Akebono Brake Pads Review 2021[Updated] – Expert Buying Guide & FAQ

What will be the result if your brake fails when driving? In most cases, It will be the worst. Safe driving requires the maintenance of some mechanisms. Among them, the brake pad is one of the crucial elements. When you press on your brake pedal, brake pads bring your car to a full stop. It  dissipates the heat produced by intense friction of the rotors. So, to take proper control over your driving, you need to install the best pad on your brake discs. Akebono Brake Pads stand out in terms of performance and reliability. Our akebono brake pads review includes some of the best Akebono brake pads along with the buying guides and so more.

According to our research, Akebono brake pads stand out in terms of quality, performance, and longevity. The America-based company Akebono develops its kits using premium materials. They build the brake pads under the surveillance of highly skilled men. So, you won’t get any chance to question the efficacy of their products. For this reason, we are going to take you on a tour into the features of Akebono brake pads. Stay with us. 

Top 3 Akebono Brake Pads review 2021

1. Akebono ACT914 Brake Pad Kit

Manufactured with the highest quality ceramic materials, Akebono ACT914 is one of the leading ceramic pads in the market. For a smooth braking experience, the Akebono ceramic brake pads are made to ensure optimum performance. They come with ultra-quiet features that can control noise, vibration, and harshness levels. For proper fitment, the brake pads include shims. As they are delicately designed, you don’t have to break-in your new set of brake pads.

Ultra-Premium graded, this brake pad is one of the best Akebono brake pads on the market. Providing optimal braking performance and durability for pad wear, they complement your vehicle’s rotor well, providing longer rotor life. These Akebono brake pads leave little-to-no dusting.

In our Akebono Brake Pads Review, we add this brake pad kit as top-of-the-list. They provide a fantastic grip and are very reliable. Users report virtually no brake dust, advising that they fit well and are easy to install. Akebono brake pads assure you of the all-round performance that you want in replacement pads.

Key Features

• Ultra-Quiet Feature
• Vehicle optimized ceramic formula
• Shims included
• Ultra-premium graded 

The Good

• Smooth breaking experience
• Ensure longer lifespan of rotor
• Very quiet
• Low-dust braking
• Great fitment
• No-break in required

The Bad

• Doesn’t come with a new hardware set

Technical Details

• Manufacturer: Akebono
• Brand: Akebono
• Model: Disc Brake Pad Kit
• Item Weight: 1 pound
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.7 x 3.2 inches
• Item model number: ACT914
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No
• Exterior: Machined
• Manufacturer Part Number: ACT914
• Position: Rear
• Cover Included: Brake Pad Kit
• Safety Rating: DOT Certified

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2. Akebono EUR1348 Brake Pad Kit

 Akebono designs brake pads specially for European-manufactured vehicles. This EUR1348 is a great fit for your European cars, providing ultra stopping power. Besides, they are incredibly quiet during braking, designed delicately, and include shims. 

This brake pad features vehicle-optimized formulations. For this reason, these brake pads fit easily and don’t require any break-in. The euro brake pads are ultra-premium graded. They are meticulously developed using high-value materials. The kits efficiently reduce dusting, ensuring optimal low-dust braking. For a longer rotor life, the pads complement your vehicle’s rotor nicely. For this reason, Akebono brake pads in combination with rotors, deliver top-notch braking. 

Besides, the brake pads include the Ultra-Quiet feature maximizing the control of noise, vibration, and harshness levels. Plus, the kits are identical to OEM pads in terms of performance. The installation is easy as it comes with all the shims. So, you don’t need to take any stress. Above all, the brake pads are all-rounder and customer-friendly in terms of widespread use.

Key Features

• Compatible with European-made vehicles
• Ultra-premium graded
• Features vehicle-optimized formulations
• Comes with shims

The Good

• Fit easily
• Lower dusting
• Durable and reliable
• Works great on your rotors
• Ensure OE quality performance
• No noise
• Great pricing

The Bad:

• No noticeable shortcoming is found

Technical Details

• Manufacturer Akebono
• Brand Akebono
• Model EUR1348
• Item Weight 2.25 pounds
• Item model number EUR1348
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No
• Exterior Chrome
• Manufacturer Part Number AKEEUR1348
• Position Rear
• Folding No
• Cover Included Brake Kit
• Safety Rating DOT Certified

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3. Akebono ProACT Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set

 Looking for superior performing brake pads? Then Akebono ProAct Ultra-premium Ceramic Brake Pad Set is at your service. When it comes to braking performance, longevity, and quality, it is one of the best options at your hand available in the market.

