Akebono Street Performance Pads - Anyone used these?
12-17-07, 12:47 PM
#17
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There is no significant improvement in stopping distance. What you do get is better resistance to fade, better better, etc. As long as they're good pads, you'll be okay. Even BBKs do not give you better stopping distance. Stopping distance is yielded through the weight of the car and the traction of your tires. Those two ultimately determines your stopping distance.
Even OEM pads have enough bite to stop your car. The difference is the OEM pads will probably smoke after doing some hard stopping, and you get a good amount of brake dust.
Even OEM pads have enough bite to stop your car. The difference is the OEM pads will probably smoke after doing some hard stopping, and you get a good amount of brake dust.
12-17-07, 01:23 PM
#18
What you gain with bigger rotor/pads/etc is the ability to reduce fading. You may decrease stopping distance, but dont expect anything more than a few feet. C&D tested a stock WRX with OEM and multiple aftermarket BBKs. The difference between OEM braking distance and aftermarket BBK isn't big at all. The aftermarket BBKs just shows more consistent braking distance.
Ultimately, your braking distance is determined by the tires and the weight of the vehicle. Any other upgrades will be minor.
To put it into perspective, disable your ABS motor. Drive up to 60mph and then slam onto the brakes. I will guarantee you the OEM calipers are able to lock up your wheels. If an OEM setup can do this, what difference does it make if your aftermarket BBK can clamp even harder? Once you lock up your wheels, then it's locked up. Period. Add more force if you want, but it wont change anything there after.
Now thankfully we have ABS to avoid that type of situation. Our ABS doesn't know whether we have aftermarket brakes or not. OEM or not, it will allow maximized clamping power, but just on the brinks of locking up. The Supra setup feels like it's giving you a shorter stopping distance, but it's the initial bite and feel that makes you think that. It's a lot more touchy than the OEM setup. My sister's accord has very touchy brakes. You feel that car stops you to a halt whenever you touch the pedal so slightly, but tests reviews that the accord (7th gen) takes over 15 feet to stop from 60-0 compared to our GS.
I know, it sounds backwards, but that's just how it is. Kind of like how smaller clutches provides more grabbing power than bigger clutches. Doesn't sound right, but that's how it works.
I'm not saying that BBKs are worthless. I'm getting myself some BBKs also, but not for the same reason as others (braking distance). I'm doing it for the reduction in brake fade, so I can stop consistently.
Ultimately, your braking distance is determined by the tires and the weight of the vehicle. Any other upgrades will be minor.
To put it into perspective, disable your ABS motor. Drive up to 60mph and then slam onto the brakes. I will guarantee you the OEM calipers are able to lock up your wheels. If an OEM setup can do this, what difference does it make if your aftermarket BBK can clamp even harder? Once you lock up your wheels, then it's locked up. Period. Add more force if you want, but it wont change anything there after.
Now thankfully we have ABS to avoid that type of situation. Our ABS doesn't know whether we have aftermarket brakes or not. OEM or not, it will allow maximized clamping power, but just on the brinks of locking up. The Supra setup feels like it's giving you a shorter stopping distance, but it's the initial bite and feel that makes you think that. It's a lot more touchy than the OEM setup. My sister's accord has very touchy brakes. You feel that car stops you to a halt whenever you touch the pedal so slightly, but tests reviews that the accord (7th gen) takes over 15 feet to stop from 60-0 compared to our GS.
I know, it sounds backwards, but that's just how it is. Kind of like how smaller clutches provides more grabbing power than bigger clutches. Doesn't sound right, but that's how it works.
I'm not saying that BBKs are worthless. I'm getting myself some BBKs also, but not for the same reason as others (braking distance). I'm doing it for the reduction in brake fade, so I can stop consistently.
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