I consider them to be essentially the same. Which one you use depends on your point of view. The noise typically occurs on light to moderate braking, less so on heavy braking. It's caused by pad vibration, which is induced by a little "stick-slip" friction between the fiction material and rotor that causes the pad to vibrate and the noise is usually generated at the contact points between the pad backing plate and caliper. That's why "brake paste" between the pad backing plate and caliper will usually stop or mitigate the noise because it creates a little damping.

I didn't use any when I installed the PBR (Repco back then) DeLuxe pads and they've never uttered a peep.

yal - Thanks for the tip on the PBR Plus. I recall looking at the PBR web site and they have a very good matrix on brake pad characteristics. (don't remember the URL, but a Google search should find it quickly.)

I'm so happy with the DeLuxe that I will probably install another set when they are due for a change. I don't mind the slightly higher pedal effort - got accustomed to it very quickly.

The only problem is that with time they became less effective - almost to the point where the ABS would not engage on dry pavement. They had become glazed, which is not uncommon with light brake useage. I solved the problem on a road trip over a twisty two lane mountain road that I drove hard using moderate braking to slow down for the corners. This broke the glaze and the brakes became much more effective.

Duke