Had to change both front and rear pads this morning and what a difference it made to the whole experience of braking...even though my pads had 3/4 mm left in them, they were acting up a lot ...
I used delco fronts and Bendix rears [ what was available, cant be choosy here], $ 57 fronts $ 58 rears and braking glory has been restored..

PS : took the opportunity to open the rears and clean up the handbrake drums from dust and readjust..

funny how little things can make you fall in love again