep you all posted!