Chevrolet Repair: Brakes, disc brake pads, glossy surface

Question
Hi James,
When replacing disc brake pads, should the pads on the front and rear be of the same material, semi-metallic, ceramic?  Does it make any difference if they are not?  Should they be from the same manufacturer?  Are high quality after market parts as good as factory brakes which seem to be very expensive?  Should you avoid turning down rotors and removing material if you don't get pulsation when stopping?
Thanks,
George

Answer
When replacing disc brake pads, should the pads on the front and rear be of the same material, semi-metallic, ceramic?  
They should be the same unless your conducting an experiment to see which will wear out first.

Does it make any difference if they are not? I'll answer this knowing that someone, somewhere will disagree with me.
Yes, they will wear out differently. If your back brakes wear out first then you'll have to replace them before the fronts do which means you'll have to have them adjusted more often.
Should they be from the same manufacturer?  Yes and no.
One manfacturers specifications on the density of the pad might be different than another.

Are high quality after market parts as good as factory brakes which seem to be very expensive?  
Most of the high quality (depending on the companys quality standards) after market are just as good as factory made replacement parts. It really boils down to :Does the person installing the parts know what they are doing, are they certified, and are the products warrantied.

Should you avoid turning down rotors and removing material if you don't get pulsation when stopping?
No, never avoid turning the drums or rotors as contamination occurs from dirt, oil, and other materials. The pads and shoes create a glossy surface and will eventually start increasing the amount of time it takes to stop a vehicle.