I drive livery cars in and around NYC logging 75000 miles a year. What is important to me is both pad life and pad performance. I want to minimize runs to the repair shop but I also demand the best performance because I want to avoid accidents.
I have used all of these pads professionally and here are my thoughts:
Akebono ProAct/OEM Akebono (Long Lasting Ceramic)- These are the longest lasting pads I have ever used. I typically got 40000 to 45000 miles on them in a severe service environment. The problem was stopping. The pads simply did not stop the car as well as other more aggressive pads. Another issue was a spongey peddle...a spongey overall feel. The Akebonos did not warp the rotors.
Wagner OEX- Although not the best in longevity and not the best in performance I settled on this pad. I felt it was the best "compromise" pad. It stopped better than the standard Akebonos but with a minimal hit to pad life. I typically got 35000 to 40000 miles from these pads. OEX is not the best in any one thing, but it is clearly an upgrade from the standard pad. OEX did not warp the rotors.
Akebono Performance (Sport Ceramic)- These were better than OEX at braking and feel. However I felt like the life was shorter than OEX. These did not warp the rotors.
Raybestos Element3 EHT- These had the best performance of the group. However they had the worst pad life...about 15000 miles...and they warped the rotors. I wondered if there was any difference between these pads and semi-metallic pads. Why not get actual semi-metallic pads? I guess less dusting with these pads.
One thing I wanted to note about the Wagner OEX pads is you must follow Wagners breakin procedure which is a series of stops to get the most out of them. There are some reviews out there where they state the pads have a weird feel. You need to break them in.
I have used all of these pads professionally and here are my thoughts:
Akebono ProAct/OEM Akebono (Long Lasting Ceramic)- These are the longest lasting pads I have ever used. I typically got 40000 to 45000 miles on them in a severe service environment. The problem was stopping. The pads simply did not stop the car as well as other more aggressive pads. Another issue was a spongey peddle...a spongey overall feel. The Akebonos did not warp the rotors.
Wagner OEX- Although not the best in longevity and not the best in performance I settled on this pad. I felt it was the best "compromise" pad. It stopped better than the standard Akebonos but with a minimal hit to pad life. I typically got 35000 to 40000 miles from these pads. OEX is not the best in any one thing, but it is clearly an upgrade from the standard pad. OEX did not warp the rotors.
Akebono Performance (Sport Ceramic)- These were better than OEX at braking and feel. However I felt like the life was shorter than OEX. These did not warp the rotors.
Raybestos Element3 EHT- These had the best performance of the group. However they had the worst pad life...about 15000 miles...and they warped the rotors. I wondered if there was any difference between these pads and semi-metallic pads. Why not get actual semi-metallic pads? I guess less dusting with these pads.
One thing I wanted to note about the Wagner OEX pads is you must follow Wagners breakin procedure which is a series of stops to get the most out of them. There are some reviews out there where they state the pads have a weird feel. You need to break them in.
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