Anyone use Duralast Gold Cmax/Brake Pads?

[FiveDime]

I installed some Duralast Gold Cmax/Brake Pads (DGC 815 & DGC905) on my brothers 2007 Altima 2.5s and a year later, his Brake light came on. The pads still had a lot of meat on them, but since these pads come with a limited lifetime warranty, I exchanged them for new ones (no charge) and the light went off/stayed off. I am considering using these on my 2010 2.5s as well, since they are relatively inexpensive ($49.99 front or rear) and as long as I don't let them get all the way down, I get new ones for free with exchange - lifetime replacement. Both cars are stock daily commuters, no performance pads needed. Just wondering if anyone has any feedback on these pad's, thanks in advance.

[the.wong.kid]

not a badway to go, lifetime pads. ive seen alot of cars with these pads on come into my nissan dealer and they make no noise wat so ever or any problems. i can approve. much better than the shitty pads our used car dpt puts on and the car comes to nissan service dpt 3 days after its sold complaining about pads squeal and vibration :smh:

and then it gets new factory pads and rotors..GJ company just lost some more money fgt used car dpt

Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

[FiveDime]

Originally Posted by the.wong.kid

not a badway to go, lifetime pads. ive seen alot of cars with these pads on come into my nissan dealer and they make no noise wat so ever or any problems. i can approve. much better than the shitty pads our used car dpt puts on and the car comes to nissan service dpt 3 days after its sold complaining about pads squeal and vibration :smh:

and then it gets new factory pads and rotors..GJ company just lost some more money fgt used car dpt

Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

Thanks for your response TWK, much appreciated. Was a bit skeptical myself when I installed for my brothers car, and being that I wont ever have to buy another set of pads for this car, as long as I dont let them wear down all the way, which I've never done anyways, always changed at first sign of sensors...not a bad buy $100 for front and back. Thanks again.

[gameguru1360]

I had these and I think these were the reason I got into an accident because they don't have bite. I felt them slipping on a panic stop. I too had the auto body shop check to see if there was any meat left on the pads after the car was towed after the accident and they sure enough had a lot of meat left. The owner said that it was weird that those ceramic pads didn't have bite.

So I would only put those on if you're waiting for much better quality pads like Hawk or EBC pads. I went with the slotted/drilled rotor and Powerstop ceramic pad combo by BrakeMotive on ebay...the full front/rear drilled/slotted rotor set. After I broke those in, it's like night and day and I tried doing a power stop on a lonely side street and I think I bruised myself by the seatbelt. I was very impressed with the stopping power with that BrakeMotive set.

Other altima owners from the Altima Forums site have also gone with the BrakeMotive package and they say it's like night & day performance!!

That's not to say anything from Duralast isn't good. Their gold duralast battery is very high performance and I switched to that battery after I got my 09 2.5 from the dealer. I don't have any dimming from my car audio system and I'm running about 1500 rms watts total

[the.wong.kid]

op did state that it was a commuter car and i assume it wasnt driven hard like a racecar. if your in for spirited driving, these pads are definitely not it


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

[gameguru1360]

well my 09 is a commuter car, not a race car and after switching to the BrakeMotive package, doing panic stops is easier and gives me piece of mind that I can stop unlike the gold duralast cmax pads which are only good if you're doing easy, granny stopping. If you have to stop abruptly, you'll want to have at least 3 car lengths in front of you, otherwise you'll slide like I did on the express way

[wild willy]

I had them on my 02. All 4 pads separated from the backing plate. Never again

[gluys]

Originally Posted by gameguru1360

well my 09 is a commuter car, not a race car and after switching to the BrakeMotive package, doing panic stops is easier and gives me piece of mind that I can stop unlike the gold duralast cmax pads which are only good if you're doing easy, granny stopping. If you have to stop abruptly, you'll want to have at least 3 car lengths in front of you, otherwise you'll slide like I did on the express way

Lol arnt you suppose to maintain a few car lengths between the car in front of you anyway, its call defensive driving?!?!? Your case sounds like you where tailgating and not giving you self enough room in case of an emergency. I will for one pledge that my duralast brakes have been plenty in these so called "panic stops". Give yourself some piece of mind by not riding peoples ass and stop being a dingle berry to other drivers.. Besides, Ill bet this "granny stopping" keeps grandmas car a hell of a lot better condition than your "race and panic stopping" ever will.. lmao

But OP, I agree with you that the duralast lifetime warranty is a good deal and I have used them on all of my cars and family members cars!

