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

[Donald]

Well after a little more deep-diving on the interwebs I've decided Akebono is out. The primary complaint from that brand is a spongy pedal which is a deal-breaker. I've seen a lot of good reviews for Advics, often referring to having good pedal feel which moves it up the list. Being a subsidiary of Aisin is also a plus as I've had good luck with that brand.

They aren't cheap, $70 (from Home Depot of all places) with free shipping, which puts them right in line with OEM. I don't mind paying that for good results, but now I'm torn between the Advics or OEM. I don't usually overthink things like this but my wife drives this truck every day and I want the best results possible, not unreasonable for something as important as brakes.

Surprisingly, the rotors are still in excellent shape. No warpage or grooving and almost no ridge. I'll need to mic out the thickness but I'm sure they're well within spec. I'm not a fan of the "pad slap", but why replace perfectly good parts? I don't even see a need to machine them, maybe just break the glaze with an abrasive pad on a drill. The jury is still out on this one.

I'd like to thank everyone for the great replies so far, it really helps with the thought process.

EDIT: I just found the same Advics pads on Rock for $50, even with shipping that's a bit cheaper. If I add a pair of Advics rotors we're looking at a grand total of about $160. I plan on keeping this truck for a few more years but I'm pretty sure this will be its last set of brakes, now I just have to be talked in to (or out of) it. What does the gallery have to say?

I disagree on the spongy pedal for Akebono. Akebono is all I have bought for various vehicles for at least a decade. Maybe people need to do a better job of bleeding.

I will say I had a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the brakes were never great no matter what brand of pads. And I had a Dodge Ran 2500 and the brakes were super no matter what pad I used. So some may be the size of the braking component vs weight of the vehicle. Subaru has relatively tiny brake components.

 

[edyvw]

I disagree on the spongy pedal for Akebono. Akebono is all I have bought for various vehicles for at least a decade. Maybe people need to do a better job of bleeding.

I will say I had a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the brakes were never great no matter what brand of pads. And I had a Dodge Ran 2500 and the brakes were super no matter what pad I used. So some may be the size of the braking component vs weight of the vehicle. Subaru has relatively tiny brake components.

They are absolute junk from a performance standpoint.
If you think Akebono is not spungy/soft, try something else.

 

[CKN]

Brake pads will not necessarily fix the issue.

 

[Dborch41]

Brake pads will not necessarily fix the issue.

I'm not looking to "fix" the issue, just not make it worse.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

They are absolute junk from a performance standpoint.
If you think Akebono is not spungy/soft, try something else.

Could you please define "performance"?

 

[edyvw]

Could you please define "performance"?

I take that back. They are just like any Japanese brakes: an exceptional garbage.
Reaction time an 18 wheeler length.

 

[gamefoo21]

I will say, I've had excellent luck with Akebonos and Bosch Quietcast ceramics.

The Akebonos on my Volvo XC90 were amazing, very progressive and reactive. The Bosch's are actually sometimes a bit too aggressive at times.

Raybestos EHT's are ok, but I've had some issues with backing plate fit. Think the EHTs are currently on the RSX, they are bit slow until they warm up but then they are great.

Something that I've found makes a huge difference is pad prep, cleaning everything, lubing everything with good ceramic silicon lube, bedding in, flushing the brake lines with all new fluid. I've dumped everything else for DOT 5.1, lesser fluids need not apply. Oh and purple Permatex is evil, it is garbage, it eats rubber, dries out, wicks in water... The red/orange Permatex, actually good stuff.

 

[edyvw]

I will say, I've had excellent luck with Akebonos and Bosch Quietcast ceramics.

The Akebonos on my Volvo XC90 were amazing, very progressive and reactive. The Bosch's are actually sometimes a bit too aggressive at times.

Raybestos EHT's are ok, but I've had some issues with backing plate fit. Think the EHTs are currently on the RSX, they are bit slow until they warm up but then they are great.

Something that I've found makes a huge difference is pad prep, cleaning everything, lubing everything with good ceramic silicon lube, bedding in, flushing the brake lines with all new fluid. I've dumped everything else for DOT 5.1, lesser fluids need not apply. Oh and purple Permatex is evil, it is garbage, it eats rubber, dries out, wicks in water... The red/orange Permatex, actually good stuff.

What are lesser fluids? I am all ears.

