Engine Air Filters and other stuff

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Question 2: Should I go with standard replacement brake pads for my vehicle or should I look into some alternative 3rd party brake pad (for example, ceramic brake pads)?

don't waste money on "high performance" stuff. You could probably get pattern parts cheaper yourself and ask the garage to fit them for you

^^^ This....I got ceramic pads once....not worth it and they ended up screeching like a mother after a few weeks. Definitely not worth the HUGE upcharge. Any reputable place will warranty the pads if they end up failing early. I usually have my work done at a local Firestone owned garage. They did my brakes, a few months later they were acting all funky and they re-did them for no charge.