[N1rve]

The complaints I heard was that they squeak (easy fix with anti-squeak though), and that they don't bite. I had autozone brakes on my old car, no complaint except I sold the car for my Altima.... 1986 Camry with original 25 year old brake fluid and it was still clean. Didn't turn black or anything. Took it to a mechanic for inspection and were like "Your fluid is still good. You don't need a flush." It took the car 23 years to wear out the original front disc and rear drums though LOL

[npolite]

N1rve,

I am really surprised that your brake fluid didn't boil over. After 23 years I would have expected it to. Did you own the car for 23 years? I would have to see the fluid because it turns color very quickly.

You also do know that brake fluid by design does absorb moisture and needs to be replaced every three years?

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by npolite

N1rve,

I am really surprised that your brake fluid didn't boil over. After 23 years I would have expected it to. Did you own the car for 23 years? I would have to see the fluid because it turns color very quickly.

You also do know that brake fluid by design does absorb moisture and needs to be replaced every three years?

I am surprised it didn't change color either. I didn't own the car for 25 years, my father was the original owner and passed it down to me...drove for like a year and then I traded it in for $3500. Though the really really bad thing was that my father didn't take care of the car at all. It burned oil..but not that much. It only had 4 oil changes within 25 years... 2 was done by me (I only kept the car for 6000 miles). When my father did the first oil change... he didn't change the oil filter. I had to tear up the original oil filter to get it off when I got the car.


He would only keep adding oil when it was low. Car leaked from the main seal and from the top half of engine. It was really nasty. Idle was extremely rough. It would of costed too much to keep the car. It had new CV Joints and a new rack and pinion though since the power steering fluid leaked out of the boots. It had a slow leak, eventually poured out.

ORIGINAL STRUTS AND SPRINGS AS WELL. CAR REALLY SAGGED IN THE REAR. Original OEM Toyota silver wheels. Not those black steel ones. No tire rotations done, and my father bought new tires every 4 years. Cheap tires too. Clear coat failed on the roof, but it was fine everywhere else. Bumper started to crack since it was rubber. Chipped up hood though. It had the original wiper blades for 25 years but had been refilled many many times. They were rusting. Original head lights and tail lights. Timing belt failed at 50k miles though. Been through like 4 Autozone Gold Batteries. Went through 5 mufflers. AC was recharged. Radiator was changed at year 10. Everything else was original from 1986. Original bulbs except 2 bottom tail lights. Original transmission fluid.

Yup...that car was really...really...REALLY beat up. Glad I sold it...it overheated on the way to the dealership to get my new Nissan lol.


Yes, I am quite aware that Brake fluid absorbs moisture..I am ASE certified in that area and factory trained by Toyota haha...but replacing every 3 years is debatable.

[the.wong.kid]

brake fluid varies, depends how harsh u put i through. if u autox or track the car then yea. time to change the fluid or upgrade to dot4 with higher boiling point. nissan actually recommends for all 2012+ models a brake flush at 15k i believe ( i forget, been on medical leave from nissan since sept)


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

[VinnieCP]

I use the duralast ceramic brake pads also. I dont have any issues with them at all. It's a great price for lifetime brakes.

[kateean2]

if your in for spirited driving, these pads are definitely not it

[tooslow_4_u]

I use them as my emergency pads if my good ones wear out and I don't have money to get new Hawks or StopTechs. They are good as a backup, but i won't use them as my permanent daily.