my GU patrol is already 5 years and 145K kms on the odo. around 2 weeks ago, i changed all my brake pads with RICO brand since it is the only available brand for my patrol here in my place. ordering bendix will take a couple of days and i can't wait that long since the pads are almost stripped to the metal.

after a few days of using the new brake pads, and while cruising at more than 120kph (first time to drive this fast using the new pads), i pressed on the brakes hard but not abruptly. i felt i'm not stopping as fast as before. i thought the RICO brake pads were not as good as the bendix hence the slower stopping force.

feeling unsafe with the RICO pads, i ordered a set of bendix metal kings. i also bought a set of repair kit for the front brake calipers since 2 of the boots were found to have cracks/holes.

this morning, i had the pads replaced again with bendix brand pads and changed the repair kit. and then i went to test the bendix brake pads by driving fast (around 80kph only, the road distance does not permit me to go any faster) and slammed on the brakes hard, hoping to get a screeching stop. i stopped, but without the tires rubbing against the road which i always get whenever i make a sudden brake even at less than 80kph. now, i have concluded that it is not the brake pads that have a problem, but somewhere else in the brake system.

the question now is where would the problem be? could it be the brake master? i hope not