Brake Pad questions

[jmack]

I hope everyone is doing well. I am sitting at work on Easter Sunday, sigh. At least it is slow. Gives me time to use our company internet to check for parts I need for the car. I was doing a little research on www.autozone.com and need some advice.
I need to get new brake pads. Do any of you have suggestions for a younger guy on a budget? Also, in regards to the calipers. I really want to have red calipers, but at the same time, I only have one car and can't take the time to paint them and let them sit to dry. I am almost convinced it is cheaper to just buy pre-painted ones and just replace them. I saw a pair on autozone for 99.99 but not sure if that is what I need/want. Anyone have any experience in this?

[CREWZIN]

Jmack,

It can't possibly be cheaper to buy (if you can) red calibers. It should only take an hour or two at the most to dry. You can put the wheel directly back on (if your careful) right after you paint the caliper so it can sit overnight before you have to drive anyplace the next day. There's paint specially made for calipers, but almost any red paint will do if you do the right preparation (clean and sand). As far as pads go, most of the talk has been about NAPA pads. They should have two different prices for ceramic and other pads, but if you want to keep the red calipers RED, go for the ceramic. Just my $.02

[quicksilverdon]

I found the Raybestos Ceramic pads online cheaper than at NAPA. (PartsAmerica.Com) Ceramics are more expenive, but NO DUST and they last much longer.
Agree with Crewzin - just paint yours - hit it with a hair dryer to speed drying. If you buy calipers, you have to mess with hydraulic lines - why hassle with that? [:I]

[trieber]

When I did my brakes, I used quick's addvice. I ordered the ceramic pads from PartsAmerica and am very happy with them. Before, I couldn't go about three days before the rims when black. No I can go about a month and they only have a light dusting on them. And with the painting, I painted my blue. That included the calibers and the support braket. I put two coats of primer and three coats of paint on in one day one weekend. That cost me $5 for paint, $3 for primer and $3 for sand paper. Can't beat that.

[ddearth]

Rockauto.com has Raybestos QS Ceramic pads for $56.79+$6 shipping. Took about a week to get them in Ca.