squealing brakes

Be intersting to see if the companys have changed the ingredients at all over the last 10 or so years in there brake lining material, I tend to use cheap super cheap pads in the AU they seem to last for 4 months and then they hit the wear markers at half way and squeal through to when u shift them, I can remember in the old days I would get 2 years to a set of Bendix in my old XBs now cant get 6 months and they chew the hell out the discs much quicker, maybe less asbestos these days, wonder if this applys to clutch plates as well, be interesting to see.