Tell me about these $100 - $125 front brake SETS on Amazon...

... actually the cheapest I've seen is $89.99

two rotors, two sets of brake pads...

 

You get what you pay for.

 

Unfortunately, my experience has been different. I have been through these and they always last about 40,000 miles or less:

OEM (when new)
Pep Boys (Cheap Grade)
Pep Boys (Pro-stop, good grade)
Brembo
OEM from Toyota
Pep Boys (Cheap Grade)

I am at about 220K miles

I just don't want to DIE, but wouldn't ANY brake set meet minimum requirements? I'm not towing anything.

 

That depends on what criteria the "minimum" falls under?

If the minimum is "parts in a box". Yes. They meet the minimum criteria.

A safe bet is Akebono, or Advics pads.
As for rotors Powerstop is good. You are looking for good steel and balanced rotors.
Can't go wrong with OEM either.

 

If you don't tow and you don't haul heavy loads continuously, are you racing from stoplight to stoplight?

 

There is much fallacy to this statement.

 

Curious as to what your driving habits and conditions are. You might be better suited in looking at Ceramic vs semi-metallic vs organic compounds to suit your needs. I drive my truck like a racecar, offroad, haul around extra gear[overlandish], around terrible East coast interstate drivers, and get far more miles out of a set of pads than 40k.

Another thought.. Are you rear brakes adjusted correctly and doing their part.

 

I got about 60k out of stock fronts.
But I also bought the truck used.

I have have 110k on the second set. Which were Advanced Auto Premium Ceramic and Premium Rotors.
No ide who made them?

Got 165k out of the rears. Went with PowerStop on those.
I've used them on other vehicles, and all has been good.
Except for the brake springs on one set. Other than that, PowerStop has done me good.

I too am curious how OP drives, and the conditions he drives in?

 

Not that it adds anything beneficial but I’m still on my og front pads @120k.

Rears got replaced when the rear axel seals took a dump however I was told they looked “brand new” when they tore everything apart.

 

I say go for it, I bought rotors & pads off Amazon like six years ago & are still going strong, no problems!

Oh ya I also drive like I'm qualifying!

 

I've had good luck with PowerStop. I have them on my truck now, new rotors and pads in the front and just put the new rear shoes on a couple of weeks ago.

 

Just don’t…I tried the Amazon brakes and rotors, I wasn’t impressed.

 

I generally don't shop for the lowest price anything when it comes to mission critical / safety items on my vehicles. Brakes are pretty much number one on that list. What do I shop for? Performance. Are the most expensive brake parts always the best all-around performers? No. Are the lowest price brake parts the best performing / safest? Never. Mike drop.

 

I once bought cheap pads and after about six months/6000 miles I was replacing them. Now I buy only the middle of the pack or higher. Like what was said above you get what you pay for. I purchased advics rotors and akebono pads from Rockauto and the rotors came with a sticker on them that said, certified high carbon.

 

Make yourself a Toyota acct. and buy OE online. You can get the rotors, pads and all the shims and springs for about $180

 

Amazon has good products. But they also have multitudes of trash. Amazon by and large has taken a pretty big down turn in quality and service. IT really helps to research what your buying, and not just through amazon reviews, not to mention all the counterfeit and knock off bs being sold there.

 

I agree with this. #1.)Tires, #2.) Brakes.

 

oem.

 

Be sure to take your Amazon rotors to a shop and have them trued up on a brake lathe. You'll be sick in the stomach when you see how warped the "bargin" rotors are.

 

I've been putting powerstop coated rotors and ceramic pads on pretty much all of mine and my families vehicles for years and have no complaints. Rockauto is generally close to Amazon but sometimes cheaper, plus right now they have a $30 rebate per set so it's pretty cost effective