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  Feb. 8, 2012 11:40 a.m. stan SuperDork

  I have some sets of OLD factory brake pads (or "break pads" if you're reading this on the CL) from 1992. They are still sealed in the original vacuum packing. Would these still be usable? I can't imagine why they wouldn't be, but thought someone here might know.

  thanks.

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  Feb. 8, 2012 12:07 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

  I'd run them. The vacuum packing adds some confidence. If they were loose, I might worry a bit, though I'd still probably run them.

  ~Desmond ('99 9-5 turbo, '85 528i)

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  Feb. 8, 2012 12:30 p.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork

  So, unused brake pads have a shelf life?

  "All his legs are hydraulic"

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  Feb. 8, 2012 12:43 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  depends on what was on the shelf with them

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 8, 2012 2:27 p.m. Brotus7 Reader

  Twinkies?

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  Feb. 8, 2012 3:32 p.m. novaderrik SuperDork

  i've run tires older than that..

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  Feb. 8, 2012 5:17 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork

  I've had customers pass on old quarts of oil because it's old. Oil has no shelf life! It stays in the ground for over 1,000,000 years!!

  Fixing stuff feels good.

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  Feb. 8, 2012 5:56 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

  maybe the latest certification specs make them feel warm and fuzzy.

  spending money I don't have to buy parts I don't need to impress people I don't know

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  Feb. 8, 2012 7:12 p.m. procker Reader

  Hmmm...sounds like NOS brake pads? I mean, people buy them right? As long as they're vacuumed sealed, like said above, I'd probably just give them a lil once over, make sure that everything feels and looks right and run them, right?

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  Feb. 8, 2012 7:29 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  can't say I have ever seen vacuume sealed brakepads

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 8, 2012 7:30 p.m. Streetwiseguy SuperDork

  BoostedBrandon wrote: I've had customers pass on old quarts of oil because it's old. Oil has no shelf life! It stays in the ground for over 1,000,000 years!!

  It may not have a shelf life, but the specifications can certainly change. Throw a few quarts of 20 year old Quaker State in your new M3's V8 and see how long it lasts.

  To the OP- As long as the bonding to the backing plate is ok, and it hasn't had 20 year old Quaker State dripping on them, I'd run them.

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  Feb. 9, 2012 5:27 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

  Judging by the cans of old oil I've seen turn into a semi-solid jelly, I think there are some shelf life issues with oil.

  Only a few things I can think of with the nos brake pads sitting on a shelf. Rust in between the backing plate and friction material, which should be obvious. Possible glue failure if the pads are bonded. Haven't ever seen or heard of this though.

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  Feb. 9, 2012 6:39 a.m. Luke SuperDork

  I remember reading about a Triumph guy who was using a stash of 'NOS' asbestos pads for his modified TR.

  /second-hand anecdotal evidence

  "Just as a proverb says, one should always ny escort prepare for a rainy day." - GRM canoe

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  Feb. 9, 2012 7:01 a.m. spitfirebill SuperDork

  BoostedBrandon wrote: I've had customers pass on old quarts of oil because it's old.

  Market it to people with flat tappets.

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  Feb. 9, 2012 9:39 a.m. stan SuperDork

  Thanks for the responses (and oil education). I should have worded the post something more along the lines of "OLD NOS brake pads", but you people got around my lack of clarity.

  Looks like they might be ok then and I'll probably put some of them up here for sale since I don't think I'll ever need pads for a Toyota van anytime soon.

  Stan

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