Brake pads Akebono or DIXCEL

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.

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.

Stock calipers with Dixcel SD slotted rotors and Dixcel ES pads.

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.

had a track day over the weekend and saw that a hard, black substance that seems a little rubbery had formed on the brakes. The brake pads are Dixcel ES brake pads. I had not bedded them in and instead street drove with it for a couple months as the website suggested. Brake grease was placed on the pad surface contacting caliper. The track has lots of left turns and I braked from 170+ kmh to 80kmh on the first corner. I'm pretty new so i may have braked deep as I was turning. The substance formed heavily on right front wheel, less on left front and none on rear. Brakes were smoking lightly when i came into the pits. Braking feel didn't change throughout the day as I continued lapping. Car still tracked straight. I tried not to brake too hard and didn't observe any other substance buildup.