EBC Yellowstuff Brake Pads - Worth It?

[SAATR]

I did a small bit of research on the subject of pads when I was shopping for brakes a few weeks ago. I've been a fan of Wagner Thermoquiets for years and have always had good pad life and reasonable dust and rotor wear with them, but wanted something with better bite and performance as they always seemed, at best, mediocre in that department. One of the few objective measurements of pad performance available are the "DOT edge codes" located on every brake pad sold the US. It's a 2 letter code ranging from DD to HH, with each letter indicating a certain coefficient of friction range at 250F and 600F, respectively, with the friction coefficient range going higher (more grip) as the letters progress. Thermoquiets for our trucks (part number MX369) are an EE, while the Wagner Severe Duty pads ( SX369 ) only manage an FE rating. All of this data had to be gotten by holding the parts in hand, as most manufacturers don't publish these specs anywhere that I have found. Performance pad companies tend to be the exception, as companies like EBC, Hawk, Wilwood, etc use it to differentiate their performance products from the rest. I did not look at AutoZone or Advance/Carquest's house brand pads, as I do not shop with them. But O'Reilly's premium ceramic "Brake Best Select" pads carried an EF rating and were made in India, with the standard semimetallic carrying an EE rating, as did Wagner. Couldn't say much about Bendix, Raybestos, Centric, Powerstop, ACDelco, or Brembo as I couldn't lay hands on them. I did, however, get a set of Akebono ACT369 ProACT ceramic pads off of Amazon for half price (open box) and gave them a shot. They turned out to be an FF rating, and are USA made to boot. Have been running them on the truck with ACDelco Pro line rotors for the last two weeks and have been pleased. Great bite and modulation, and little dust to speak of.

TLDR; read up on DOT edge codes and maybe give Akebono pads a shot.

 

[Supercharged111]

That is good shjt, thank you for posting.

 

[df2x4]

I did a small bit of research on the subject of pads when I was shopping for brakes a few weeks ago. I've been a fan of Wagner Thermoquiets for years and have always had good pad life and reasonable dust and rotor wear with them, but wanted something with better bite and performance as they always seemed, at best, mediocre in that department. One of the few objective measurements of pad performance available are the "DOT edge codes" located on every brake pad sold the US. It's a 2 letter code ranging from DD to HH, with each letter indicating a certain coefficient of friction range at 250F and 600F, respectively, with the friction coefficient range going higher (more grip) as the letters progress. Thermoquiets for our trucks (part number MX369) are an EE, while the Wagner Severe Duty pads ( SX369 ) only manage an FE rating. All of this data had to be gotten by holding the parts in hand, as most manufacturers don't publish these specs anywhere that I have found. Performance pad companies tend to be the exception, as companies like EBC, Hawk, Wilwood, etc use it to differentiate their performance products from the rest. I did not look at AutoZone or Advance/Carquest's house brand pads, as I do not shop with them. But O'Reilly's premium ceramic "Brake Best Select" pads carried an EF rating and were made in India, with the standard semimetallic carrying an EE rating, as did Wagner. Couldn't say much about Bendix, Raybestos, Centric, Powerstop, ACDelco, or Brembo as I couldn't lay hands on them. I did, however, get a set of Akebono ACT369 ProACT ceramic pads off of Amazon for half price (open box) and gave them a shot. They turned out to be an FF rating, and are USA made to boot. Have been running them on the truck with ACDelco Pro line rotors for the last two weeks and have been pleased. Great bite and modulation, and little dust to speak of.

TLDR; read up on DOT edge codes and maybe give Akebono pads a shot.

Appreciate the info, thanks!

That's really interesting about the DOT edge codes. So are you saying that the performance pad companies don't generally use the edge codes at all, or just that they carry a different meaning?

EDIT - Never mind, I think I misunderstood what you were saying. You meant that performance pad companies will sometimes advertise the code where as other manufacturers will not, right?

Also interesting to hear that Akebono (a Japanese company) has production facilities in the USA. I would not have expected that. I've read good things about them on other forums.

 

[SAATR]

Appreciate the info, thanks!

That's really interesting about the DOT edge codes. So are you saying that the performance pad companies don't generally use the edge codes at all, or just that they carry a different meaning?

EDIT - Never mind, I think I misunderstood what you were saying. You meant that performance pad companies will sometimes advertise the code where as other manufacturers will not, right?

Also interesting to hear that Akebono (a Japanese company) has production facilities in the USA. I would not have expected that. I've read good things about them on other forums.

Yes, the performance companies tend to advertise the edge code specs of the friction material in their street/track and track only pads, for marketing purposes, if nothing else. Your OE and stock replacement pad companies don't advertise it at all, at least not that I have found.

Akebono advertises that all of their aftermarket brake friction products are made in the USA, and I can confirm that the set of pads I bought said the same. I wasn't expecting that either, but it was a pleasant surprise.

 

[df2x4]

Yes, the performance companies tend to advertise the edge code specs of the friction material in their street/track and track only pads, for marketing purposes, if nothing else. Your OE and stock replacement pad companies don't advertise it at all, at least not that I have found.

Akebono advertises that all of their aftermarket brake friction products are made in the USA, and I can confirm that the set of pads I bought said the same. I wasn't expecting that either, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Awesome, thanks again for the info and for clarifying!

Whatever pads I end up ordering I'll make a note of all the markings on them. I kind of want to get the EBCs even more now just to see what code is on them, I can't find it advertised anywhere.

 

[98 Nitro]

Rock Auto lists the Akebonos as daily drivers not premium/performance but made in USA . Sounds like the ones to try to me as they are less $ than oem Delcos.
If EBC rotors really are still manufactured in England I think they would be worth buying but i would just try the stock style ones.

 

[454cid]

Rock Auto lists the Akebonos as daily drivers not premium/performance but made in USA . Sounds like the ones to try to me as they are less $ than oem Delcos.
If EBC rotors really are still manufactured in England I think they would be worth buying but i would just try the stock style ones.

Better get those us made pads quick...the Akebono website says they are closing two us plants.

 

[Redneckgeriatric]

be careful selecting, or mismatching brake components. it is very possible to fall into the "performance" scheme and discover your new brakes only work well AFTER heated! very common with race cars. you cant say "wait till i bring these brakes up to temp" when a bus turns in front of you, or a city dweller decides to brake check you.

 

[Supercharged111]

be careful selecting, or mismatching brake components. it is very possible to fall into the "performance" scheme and discover your new brakes only work well AFTER heated! very common with race cars. you cant say "wait till i bring these brakes up to temp" when a bus turns in front of you, or a city dweller decides to brake check you.

That's on the far end of the spectrum. EBC green/yellow or any of the common Hawk offerings are not gonna be like that.

 

[Redneckgeriatric]

ever seen a mismatch before? even one on the far end that you figured no one would ever..........yep, it happens.
rotors cracking? rotor too hard or pads too hard. agressive pads on heavy chrome content rotors will glow red under continuous braking, like descending a mountain, you pay a price to push the "far end".
for everyday, semi soft pads on semi hardened rotors are the norm, pads are cheap to replace, the rotors are cheap to manufacture. proper heat treating cost a fortune these days, even on chevy cams! lol