Yeah definitely don't buy the OEM brembo pads. Akebono pads are pretty popular but there's mixed reviews on noise/dust levels. Someone recommended Akebono to me, so have been running them for a few months and have had great results so far.
Reviews of Akebono brake pads
1351 votes
I have always used and trusted akebono pads. I've used them in Jeeps, Land rovers, Toyotas, Ford's, my 335i...you name it. Much less brake dust. Very quiet. Long lasting.
On my street bmws I have been using akebono pads whenever possible. They dust a fraction of the OE compound. Zimmerman/textar and even akebono rotors are good from what I’ve seen.
I use the Akebono pads on a 2013. Those are spring retention clips. I think the idea is to push the pads away from the rotor when you aren't braking. It's a weird design because the spring clip is only on one side of the pad. I've seen other cars use spring clips on each side of the pad The setup in those pics looks right to me where the clips are on the bottom. Also the factory OEM pads (Akebono too) have a similar design.
I had Akebono pads last time out with OEM and they were great. Low dust although they wore rather quickly.
About a year ago I bought some Akebono ceramic brake pads for my 2016 and they have given me nothing but grief, notably the fronts whose retainer clips just straight up didn't fit into my caliper so I needed to reuse the stock ones and I also had to grind down the pad ears to fit properly. The fronts were particularly bad (part no. ACT1539).
I love Akebono brake pads, but I don't want to buy them for a brand new car.
Akebono makes great fully ceramic brake pads that have been long lasting, zero brake dust, and only a little squeakiness when they're cold for the first few brake presses at worst.
I went with akebono brake pads which leave a lot less dust than the OEM pads and wear slower.
I have been using this brand for ever. Perfect fit and quiet.
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