 

[gamefoo21]

What are lesser fluids? I am all ears.

I've transitioned my vehicles and the ones I look after off DOT3, DOT3 HT, DOT4 and DOT4 LV.

DOT5.1 just works better in my experience, it's not as water hungry as DOT3, lubes better and when it's -40 outside, it doesn't result in as sluggish pedal like I've had with DOT4.

 

[edyvw]

I've transitioned my vehicles and the ones I look after off DOT3, DOT3 HT, DOT4 and DOT4 LV.

DOT5.1 just works better in my experience, it's not as water hungry as DOT3, lubes better and when it's -40 outside, it doesn't result in as sluggish pedal like I've had with DOT4.

Well I use DOT4 on track and as cold as -47c, and yet to experience that.

 

[gamefoo21]

Well I use DOT4 on track and as cold as -47c, and yet to experience that.

It was in a DOT3 specified use case, and the specs say it gets significantly thicker when cold. But like all things BITOG, no one is always right or wrong. It was in my RSX and I really didn't like how it made things feel.

Some things I'm sure you want DOT4 and it's viscosity, though I kind of chuckle because DOT4 LV is pretty close to DOT 3 for viscosity, but then it's the lubricity and other additives. For me, DOT4 wasn't good in the cold while 5.1 is.

DOT5 is... well it's own monster.

Edit: I'm surprised I dusted off the account and I've stuck around to debate brake fluid heh

 

[97prizm]

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.

My neon, and my parents town and country had soft brakes and while flushing helped some I think it's a Dodge/Chrysler trait. I had good results with Wagoner quiet stops, and advance auto premium rotors.

 

[Dborch41]

DOT5 is... well it's own monster.

Very much so, which is why I don't understand the logic behind calling the newest glycol-based fluid "5.1", which makes it seem like it's a variant of silicone-based 5, which it very much is not. I think a smarter move would be to label DOT 5 something unique, like DOT S, since it's completely incompatible with the other fluids.

 

[gamefoo21]

Very much so, which is why I don't understand the logic behind calling the newest glycol-based fluid "5.1", which makes it seem like it's a variant of silicone-based 5, which it very much is not. I think a smarter move would be to label DOT 5 something unique, like DOT S, since it's completely incompatible with the other fluids.

Absolutely, I was actually very leery about trying 5.1 because 5 is something you only really use in specific circumstances.

I'm actually kind of surprised they didn't call 5.1, DOT6 or something to make it not seem to be a variant of 5.

 

[THORROMIG]

Went with Wagner OEX brake pads and Centric GCX Fully Coated rotors on the front of my 08 Tundra recently. Nice grab and no dust -- seem to feel better after putting some miles on them.

 

[edyvw]

It was in a DOT3 specified use case, and the specs say it gets significantly thicker when cold. But like all things BITOG, no one is always right or wrong. It was in my RSX and I really didn't like how it made things feel.

Some things I'm sure you want DOT4 and it's viscosity, though I kind of chuckle because DOT4 LV is pretty close to DOT 3 for viscosity, but then it's the lubricity and other additives. For me, DOT4 wasn't good in the cold while 5.1 is.

DOT5 is... well it's own monster.

Edit: I'm surprised I dusted off the account and I've stuck around to debate brake fluid heh

How did it “feel?” Fluid is not compressible. I had for example in Toyota DOT3, DOT 4, DOT 4LV, and yet to experience”feel” difference.

 

[gamefoo21]

How did it “feel?” Fluid is not compressible. I had for example in Toyota DOT3, DOT 4, DOT 4LV, and yet to experience”feel” difference.

Well it's not the fluid that's compressible, think about it like oil in cold when it tries too move. Thicker stuff just required more effort. It was a bit odd. The clutch felt heavier.

 

[edyvw]

Well it's not the fluid that's compressible, think about it like oil in cold when it tries too move. Thicker stuff just required more effort. It was a bit odd. The clutch felt heavier.

That, maybe.
Though I use DOT4 in my manual BMW, I don't really feel any difference.
It depends on car to car too.

 

[gamefoo21]

That, maybe.
Though I use DOT4 in my manual BMW, I don't really feel any difference.
It depends on car to car too.

I wouldn't doubt it. The clutch pedal on my RSX is very light and reactive normally. I suspect different systems would react differently.

Brake fluids the next oil choice frontier on bitog. lol