First things first:  Do you really need new brakes?  Sales people at brake places and the service advisor at your
mechanic’s (who are paid commission) frequently sell people brake jobs long before they actually need them.  So how do you know if it is really time to buy new brakes?  It is easier than you think. 
There are 2 main components: pads and rotors (drums in some cases).  The pads press against the rotors when you
depress the brake pedal, and you will replace pads several times before you need rotors.  Rotors can also often
be re-surfaced or machined before you need to replace them.

There are two way to determine whether the pads need replacing. First, visually: if it’s less than 1/8 inch, you’re
getting close to damaging the rotor, so it’s time. This varies slightly from car to car, but is a good general
guideline.  Second, by ear: most brake pads come with a “brake warning sensor” that will emit a squealing noise
when the pads are worn to a point where they should be changed. This noise will usually be heard when your foot is
off the brake and disappear when you step on the brake. It’s not uncomon that even when the squeakers come on many
cars still have a few thousand miles left.

How to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples when comparing prices:   I price shopped this week for rear pads
for an 07 Infinity G35x and got quotes from $150 to $250 for the same thing, or was it for the “same thing”?   There
are many different materials as well as quality differences, affecting both longevity of pads as well as their
effectiveness and the prices vary greatly, so when you compare prices, get very specific, not just if it is e.g. a
ceramic pad but which one it is.  <BR><BR>
Types of pads are: Organic: decent grab in standard driving conditions.  Ceramic: excellent grab in standard driving
conditions.  Semi-metallic and metallic brakes are for performance conditions that tolerate high temperatures, but do
need some warm up time for optimum response.