Akebono Euro vs Stoptech Sport

[MadCoder]

I know this has been beat to death but I'm having trouble finding a direct comparison between the two. I think I tried the Stoptech Streets (they were Street or Sport) on a different car and they weren't aggressive enough for my taste.

I just crested 33k and have to replace the front pads and rotors. At least that's what Firestone and Audi have told me. Just looking at them through the wheel it seems like they have plenty of pad material, but I digress.

I've seen a number of things about the Akebono (in no particular order):
1. Low dust.
2. Less initial bite.
3. Linear.

I haven't seen nearly as much about the Stoptech Sport pads. Has anyone used both and can comment? I assume the Stoptech Sports have better fade resistance but how much better? How does the torque compare between them? I'm also interested in overall pedal feel. I was running Ferodo DS2500 on my previous car and liked everything but the dust, even though I wasn't getting them up to temp often enough. Plus, the dust seemed a bit corrosive. I have little doubt the Akebono's are sufficient for everyday driving but are they up to the occasional autocross (which I intend on doing after sway bar(s) and possibly front UCAs)? Track use isn't a consideration for these. I'd get different pads for that.

Thanks!

[dls11b8]

IMO, the akebonos are not good for spirited driving. Mine start to fade badly after 3 or 4 aggressive brakes.

If you want to autoX, I'd suggest something else.


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[windowguy]

I like EBC reds. They do dust a bit but I like them a lot. I did a few laps on a track and they got smoking hot but did not fade.

Rob.

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[sirsycott]

Stoptech sports weren't so bad, loss maybe 5-10% bite when compared to stock , i'd say the akebonos are like losing 25-30% bite
and yes i've driven both pads including a few track days

I don't trust the ceramics when heated, doesn't give me the confidence after a quick session and lighting them up multiple times
Stoptechs held up but they did begin to rumble after heating them up ,
the compound is very soft too, as i noticed the edges and corners were starting to crumble

akebono low dust, meh bite , ok for daily and some spirted driving, but not to be pushed when canyon driving or heavy tracking
stoptech, lots of dust, decent bite , somewhat noisy from driving cold weather and will occasionally squeel when stopping, can take a beating but make sure to inspect the pads since the compound seems to be on the softer side


maybe go pagids or porterfield r4? if your looking for more performance

if ur after dust and don't mind losing brake bite go akebonos


everyone likes them, i'm personally not a fan but that's only because i prefer not clenching my cheeks when braking

[FWP!]

Carbotech all the way. Had them on my RS4, loved them, and I like that you can swap in different pads and not worry about cross-contamination.

[MadCoder]

Thanks guys; this is exactly what I needed to know. Akebono's are out.

maybe go pagids or porterfield r4? if your looking for more performance

More performance than the Stoptech Sports? As I understand, Pagid makes the OEM compound correct? Which compound do you mean, exactly for the Pagids? You mean the R4-S (street)? Have you run either of them? If so, how do they compare to the Stoptech Sports or Ferodo DS2500s?

Carbotech all the way. Had them on my RS4, loved them, and I like that you can swap in different pads and not worry about cross-contamination.

Which compound? I've used the AX6 compound on my Miata and liked them well enough. Very different car, though.

[doug97gxe]

I know this has been beat to death but I'm having trouble finding a direct comparison between the two. I think I tried the Stoptech Streets (they were Street or Sport) on a different car and they weren't aggressive enough for my taste.

I just crested 33k and have to replace the front pads and rotors. At least that's what Firestone and Audi have told me. Just looking at them through the wheel it seems like they have plenty of pad material, but I digress.

I've seen a number of things about the Akebono (in no particular order):
1. Low dust.
2. Less initial bite.
3. Linear.

I haven't seen nearly as much about the Stoptech Sport pads. Has anyone used both and can comment? I assume the Stoptech Sports have better fade resistance but how much better? How does the torque compare between them? I'm also interested in overall pedal feel. I was running Ferodo DS2500 on my previous car and liked everything but the dust, even though I wasn't getting them up to temp often enough. Plus, the dust seemed a bit corrosive. I have little doubt the Akebono's are sufficient for everyday driving but are they up to the occasional autocross (which I intend on doing after sway bar(s) and possibly front UCAs)? Track use isn't a consideration for these. I'd get different pads for that.

