Akebono brake pads

[crispyboy]

Recently I had an interesting discussion with a guy I met at a gun range about Mopar brakes. We struck up a conversation about his Jeep Rubicon and found out he was a recently retired mechanic at a Jeep/Ram/Dodge dealer. I was telling him that my truck is going to finally need a set of brakes. Currently have 140k on them. I remarked that you cannot get factory brake pads anymore, only Mopar Valueline pads. He said to get Akebono brand brake pads. According to him Akebono manufactures OEM factory pads for most of the major brands of vehicles. He said that Mopar Valueline pads were not worth the money and wore out quickly. He said to search out the Akebono brakes.
Does this sound reasonable? I've had good service from the originals and the rotors are in great shape. I will get them resurfaced anyway.

 

[slowmover]

I’ve come across that as well.
But don’t know more than that.

I kind of doubt we’ll find the OEM straight replacement (“Premium”, as it was known).

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/need-a-part-for-mopar-premium-brake-pads.273371/

Used to be I’d automatically specify RAYBESTOS. Same as with MOOG. But haven’t found any consensus on straight-up superior brake performance against other aftermarket offerings.

Brake linings that wear out at 70,000-miles are inferior, overall. At 125k on the current ones I’m at 50%.

So AKEBONO has been on my brake parts acquisition list s long while.

Good points made here:

It’s not easy to afterwards have consistent temperatures measured without TLC.

The long way around:

Since you’ve a travel trailer I can tell you that disc brakes tractor & trailer in Class 8 have increased the life of tractor brake linings compared to trailer with drums + tractor with disc on steer axle only.

Full-on emergency stops are unreal compared to the old days where speed and distance doesn’t factor engine braking.

Also, hitch rigging such that the trailer axles bear the same weight, and TV Steer same as when Solo get the most of 8-wheel braking versus 4-wheel (Steer + TT forward axle-only braking). All disc is the next step. Relieves burden on TV.

As my CTD is at sticker gross before I hitch, I’d prefer best linings on truck. Trailer disc someday.

guskmg and the late GCinSC have the best posts & threads on AIR re disc brakes.

TUSON DirecLink still the best brake controller for apportionment & response.

Combination Vehicle disc brakes on every axle means plenty if not most braking to maneuver in traffic is big toe controlled. Not heavy boot down on brake pedal as it was in the days of all drums. (Degree & Duration).

— Electric drums wind up shifting the burden to the TV (worsened by bad rigging or failure to use WDH) as they soon run out of capacity, and I’ve always felt better about MOPAR Premium linings as a result.

“Best” tires also play their role for both vehicles. The Airstream factory MICHELIN tire option went straight to that end. (TT shocks not worn down).

Biggest picture for long-distance traveler.

.

 

[Ozymandias]

Akebono is an excellent brand, they make pads for almost all major car manufacturers especially if it comes to Sportscars.
They are on par with BREMBO.

 

[seafish]

OP, your new mechanic friend was definitely right about the Mopar ValueLine being completely worthless, so I dont see why he wouldn't be right about the Akebonos.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Oddly, I bought a set of Akebono pads for my truck. Then, fearing the dreaded caliper seize up (which my buddy has had twice on a 3500 he had) and given the age of the truck, passed the 20 year mark this January, I elected to replace the entire brake system (except for the master cylinder and anti lock pump). I bought a complete kit from Summit Racing, a Power Stop kit, which I discussed here https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/power-stop-brake-kits.274859/

Needless to say, I still have the Akebono pads and if I ever need them I'll throw them on the truck.

Sorry I cannot answer your question, only to say they are most likely good pads as they do manufacture pads as an OEM supplier to GM for certain, not sure about others.

Charles

 

[johnmyster]

Are the Akebonos (or ceramics in general) any less prone to excessive brake dust?

My truck turns the wheels brown in the first trip after washing. Rears not as bad as the front, but still noticeable. (The pads are pretty thick so with 80k on the truck, I doubt they are original.)

Granted my truck only had 15k miles put on it over the course of about 5 years with prior owners. Does sitting/wet cause pad deterioration in such a way to increase wear rates, increase dust, etc?

 

[BigPapa]

Brown is surface rust that forms on the rotors hours after it's parked. It gets scrubbed off when you drive it again.

 

[BigPapa]

My truck turns the wheels brown in the first trip after washing.

Whatever, Richard....

 

[Ozymandias]

It sure makes a difference what pad your using, semi-metalic make way more dust then a ceramic pad.

Check out EBC Green for low dust.

https://www.ebcbrakes.com/