If you are planning to upgrade your car’s original brake pads with the better ones that provide real quality and performance, most probably you are now considering the Wagner and Akebono brake pads. Two of the most popular brake pads on the market right now are Wagner ThermoQuiet and Akebono ProACT. The Wagner and Akebono brake pads are available at more-or-less similar prices, and both are widely loved and praised because of the quality and performance. They offer precise and confident stopping power. So, should you pick the Wagner or Akebono brake pads? Find the answer below.
Design
Wagner ThermoQuiet is a patented IMI one-piece brake pad that provides superior performance in noise damping and heat dissipation. As we all know, braking can be noisy, and the friction of the action generates heat that is bad to both the brake pad and the wheel system. However, the Laser-Shaped Friction technology implemented in the Wagner brake pad aims to custom-shape the friction to focus the caliper force, reducing vibration and eliminating noise. Wagner ThermoQuite has been engineered to provide the optimal performance, as it has been designed to pass OE manufacturer stopping tests. It has a comprehensive coverage for various vehicles, from passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, to minivans.
On the other hand, the Akebono brake pad claims to be the ultimate upgrade for OE semi-metallic, organic, and low-metallic brake pads. It controls the levels of noise, harshness, and vibration very well. It is very smooth and quiet, yet also packs real stopping power. It offers superior initial effectiveness without needing a break-in period. It comes with a vehicle-optimized ceramic formula for superb performance, and it is extremely rotor friendly, allowing longer rotor life.
Performance
The Wagner brake pad works pretty well. It gives nice, smooth stopping power and is relatively quiet. However, it is not very aggressive. In addition, there are some users who have complained about the degradation of the built-in shim on the brake pads that leads to excessive squealing and vibration. On the other hand, the Akebono brake pad is greatly praised for the strong stopping power. The Akebono is also smooth and quiet when working, and is quite considerably long lasting. The Akebono brake pad is one of the smoothest and most luxury-feeling brake pads on the market.
Wagner vs Akebono Brake Pads
We recommend you to choose the Akebono brake pads. The Wagner is good, but some people had issues with it. The Akebono doesn’t have any issue, and the brake pad truly delivers exceptional performance and durability.