Ordered the EBC Red pads from this website today. Great price of only $215.44 with free shipping and no tax. Will update with shipping time, etc. when I receive them. Not going to put them on for a little while, but will definitely post impressions when I do.

EBC RedStuff 3000 Series Ceramic Sport Red Race Brake Pads | Place for Brakes

 

Still very dusty. Akebono (sp?) are much better.

 

Never tried Akebono, but so far loving the EBC Red compared to the pads that were on there before (probably OEM). MUCH less dust, and still great grip.

 

I have the red ebc pads on my xlr I'm happy with them no real brake dust to speak of

 

I had the Akebono on my Land Rover. Loved them. Will use as replacements once my current brakes wear out!

 

False economy.

You'll cost yourself a lot more money by not replacing the pads before the OEM's wear out. The OEM pads eat the rotors, so you'll have more cost by having to replace them at the same time instead of just the pads.

I have a 2011 XF that I put on EBC in front and Akebono on the rear when the car was still new, and the rotors show almost no wear after 28K miles. I bought a used XF this month with 23K miles with the stock pads, and I measure the rotors this weekend and they are almost at the lowest tolerance measurement all the way around.

It's one of those examples where people end up costing themselves more money by trying to save a few bucks.

 

Akebono has excellent reviews and is what I plan on using when it's time to replace.

 

Another vote for Akebono. I have had them front and rear on my 2005 STR for over 60K miles. No dust, no noise and bit softer pedal than the factory Brembo pads but those are very hard on the rotors.

They should have been factory installed!
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Let me know if you guys know of an Akebono brake pad that will fit the front of 2011 XF Premium? I have them on the back, but I don't even see those rear pads in their catalog anymore, and I wonder if any of their part numbers will fit the front.

I emailed Akebono, but no reply.

 

Here's the reply:

"For the front it takes a D1472 shape. We do not make it . It is because the volume is still to low to justify the tooling.

For the rear it takes our EUR1095."

 

Put on the EBC Red pads front and back last week. Just getting used to them but they are a lot less grabby than the stock pads but still feel strong when needed. I'll update later when I have more impressions but happier now than with stock pads.

 

I have had the EBC Red Pads on for almost 8 months. The company actually made me front pads before they came to market. That was amazing service. Not like Akebono where they won't make them because there aren't enough cars out there that use the same application.

All that being said the EBC Red pads are great all the way around. I have a little more dust on the rear wheels compared to the front but overall dust is much less than the stock pads. No comparison. I even put them on with the original rotors. No issues at all. I am very satisfied.

 

I am still praying for Akebono's for the front. Less dust isn't much help -- you'll still be cleaning the wheels ever day if you like your wheels to look fresh.

With the Akebono's the wheels never get dirty from brake dust. They only get dirty from driving in the rain. Also, that brake dust gets all over the side and rear of the car, especially in the rear.

Anyone know of an equivalent of the Akebonos that are no dust? I had a Chrysler 300, Kia Optima, and Cadillac Escalade that came with factory pads that were zero dust. I know Akebono does OEM applications, but don't know if they OEM to those cars. I am hoping they are not the only ones with zero dust.

 

I've just put ebc red pads on the front of mine and I also put there grooved disc on as well and I'm very impressed with them, and I had excellent service from EBC too

 

I wish they made Hawk HPS pads for our cars. Very grippy, and very low brake dust. I've had Redstuff pads before too and liked them a lot but they were too dusty. But, I'm planning on getting black aftermarket rims, so it won't matter I suppose.