Metallic pads tend to wear the rotors faster than non-metallics do.  Since
the first time I replaced mine, I've used metallics only, and have had to
replace my rotors a couple times (in 329K miles), simply due to wear.

Karl Wolz

-----Original Message-----
From: Delafuente, Rene <RDelafuente@MONTEREY.NPS.NAVY.MIL>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, April 02, 1999 1:53 PM
Subject: DISC BRAKE PADS

>Hi folks, sorry for the bandwidth but I'm new and don't know how to access
>the archives.  I recently bought an 84 Vanagon 7 pass. And the previous
>owner told me the front brake pads needed to be replaced.  He emphatically
>told me not to use metallic since this would damage the rotors.  Is this
>correct?  I do not have an owner's manual yet so I don't know what it
>recommends.  I was told at the parts store that all other cars use metallic
>so why shouldn't the Vanagon?  What should I use?  I'm afraid they want me
>to use the metallic kind so they can sell me a set of rotors later on.
>Thanks.     Rene