Thanks!

I have Stoptech Streets and i hate them.. the lack of bite vs stock caught me off guard and scared me shitless .. i've now adjusted my braking habbits

[waxxonMTL]

the more i read about pad, the less i want to switch to aftermarket.. will simply deal with dust. Seems like OEM did a VERY GOOD job at offering awesome performance. Also, after a full year of ownership, i never heard my brake squeal once, even in -20celcius winter day.. I know the pad were replaced so maybe it has to do with the installer using anti-squeal paste or something like that to reduce sound. So for me, the only downside is dust.. I prefer performance over dust tho.

[doug97gxe]

the more i read about pad, the less i want to switch to aftermarket.. will simply deal with dust. Seems like OEM did a VERY GOOD job at offering awesome performance. Also, after a full year of ownership, i never heard my brake squeal once, even in -20celcius winter day.. I know the pad were replaced so maybe it has to do with the installer using anti-squeal paste or something like that to reduce sound. So for me, the only downside is dust.. I prefer performance over dust tho.

lol i just now noticed after you said this that my squeal is gone.. now i feel a little better about them. my Stock pads would squeal ALL the time.. even 75 degrees .. i don't mind dust either .. i have unlimited car washes at my local hand wash place

[SDV325]

I have Stoptech Streets and i hate them.. the lack of bite vs stock caught me off guard and scared me shitless .. i've now adjusted my braking habbits

Second. I know some hate that initial bite, but I loved it. Definitely saved me once or twice in stop and go traffic.

I will add the Stoptechs have very little dust in comparison to OEM brakes. The rears I never notice getting too dirty (OEM) but the fronts I can go for days or weeks and have minimal dust on the wheels, where OEM would be dirty after 1 drive. This is on the OEM rotors, hard to see on the darker wheels.

OP, if you didn't like the aggressiveness on the stoptechs the ceramics will be much worse for that.

Id like something similar to the OEM bite but without the dust as well, but I think if you want bite you'll get dust. Just a fact of life haha

[MadCoder]

To clarify, I think and hope I was using Stoptech Street pads and they weren't aggressive enough. Those are not in consideration. The Stoptech Sport pads are.

[eurotic]

I have the StopTech Sport pads (used to be called Street Performance pads I believe). I like them fine although they do not have the initial bite of OEM pads. I think they dust less than OEM but I can't speak to the squealing yet as temps are just starting to drop and I only really had squeal in winter.

I think I prefer the StopTech pads for autocross though. The OEM are great on the street but after switching to these pads and adjusting my braking, in autocross it allows me to upset the car less if I have to stab the brake in a transition. In street driving you need to press a bit harder to get the OEM level of braking. The hard initial bite is gone but I have not had a pucker inducing incident like Doug though.

[MadCoder]

I have the StopTech Sport pads (used to be called Street Performance pads I believe).

Now you have me wondering if I used them before. Street Performance sounds familiar. IIRC the torque didn't compare to the Ferodo DS2500s and they started to smell without much heat. I probably shouldn't be comparing to those since they're kind of in another class.

[grovlet]

Stoptech sports weren't so bad, loss maybe 5-10% bite when compared to stock , i'd say the akebonos are like losing 25-30% bite
and yes i've driven both pads including a few track days

maybe go pagids or porterfield r4? if your looking for more performance

if ur after dust and don't mind losing brake bite go akebonos

everyone likes them, i'm personally not a fan but that's only because i prefer not clenching my cheeks when braking

I love the R4-S on my Subaru LGT and will be switching the S4 over.... They are actually designed for heavy Street abuse (with fade and low dust requirements) and can be used during AutoCross/HPDE Events!
PorterField R4-S Pad Description

If looking for a track specific pad - I would think R4 would be excellent based on my experience with the R4-S - But have no qualms about the R4-S as a street pad!!