The engineer uses high-value semi-metallic, organic, and low metallic materials in the composition of this brake pads set. The composite of premium materials increases the overall performance of your brake system. Besides, the brake pads set a great replacement, maintaining OE quality and standards.

For an ultra-quiet driving experience, it allows you to control the noise, vibration, and harshness levels. Besides, the equipment is developed with ceramic formula. It will give you an extra soothing feeling in terms of performance. Plus, the pad functions greatly on rotors. So, with the combination of rotor and caliper, the brake pads set adds more grip and power to your braking system.

Key Features :

• Optimized with the ceramic formula for better performance
• Can meet with OE specifications
• Comes with 4 pads; two for the front side and the rest two for the backside

The Good :

• Superior performance
• Ultra-quiet
• Worth every penny
• Better mileage

The Bad : 

• The model comes with just pads and shims
• Not recommended for heavy-use

Technical Details 

• Manufacturer : Akebono
• Brand: Akebono
• Model: ACT787
• Item Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 3.7 x 3.2 inches
• Item model number: ACT787
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No
• Exterior: Chrome
• Manufacturer Part Number: ACT787
• Position: Rear
• Cover Included: Brake Kit
• Safety Rating: DOT Certified

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Types of Akebono Brake Pads

Akebono develops three types of brake pads. In this Akebono Brake Pads Review, We will discuss their respective features below.

AKEBONO PRO-ACT® ULTRA-PREMIUM CERAMIC BRAKE PADS

These pads are great for the replacement of your OE ceramic pads. The pads are excellent as they give you identical performance as the original pads. Besides, it is suitable for upgrading from conventional pads as well. It gives your braking experience a new dimension, providing you with low-dust braking. Moreover, these pads ensure uniform stopping power even in the most unfriendly driving situation. 

Akebono Pro-ACT® Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pads virtually eliminates vibration, harshness, and noise. These pads are rotor-friendly as they don’t wear rotors too fast. Thus, they guarantee a longer lifespan of the rotors. do not wear the rotor too fast and help to keep a longer life span of the rotor. Plus, you don’t need to powerfully press on the pedals while braking as the pads work smoothly.

AKEBONO EURO® ULTRA-PREMIUM CERAMIC BRAKE PADS

As the name suggests, these pads are constructed specially for European-made vehicles. They function greatly on the European cars, adding precise stopping power. For this reason, the European cars stop on a dime although speedy. The European car owners love this range because of its superior stopping power. These pads perform amazingly combining with the rotors. As the pads do not wear the rotors quickly, they ensure longer lifespan of the rotors.

These pads are an excellent upgrade for low-metallic and semi-metallic brake pads. If you’re looking for a replacement for your low-metallic and semi-metallic pads, you should consider these pads. Most importantly, these pads can withstand noise, vibration, and harshness like other types of Akebono. 

AKEBONO PERFORMANCE® ULTRA-PREMIUM CERAMIC BRAKE PADS

These brake pads are specially developed for performance vehicles that need to stop as fast as possible. The vehicles such as law enforcement cars, light pickups, SUVs, fleets, etc require superior stopping power. Keeping that in mind, Akebono manufactures these brake pads. They are fabulous as they lengthen rotors’ life, feature quiet braking, and ensure less-dust driving. The engineers develop an upgraded ceramic formula to provide these benefits. These pads are great for low-metallic and semi-metallic pads. So, apply these pads if you are into a perfect replacement for low-metallic and semi-metallic pads.

Besides, like other Akebono brake pads, they reduce NVH- noise, vibration, and harshness to secure comfortable riding. Akebono presents different designs for various vehicle models to eliminate brake squealing by securing a perfect fit. Most importantly, the manufacturer uses an effective friction formula to ensure more stopping power.

