Brake pads with more initial bite

[Charles Bronson]

Anyone have direct experience (meaning you've used them) finding front brake pads with more initial bite? My wife's 4runner is due for new pads. I hate the initial bite (basically non-existent) of the OEM pads. I understand some of it is the affect electronic braking system. I am also aware of the extended press and hold brake pedal procedure to get more initial braking feel. While this procedure does work, it is very short lived and seems to go back to normal after a day or two.

I do not care about brake dust or extreme longevity like the OEM pads. I'm also not looking for aggressive race pads because this ain't no race car

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Best stopping power from semi-metallic. Next best from Ceramic, which also have longest life.

 

[<<<<]

TRD Pads do that as long as you don't mind brake dust.

 

[Charles Bronson]

TRD Pads do that as long as you don't mind brake dust.

I had my eyes on them, but it says they only fit up to 2016 4runners. Why? The same calipers have been used since 2010, no?

 

[Pavement Tested]

When we bought the wife's '16 used it had what I believe were OEM pads that I swapped out for Duralast Gold (Autozone house brand) rotors and pads. Those used to be good quality and I had success with them on other vehicles but I guess post-covid quality is poor and the front rotors warped almost immediately so I warranty returned them. I also had to return the set of rotors/pads I put on my dually truck as they were warped out of the box. The Duralast Gold ceramic pads are also incredibly dirty.

I installed Power Stop rotors with Z23 carbon fiber-ceramic pads on the front of my wife's 2016. The Power Stop Z23 pads are really great. Good initial bite, very low to no dirt, no fade. They're priced reasonably as well. They've been installed for 2 years and 20-30k miles with no issues. I'll get them again when this set is done.

 

[<<<<]

I had my eyes on them, but it says they only fit up to 2016 4runners. Why? The same calipers have been used since 2010, no?

I've them on 2013 Trail. I don't know if something changed in 2016 but these are fine for any 5th gen and even for 4th gen.

 

[Charles Bronson]

I installed Power Stop rotors with Z23 carbon fiber-ceramic pads on the front of my wife's 2016. The Power Stop Z23 pads are really great. Good initial bite, very low to no dirt, no fade. They're priced reasonably as well. They've been installed for 2 years and 20-30k miles with no issues. I'll get them again when this set is done.

Thank you, I may try out the front Powerstop pads (part no. Z23-976B).

 

[progress4m]

I have installed AKEBONO ACT976, zero noise, zero dust, very smooth (without changing rotors -still OEM), and 100% improvement on the initial bite and overall braking vs. OEM brake pads I had (granted ordinals had over 115K on them, but they still were at 5-6 mm thick).

More Information for AKEBONO ACT976

 

[gordonp]

I have installed AKEBONO ACT976

I installed the Akebono ASP976, and I really like the stronger initial bite.

The OEM pads were friction-code FG (meaning Grade F for cold-bite, and Grade G for hot-bite).

I emailed Akebono to formally get information: their reply was that the ASP976 were friction-code GG. Meaning stronger initial cold-bite than stock.

And that's exactly what I got. I enjoy the lighter touch and good modulation-feel. I'll buy these again.

(Similar vein to Original Poster: for my wife and her daily driven Rav4, she wanted stronger bite / lighter brake-pedal touch. In this case, some Bosch pads gave her that result and I've been told to keep doing that for all brake-work on her car! So, I think your wife may be quite happy with GG pads)

 

[PCRIDE4RUNNERORG]

Thank you, I may try out the front Powerstop pads (part no. Z23-976B).

Yep power stop is the way to go! Rotors and pads. 100X better than wangner? And OEM

 

[mtn_climber]

I installed the Akebono ASP976, and I really like the stronger initial bite.

The OEM pads were friction-code FG (meaning Grade F for cold-bite, and Grade G for hot-bite).

I emailed Akebono to formally get information: their reply was that the ASP976 were friction-code GG. Meaning stronger initial cold-bite than stock.

Greatly appreciate the additional information.

I'll be changing front/rear pads and rotors in the near future. For the pads, I would like to go with the ASP series, but Rock Auto appears to be out of stock.

If you don't mind sharing, what did you pay for the pads? Looks like Napa carries both front and rear sets for just under $100.

 

[SDTRD]

Akebono ASPs over the ACTs, while you can still get them. I believe Akebono is phasing them out and keeping the ACT line. Napa still carries them, though. It's their best pad and has much better bite.