[MadCoder]

I'm starting to get sold on trying the R4-S pads. Seems like people either really love or really hate them.

Is there a go-to store for S4 brakes and/or suspension? Guess I can get the R4-S pads direct from Porterfield.

[grovlet]

I'm starting to get sold on trying the R4-S pads. Seems like people either really love or really hate them.

Is there a go-to store for S4 brakes and/or suspension? Guess I can get the R4-S pads direct from Porterfield.

I got them for my Subaru from KNS-Brakes.com - they are at least a one stop shop for pads/rotors/stainless lines/fluid if needed. They don't actually list the pads for the S4 - but if you check on Porterfield they do list part #s - so probably just a matter of calling KNS...

Or just go through Porterfield directly - but their options for anything other than Pads seem limited and expensive...

Edit: You could also call ECS Performance and see if they carry or can order them - ECS has quite the selection of Brake Products for the S4 - but I've never seen Porterfield on their site.

[doug97gxe]

I have always had a pleasant experience from ECS


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[MadCoder]

Pulled the trigger on some R4S pads. Forgot to ask about the brake pad sensor. Are they reusable if I haven't had the warning pop up yet?

[SDV325]

Pulled the trigger on some R4S pads. Forgot to ask about the brake pad sensor. Are they reusable if I haven't had the warning pop up yet?

I believe so, I ordered and replaced mine even though the sensor hadn't been triggered yet either.

I'm sure someone can confirm this

[kobrian85]

Pulled the trigger on some R4S pads. Forgot to ask about the brake pad sensor. Are they reusable if I haven't had the warning pop up yet?

I believe the sensor is built into the pad material, it's not something you can add to the pads. That's how it was on my VW... Someone educate me if the S4's work differently...

[MadCoder]

I believe the sensor is built into the pad material, it's not something you can add to the pads. That's how it was on my VW... Someone educate me if the S4's work differently...

I've seen where you can buy the sensor separately.

Also: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...or-Replacement

Does anyone know if the R4S pads come with the sensor?

[SDV325]

I believe the sensor is built into the pad material, it's not something you can add to the pads. That's how it was on my VW... Someone educate me if the S4's work differently...

The sensor clips into the top of the pad, definitely does not come with them

I've seen where you can buy the sensor separately.

Also: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...or-Replacement

Does anyone know if the R4S pads come with the sensor?

I would assume no as no pads I ever looked at came with a sensor. I considered the porterfields as well at one point, no mention of a sensor

[MadCoder]

The Akebono's seemed to come with the sensor. Oh well. I'll re-use them and if something goes wrong/bad I'll deal with it. Can't imagine anything terrible happening from reusing it unless the thing disintegrates on me on removal.

[kobrian85]

I've seen where you can buy the sensor separately.

The sensor clips into the top of the pad, definitely does not come with them

I see. Thanks, fellas.

[doug97gxe]

Audi charges $79 for each sensor


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[brianc21]

Just bought it from ecs for $34 I believe. Looks like you only need the one sensor.

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[jlaudio]

I bought a set of Akebono euro ceramics from amazon a week ago. They came with the sensor.

[mjames]

Been very happy with Akebonos and lack of dust for my daily driver. Like the linear feel vs. stock. Held up fine in spirited driving.

[FWP!]

Thanks guys; this is exactly what I needed to know. Akebono's are out.



More performance than the Stoptech Sports? As I understand, Pagid makes the OEM compound correct? Which compound do you mean, exactly for the Pagids? You mean the R4-S (street)? Have you run either of them? If so, how do they compare to the Stoptech Sports or Ferodo DS2500s?



Which compound? I've used the AX6 compound on my Miata and liked them well enough. Very different car, though.

I use the Bobcat's (1521's) on the street, and XP10 for the front and XP8 for the back for track duty. Really, really great pads. The bobcat's produce very little dust, and I liked the pedal feel on my RS4. The 1521's are known for having less initial bite than an OEM pad, but I will WELCOME that on my S4 seeing as I sort of can't stand how touchy the brakes are all the time.