The front brakes need to be replaced. What/where is a good brake upgrade? Thx in advance for any tips.

Well, The vented front rotors are a good upgrade (available on Autozone.com, for a hefty price), plus getting ASBESTOS front shoes, no matter what people think of asbestos, they are still the best material for braking, short of the $2000 a set ones used on F1 type cars... They brake better, cool off faster, and grind your rotors less... better by far than the metalflake ones.