December 7, 2010 • Page 4 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com What are ‘organic’ brake pads? BY TOM AND RAY MAGLIOZZI Dear Tom and Ray: What are organic brake pads? A chain shop recommended them, because my current metallic pads have been de-squeaked twice but are still squeaking badly. I said I wanted ceramic pads, but they said to go with “organic” pads. What are they? Are they safe? Do they squeak less? -- Travis RAY: They sound so great, don’t they? “Organic pads.” It conjures up images of brake pads made of watermelon rinds and stalks of rhubarb. TOM: Well, that’d be a better use for rhubarb! RAY: But in brakespeak, organic means “made of asbestos.” It’s the old style brake pads that worked perfectly well to stop your car, but have fallen out of favor because they were also causing lung cancer in factory workers and auto mechanics. TOM: We never use asbestos pads anymore. We use semi-metallic pads, which are made of iron, bronze, copper, steel wool and other stuff that just hasn’t been SHOWN to cause cancer yet. RAY: Or we use ceramic pads, which are made of broken Check Out Yankton’s Newest Auto Dealer teacups or something. And the reason we’ve been using more ceramic pads lately is that (1) they’ve come way down in price and (2) they produce a lot less brake dust. Some customers with fancy alloy wheels objected to having metallic black brake dust pitting their $1,000 wheels. TOM: But I don’t think your squealing problem is related to the composition of your brake pads. I think the problem is missing hardware. RAY: And the way to get that hardware is to buy a set of pads from the manufacturer. JOE SCHIEFFER, OWNER 1019 Broadway, Yankton, SD Phone: 605-665-2477 Cell: 605-661-1799 www.midwestautoplexinc.com put y ou Give Us A Call Today r tising dver a Click & Clack When you buy the brake pads from the dealer’s parts department (whether you have them installed there or not), you get On the CCCCutting Edge You need the right tools to stay ahead in business. One of those tools is creative, competitive advertising. We can help you buzz by your competition with custom graphics and copywriting from our experienced staff. SHOPPER MISSOURI VALLEY 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD • 665-7811 all the shims, springs, clips and other hardware that’s designed to keep them from, what? Squealing! TOM: So that would be my recommendation, Travis. Spring for a set of factory pads. You can even ask the chain guys to get them and install them for you if you want to keep working with them. But even if you have non-factory rotors, a set of factory pads should make the squealing go away. Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clack in care of this newspaper, or e-mail them by visiting the Car Talk Web site at www.cartalk.com. © 2010, King Features Syndicate, Inc. Fred Haar C o. Inc. Tuesday, Dec. 7th 7pm Tipoff DakotaDome USD Men vs.Canisius Golden Griffins B 102.7 FM “Hoops for Loot” Half-time Contest Freeman — Wagner — Yankton ANNOUNCES We will match any canned goods or paper products (toilet paper, napkins, etc.) that are brought to any of the three Fred Haar location’s. Goods and matched goods from each store will then be distributed to each location’s local food pantry. FREEMAN .................Freeman Food Pantry WAGNER ..................Wagner Food Pantry YANKTON ..........Yankton Center Food Pantry DONATIONS WILL BE TAKEN UNTIL 12/17/10 Let’s all get in the Christmas spirit and help people have a great holiday season! Thank You From Everyone At One lucky fan will have the chance to win great prizes — including a 42” HD TV & $1,027 CASH courtesy of B 102.7 FM, the flagship station of Coyote Athletics. Call (605) 677-5959 or visit www.USDCoyotes.com for ticket information. Get your seats TODAY! All Home Games Played At The DakotaDome! You’ll Grow With Us Freeman 615 N. Hwy 81 (800) 251-6912 Wagner 645 E. Hwy 46 (888) 384-4580 Yankton 2200 E. Hwy 50 (800) 952-2424