Has anyone heard of ATE brake pads? Looking at some closeouts on Rockauto, and these ATE Premium One Ceramic pads are available, but I've never heard of the brand. They also have Raybestos Element 3 Ceramic, but those are rated FF, whereas other Element3 pads I've purchased were GG. Both are about the same price. Which would you choose?
ATE Premium One Ceramic Pads
- Thread starter 92saturnsl2
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ATE is a good brand. They OEM for many manufacturers, though I'm not sure who uses their pads OE.
GM usually just refers to them as "Teves" IME. AKA Alfred Teves Engineering
I would not be afraid of them.
GM usually just refers to them as "Teves" IME. AKA Alfred Teves Engineering
I would not be afraid of them.
ATE pads are good for Euro cars - I’d trust them still. Looks like their Premium One line never took off.
From a few chats with The Critic, while ATE/Conti make their own pads they are sourcing from other friction manufacturers. I’ve seen Akebono-made pads in ATE calipers on Subarus - Nisshinbo(NBK) and Conti have a business agreement in Japan as well. Galfer, owned by ITT is a OEM pad on BMW ATE calipers. Jurid and Pagid/Textar are common pads on Euro cars with ATE calipers.
From a few chats with The Critic, while ATE/Conti make their own pads they are sourcing from other friction manufacturers. I’ve seen Akebono-made pads in ATE calipers on Subarus - Nisshinbo(NBK) and Conti have a business agreement in Japan as well. Galfer, owned by ITT is a OEM pad on BMW ATE calipers. Jurid and Pagid/Textar are common pads on Euro cars with ATE calipers.
They’ve been making inroads with the Japanese much more recently. Many Hondas and Subarus now use ATE calipers and even Toyota is using ATE ABS modulators.
ATE are top shelf and usually somewhat pricey, for the same money I would jump on them.
Just my opinion....
But if Trav, The Critic, Clinebarger, Slacktide, Astro_14, Strude53, Duckryder plus a good number of other guys on here say a product or something is legit and really good...
I feel extremely confident I can trust their recommendation 100 percent...
But if Trav, The Critic, Clinebarger, Slacktide, Astro_14, Strude53, Duckryder plus a good number of other guys on here say a product or something is legit and really good...
I feel extremely confident I can trust their recommendation 100 percent...
YES, you can indeed(and I do) trust those members mentioned above on this forum.
When I've worked on certain brake systems, I have seen ATE labeled parts in certain OE applications.
I am familiar with ATE products but have not specifically purchased them aftermarket and trust that ATE is an OEM supplier to many.
There are members on this forum and every other forum who happen to like a Coefficient of Friction(CoF) of "GG" for the extra stopping power.
I for one am not a fan of any of the brand name CoF GG pads that I have ever used.
Maybe I'm using the wrong ones?????? IDK!...Or I haven't gotten lucky(hit/miss).
GG pads(for me) simply don't feel as though they have the BITE that I prefer especially when cold. And it has been like that on every brand that I have installed. I seem to need more pedal pressure to order stop.
*[Even when using GG pads on rear disc brake applications that use those rear disc brakes as the parking brakes]. They just don't seem to hold as well as FF...especially for my State Inspection!
But, with that said, I have like/loved every CoF of "FF" pad(ceramic) that I have installed. They've given me the exact feel(like OE) that I am looking for in my driving style(normal) and climate, road conditions & travel.
However, if you're looking for better stopping power in harder/more aggressive situations then, CoF "GG" pads may be the ticket.
When I've worked on certain brake systems, I have seen ATE labeled parts in certain OE applications.
I am familiar with ATE products but have not specifically purchased them aftermarket and trust that ATE is an OEM supplier to many.
There are members on this forum and every other forum who happen to like a Coefficient of Friction(CoF) of "GG" for the extra stopping power.
I for one am not a fan of any of the brand name CoF GG pads that I have ever used.
Maybe I'm using the wrong ones?????? IDK!...Or I haven't gotten lucky(hit/miss).
GG pads(for me) simply don't feel as though they have the BITE that I prefer especially when cold. And it has been like that on every brand that I have installed. I seem to need more pedal pressure to order stop.
*[Even when using GG pads on rear disc brake applications that use those rear disc brakes as the parking brakes]. They just don't seem to hold as well as FF...especially for my State Inspection!
But, with that said, I have like/loved every CoF of "FF" pad(ceramic) that I have installed. They've given me the exact feel(like OE) that I am looking for in my driving style(normal) and climate, road conditions & travel.
However, if you're looking for better stopping power in harder/more aggressive situations then, CoF "GG" pads may be the ticket.
Since there seems to be an ATE consensus, I hope I am not swaying off topic too much. Anyone else share Char Baby's experience with GG? My GG EBC Ultimax II feel about the same as the factory OEM Akebono FF. My brakes system seems to be "soft" compared to my son's Kia Soul. Not sure if it's a pad "grabby" thing or hydraulic system difference. I hoped that the EBC might firm up pedal feel, but they didn't. Not worse, not better.
