Trying to narrow down brake pad selection, but getting mixed signals.

[Dborch41]

Yeah I know, the last thing BITOG needs is yet another brake pad battle, but I have a slightly different angle this time. My wife's daily is a 2014 Nissan Frontier and I've never been a fan of the brakes on that truck. The pedal always felt softer than what I was accustomed to with a lot of travel. I've done everything possible to firm things up but with limited results, apparently it's just a nature of the beast with these trucks. In 2020 I bought a new Silverado and the first time I touched the brakes I almost blew the air bag, quite the difference.

I was recently rotating the tires and noticed the front pads were getting a bit thin. I replaced the the factory bits several years ago with a PowerStop OEM pad and rotor kit, they're OK but I want to go a different direction this time. My number one priority is a firm pedal, which I never imagined could be affected by pad composition but apparently it is. I used to be a Raybestos fanboy and was considering the EHT series but now I'm hearing that they aren't the company they used to be. I also have the Akembo ACT for consideration but then I read a few entries complaining about a soft pedal which is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. That leaves the front-runner, which for now is the Wagner ThermoQuiet, but now it's ceramic vs semi-metallic options. Decisions decisions...

The truck is used as a typical daily commuter, a mix of around town and freeway driving. I don't tow or haul with it anymore so that's no longer a factor, I just want a pad that will give me the best pedal performance possible. As always any advice is appreciated.

 

[The_Jeff]

That leaves the front-runner, which for now is the Wagner ThermoQuiet, but now it's ceramic vs semi-metallic options.

If I had to choose between those two I'd get the semi-mets, more grab for the same pressure.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I had zero experience with advics, but I just used them on my car and I like them a lot. Seem to be the perfect daily driver brake pad. Low dust (mine dusted for a week or so then stopped), never heard a squeak out of them, firm pedal and good bite no matter if they’re cold or warmed up. Used these at the advice of @The Critic who seems to do plenty of ?sidework? so I trusted his opinion on parts quality.

I’ve had akebono and disliked the soft feel and lack of bite.

I’ve had raybestos e3 after reading of so many love stories here with them. They fit like garbage, the hardware, shims, and the pads within the bracket.

I’ve used r1 concepts (dynamic friction shares warehouse and part numbers im pretty sure) and they seemed ok at first. Lack of bite till warmed up was my biggest gripe. Then they started squealing even though I had at least 3/4 of the pads remaining. I finally took them apart and found the linings to have fallen off the pad backing, I guess their process or glue failed. I touched base with them about it and they couldn’t have cared less. That was my one and only trial with them.

 

[doitmyself]

Good luck getting any consensus. My Patriot had similar soft brake feel with OEM Akebono front pads (different design vs. aftermarket Akebono). I wanted more "bite" like my son's old Kia Soul had. I got that with EBC Ultimax 2 (GG friction rating) and EBC coated rotors. Odd thing, it took over 500 miles for the extra "bite" to happen. You could step up to more aggressive EBC pads, but you need to understand the pros and cons of doing that. I believe EBC's next step up is their Greenstuff Elite: https://www.ebcbrakes.com/ebc-brake-pad-selector-tool/#lets-go

Friction rating is controversial, but is one data point to consider.

 

[iCurious]

I would try to flush the brakes out before condemning the brake pads. Also make sure the are no leaks from the master cylinder/wheel cylinders.

 

[BHopkins]

When you say that you have used the Powerstop OEM pads, I'm guessing these are Z16 or Z17 pads? Have you considered upgrading from the OEM style Powerstop pads, to the Z23, or perhaps even the Z36 pads?

 

[grasscutter]

NAPA "Adaptive One"

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The EBC Ultimax2 is a great daily driver pad

 

[oldhp]

Replace all the factory rubber brake lines with Stainless Steel lines. Night and day difference on pedal feel.

 

[Dborch41]

I would try to flush the brakes out before condemning the brake pads. Also make sure the are no leaks from the master cylinder/wheel cylinders.

Oh I put at least a gallon of fluid through that thing. There are posts here I've made over the years outlining the trials and tribulations I've experienced with these brakes.

 

[Dborch41]

Replace all the factory rubber brake lines with Stainless Steel lines. Night and day difference on pedal feel.

Did that, new MC as well. Didn't notice that much of an improvement.

 

[Dborch41]

When you say that you have used the Powerstop OEM pads, I'm guessing these are Z16 or Z17 pads? Have you considered upgrading from the OEM style Powerstop pads, to the Z23, or perhaps even the Z36 pads?

Thought about it, but a lot of what folks here have been saying about PowerStop lately has given me pause. I also put a set on my son's Mazda and the fit wasn't ideal.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I did EHT on my Frontier years ago though - still good. I have also read here that people don't like them. Might be application specific.

I doubt your firm pedal issue is with the pads. Sounds like you need to bleed - and Nissan has a very specific order that is not normal. I can find it you need - its in the manual.

 

[RooflessVW]

https://www.z1offroad.com/pads/hawk...dwWcjHBIVaYzyUh6ChA6OMzTqYiF_e-T6R-7bVF0dwumE

 

[RooflessVW]

When you say that you have used the Powerstop OEM pads, I'm guessing these are Z16 or Z17 pads? Have you considered upgrading from the OEM style Powerstop pads, to the Z23, or perhaps even the Z36 pads?

They're all smushy ceramic.

 

[boom10ful]

I've had great luck with Powerstop Z23 pads on a Hyundai. The brake pedal always felt firm but took more brake pressure than I would like to slow down the car. I pretty much changed out the entire brake system with little to no change. And after installing these pads, it finally stops like I want it to.

 

[BHopkins]

Thought about it, but a lot of what folks here have been saying about PowerStop lately has given me pause. I also put a set on my son's Mazda and the fit wasn't ideal.

That's too bad. I've only installed the Z23 pads, and have had great luck with them.

They're all smushy ceramic.

The Z23 pads are carbon fiber.

 

[D60]

Did OP start the thread about this where we wound up discussing booster pushrod length? Have you checked that for your low pedal?

As for pads man, good luck. I've honestly had good luck with most any major brands so I've never fully understood the debates

 

[walterjay]

Get Wagner ThermoQuiet pads. They stop on the dime, low dust and good pedal. Been using them for years now.

 

[RooflessVW]

That's too bad. I've only installed the Z23 pads, and have had great luck with them.



The Z23 pads are carbon fiber.

No, they're really not. They're ceramic pads with some marketing (oops! I mean carbon fiber) sprinkled in.

They're spongy and they fade. They're good at low dust and are probably better than most factory ceramic pads but that's a low bar.

I've tried them (Z17, Z23, and Z36 - the rotors are ok so I buy the kits) and they're just not good compared to a decent OEM formula semi-metallic pad and nowhere near a real performance pad.

Every time I've put them on a German car they've come right off. Night and day.