Ceramic Brake Pads Review – BMW Akebono Brake Pads

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Things You Have to Consider Before Buying [Buying Guide]

In our Akebono brake pads review, It will be a wise decision on your part if you pay careful attention to the following aspects:

• Material

The Brake Pads available in the market are typically semi-metallic, fully-metallic, organic, and ceramic materials. Each brake pad comes in different features. So, it is wise to choose the brake pads that are compatible with your OEM pads. The best brake pad material for your replacement pads depends on your needs. Semi-metallic and fully-metallic pads are great when it comes to ample braking performance, longevity, and quality. But they are noisy and produce more brake dust. Organic brake pads are vulnerable to heavy use. But they are eco-friendly and work great on your rotors and discs. Lastly, the ceramic brake pad is widely famous and acknowledged among the users. They are incomparable when you are looking for an all-rounder brake pad. The only issue is that their price range is quite high compared to others.

• Quality

To estimate the quality of brake pads, you need to consider the following aspects:

Braking Power – you have to check on whether the brake pads can grip adequately or not. Braking power is the most prominent aspect of a brake pad. Insufficient stopping power can lead to catastrophe.

Longevity: you should consider Akebono brake pads’ longevity because you don’t want to replace them often. Small-metallic and fully-metallic brake pads are superior in terms of durability.

Noise Reduction: having too much noise and harshness while braking is irritating. So, try to look for the noise reduction feature in Akebono brake pads.

Heat Disposal: your Akebono brake pads need to dissipate lots of heat to lessen wear on the rotors. 

Weather Resistance: whether the pads can perform seamlessly in both cold and hot weather.

Low-Dust Braking: having low-dust braking is a must for a comfortable driving experience. Dust buildups wear and tear your brake rotors. 

• Compatibility

You may find your desired brake pads, but they may not fit your vehicle. So, try to look for a brand offering a wide range of compatibility. In this case, Akebono brake pads promise to ensure a global match for many vehicles as the brand comes in euro, ceramic, and performance brake pads. Moreover, Akebono brake pads are an excellent replacement for your OEM pads and surpass them to some extent. 

• Ease of Installation

Brake pads basically come as a set (front or rear) or as a full set. For initiating an easy installation, some brands include necessary shims and hardware. The hardware and sims are mandatory to carry out the installation without any stress. But some automotive manufactures don’t bother to include these components in the package. Therefore, users face troubles while installing on the brake discs. Akebono mostly offers this necessary hardware and shims to provide you trouble-free installation. 

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FAQs About Akebono Brake Pads

Where are Akebono Brake pads made?

Akebono operates R&D technical centers in the United States, Japan and France, and manufactures brake friction materials and components in 30 wholly owned or affiliated facilities worldwide. This includes two production facilities in Kentucky, one in Tennessee and one in South Carolina.

Question: What makes Akebono Brake pads stand out?

Akebono Brake pads offer more stopping power than OEM pads to some extent and come in half the price.

Where do Akebono Brakes originate?

Answer: Akebono manufactures their products in USA-based manufactotry. But the company originated in Japan. 

Do Akebono Brake pads come with hardware?

Answer: Nope, Akebono brake pads don’t include hardware. That’s why, you need to buy hardware separately.

How long do brake pads last?

Answer: On average, brake pads last approximately 50,000 miles. The lasting mainly depends on your driving style. If you often press hard on brake, then the lifespan may be 30,000 miles or less. 

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Final Words

As you know brake pads are mandatory for safe and smooth driving, you need to be serious when choosing brake pads for your vehicles. Akebono Brake Pads are undoubtedly one of the best. They develop three types of brake pads-ProAct, Euro, and performance- to offer a wide range of global compatibility. Most importantly, they use ultra-premium ceramic materials to make your car stop on a dime. Their Ultra-Quiet features allow maximum control over NVH-noise, vibration, and harshness. Above all, Akebono Brake Pads are best when it comes to quality, performance, and longevity.

We have tried to gather up all the necessary information about Akebono Brake Pads. Take time. Don’t be in a rush. Please, go through our akebono brake pads review. It will help you find your desired Akebono Brake Pads.