Very few I believe, feel the way I do about GG's.Again, it's just me and the brands that I've tried. Keeping in mind that I typically use more of the mainstream brands. I've never used EBC, HAWK, StopTech etc.
I do however like me some Akebono's though!
I had on my wife's LEXUS, Akebono ProACT Ceramic w/Brembo Rotor setup that I liked very much. But again, the ProACT's were FF.
I too have read from others of how much they like some of those brands^^^ mentioned in the CoF of GG. I'm just not willing to spend the money on them(even though many say that they're not much more than other brands). I just don't want to spend the money nor the time only to find out that I don't like'em! So, I stay with what works for me.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
ATE is second largest brake component manufacturer, right after TMD (Textar/Pagid).
ATE are OE pads on BMW, MB, VW, etc. etc. You hardly can go better than that.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Most GG pads are ceramic.
ATE however introduced semi-metalic pads that are now GG. I just got rear pads for BMW, semi-metallic and they are GG, while I think their current front pads, semi-metallic, are GF.
ATE ceramic, for BMW at least, are GH.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
I had Akebono GG on VW CC. Absolute garbage.
Again, it's just me and the brands that I've tried. Keeping in mind that I typically use more of the mainstream brands. I've never used EBC, HAWK, StopTech etc.
I do however like me some Akebono's though!
I had on my wife's LEXUS, Akebono ProACT Ceramic w/Brembo Rotor setup that I liked very much. But again, the ProACT's were FF.
I too have read from others of how much they like some of those brands^^^ mentioned in the CoF of GG. I'm just not willing to spend the money on them(even though many say that they're not much more than other brands). I just don't want to spend the money nor the time only to find out that I don't like'em! So, I stay with what works for me.
Let me add edyvw to my list of guys that I do trust as far as recommendations go.
Still wild you had that bad deal with the Akebono gg pads on the VW.... But goes to show things can go bad at times.
My gg rated Akebono pads on my car have been awesome. .
I went with the ATE pads, thanks much for all the feedback!
Rockauto images have gotten good enough that you can often spot the friction code on the brake pads, but it wasn't visible on these ATEs. I'll report back when I receive them.
All the other pads were "FF" with even some "EE" available; makes me wonder if a GG rating is even available for this car ('96 Maxima.) Raybestos Element 3 pads have always been "GG" every time I've purchased them, but they come as "FF" for this vehicle. For some other cars I shop for, GG makes up the majority of the options.
FWIW, I've always been pleased with "GG" pads, and "FF" seems to be a tossup. With "FF," Sometimes they work good, other times I dislike the feel or seems like I have to push the brake pedal more firmly. GG pads have been a winner every time, so I try to use them whenever possible.
Rockauto images have gotten good enough that you can often spot the friction code on the brake pads, but it wasn't visible on these ATEs. I'll report back when I receive them.
All the other pads were "FF" with even some "EE" available; makes me wonder if a GG rating is even available for this car ('96 Maxima.) Raybestos Element 3 pads have always been "GG" every time I've purchased them, but they come as "FF" for this vehicle. For some other cars I shop for, GG makes up the majority of the options.
FWIW, I've always been pleased with "GG" pads, and "FF" seems to be a tossup. With "FF," Sometimes they work good, other times I dislike the feel or seems like I have to push the brake pedal more firmly. GG pads have been a winner every time, so I try to use them whenever possible.
The ATE pads should serve you well
There are definitely GG pads available for the 4th gen Maxima. I used to have one. I used EBC Ultimax pads in my car.
Here are the pads on Rock Auto for your car that are GG:
Monroe CX
Bosch BC
Bendix CFC is GF
Sad the Raybestos EHT pads are FF for your car. The pictures still show GG, so it's possible that they cheapened the pads after they were first released (a few years ago). It's possible that Monroe and Bosch are no longer GG (and they also have other pads for this car that aren't), but I am 100% sure that EBC is GG.
That said, $10 for ATE pads is still a good deal.
TMD is owned by Nisshinbo(NBK). Lots of VW guys like Mintex pads as well.
And some Lexus models with the F Sport or sports suspension package will swap out the NBK or Aisin pads with Textar pads.
I stand corrected-- the part I was looking at (also on closeout) was Raybestos Element 3 ceramic. I saw element 3 and assumed they were the ones I've used (the EHTs). The EHT is further down the page and are indeed "GG" per the photo. Evidently they use the Element 3 name across several product lines. The EHT are wonderful pads, I have a set on my Chrysler.
FF vs GG is probably splitting hairs, these are pretty light cars, I'm sure the ATEs (which I noticed are FF on the photo) will be more than satisfactory. If they're not perfect, I won't complain for $10.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Most track pads are FF. Very few are GG (Hawk has GG line). So, it is compound that matters. ATE is very common pad on Euro cars and they always have good brakes.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Yes, Textar is really good pad. I think Mintex are repackaged Textar.
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