Bought new brake pads...but I think used ones arrived?
 

I bought new Akebono Euro pads's yesterday and they arrived today

...However I'm believe these are used..I could be wrong but every pad I've ever bought was sealed up in something.. and the friction material was un-touched.. I've never had Akebono's before though...maybe this is how they come?



Can anyone weigh in?

• http://i.imgur.com/9HvSol.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/jQ9ERl.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/NCDbRl.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/SE97nl.jpg

• http://i.imgur.com/Zg9Cel.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/2BJcMl.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/EkfCGl.jpg
• http://i.imgur.com/YfFhfl.jpg

I didnt see any piston imprints on the backs so maybe I'm wrong.

• http://i.imgur.com/ugEyml.jpg

Do you see any caliper cylinder mark at the back? That would be something I look for.

I posted pictures of the backs.. I didnt see any cylinder marks...

They are probably new then as used ones would have the mark when the brake is applied, unless they are sneaky enough to put a backing plate first.

Any reputable shops would not send out used brake pads, too much liabilities.

Look new to me.

What the flack? Did a moderator delete my earlier reply?

To my recollection I said they looked new to me, though the overspray on the bevels is awfully sloppy.

But you're fine, drive and enjoy.

Good luck.

Mine looked like that when I got them new. You are fine with those.

Thanks everyone! I'll be installing these whenever my R1 Concepts slotted rotors arrive..

I tried to get ATE PremiumOnes and Bendix rears but every place was out of stock..

I do believe ATE pulled out of the US market. so glad I got my premiums for the front.

They look "rebuilt" to me; that is new pad material on used bases, which is fine. However, I would be concerned with the overspray on the edges and surface edges of the pad material and hope it melts off before coming in contact with the rotors. At best, they are new brake pads put together in a very sloppy manner.

are those the low dust ones?

Take a close look at the pads in pics 5 - 8, the sanding lines are 90* to any marks that would be put on the pads by a rotor. The black overspary is a non issue.

You must be thrown off by the light color of the friction material. I would be too. All friction material I've seen is dark in color. Maybe it's just a surface effect from manufacturing.

Where would they get the used bases? I used to submit brake shoes for core charges, but never pads.

This.

I've always seen dark friction material.

Then look at the other pics. I don't know if that black stuff is paint or not, but the surfaces and even the cooling slots are much lighter in color. In addition, this black stuff is the same stuff that's one the edges of the bases.

I do agree with you, however, that cores are not required for "rebuilt" disc brake pads.

I can't explain it. All I can say is I have been changing brake pads & shoes now for almost 50 years and have never come across pads that look like this.

Wait a minute! I just noticed the brand name "Euro" on the box. Someone recently said on this very forum "if it's Euro brand, run for the hills" and I agree. I have had a little experience with "euro" rubber parts and I can tell you this brand is junk.

You're thinking of URO, these are Akebono's EURO line of brake pads.

I agree, run from URO. But everyone has spoken well of Akebono's products.

I bought a set of ATE rear rotors just yesterday. I have observed that one cannot find Zimmerman cross drilled rotors anymore though. For ATE to just pull out of the US is kind of major. You sure about that?

Anyway the Balo rotors are just as good. Cross drilled, slotted, premium ultra whatevers aren't going to be quantifiably better than solid anyway.

I use the Zimmerman cross drilled fronts and am planning a rear replacement with Ate. Textar pads all around, let 'em dust up I don't care. The dusty pads stop better and don't trash the rotors.

The color of the pad material is related to compound/blend used for the friction surface. Akebonos are a ceramic compound pad, so they are lighter in color; it's that simple.


And Euro/URO? Really? Are you going to reject money because it's the "EURO?" Confusing "Euro" with "URO" is like confusing "Orange" with "Orangutan." The exception being, of course, that Orangutans serve a useful purpose, and I'm not so sure about URO parts. :D

I stand corrected on the Euro/Uro issue, which means I have never heard of the Euro brand; silly me. These are still strange looking pads.

I agree that Textar are good pads. A light hosing off of the wheels once a week and you're set - clean wheels once again.

"Euro" is not a brand.

The brand is Akebono. Euro is just some marketingspeak to put on the package to suggest it's great for European cars, at least that's my guess.

The best pads I've had on my W210 thus far have been Axxis Deluxe. Virtually no dust, and excellent stopping performance hot or cold or wet. They are also a bit less expensive than the Akebonos and didn't exhibit the sloppy workmanship of overspray. :rolleyes:

Axxis Ultimates were on when I first bought this car back in 2006 and they were awesome.

I currently have them on...but my rotors are shot/worn/warped.. I figurd I'd give Akebonos a try.. Maybe after these I'll go back to Axxis if these aren't an improvement.

My dad's SD has Pagid's which have pretty good stopping power as well. They're just dusty.

I've had the Ultimates as well. Unfortunately, they are a VERY hard pad, so they chew up the rotors faster (probably as fast as the Akebonos). Stock parts you get about two sets of pads to one set of rotors, but the Ultimates wore the rotors down fast enough that when the pads were done, so were the rotors. Of course they went 65,000 miles or thereabouts on the front, so that's not too shabby. ;)

The Ultimates were also pretty dusty, nearly as bad as stock. The Axxis Deluxe have virtually no dust (I now wash the car because it's dirty, not because the wheels are gross) and stop great. Time will tell if they wear the rotors as quickly, though.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Akebonos, and they, too as a harder-compound pad will wear the rotors more quickly. I chose Axxis because aside from being less costly than the Akebonos, Axxis' parent company (PBR if memory serves) is an OE supplier to lots of car manufacturers, MB included.

Just do a decent job of bedding them in and drive gently the first couple hundred miles and you'll get the best life and performance out of them.

Good luck.