Brake Brand Check

[GhostStrykre]

I'm really in need of changing out my brakes and rotors, but the intended brand I wanted sold out.

I've read up on here and around the interwebs about other combinations and have narrowed it down to two options:

1) Raybestos Element 3 Rotors + Akebono Ceramic pads - $320 shipped from Rock Auto

2) Raybestos Element 3 Rotors + Raybestos Hyrbid pads - $250 shipped from Rock Auto as a kit

I'm kind of favoring option 1 because it seems like a lot of folks across different auto platforms have run Raybestos/Akebono together with great success. Option 2 seems like a newer thing I'm reading people like, but doesn't have as much data that I can find to rely on.

Anyone here have experience with the Ranger or these brands that can offer their opinion on option 1 vs 2? I'd appreciate it.

Edit to add a note: I looked at Motorcraft too, but they were closer to $450 shipped.

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[Rp930]

I use Raybestos. I’ve never heard of the other one.

I used Raybestos HD when I did my rear brakes. Supposedly higher iron content.

 

[tnewcomb6370]

I use Akebono pads on all my vehicles and will use on the Ranger when it needs them. No noise and no dust. Best pads made in my view.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I use Akebono pads on all my vehicles and will use on the Ranger when it needs them. No noise and no dust. Best pads made in my view.

What rotors do you typically pair with Akebono’s?

 

[Dgc333]

I am using Raybestos Element 3 Hybrid pads on my 33 Speedstar. They have a GG friction coefficient rating. That was the highest I could find for both cold and hot braking. Since the 33 has manual disk brakes I wanted something with a lot of initial bite, they work extremely well on the 33.

 

[Frenchy]

I won't argue that Akebono Brake Pads are good, but I feel it is better to buy the Motocraft Pads since we don't know who makes them right off.

Also for the Rotors, I would recommend sticking with the Factory Motocraft. When compared to most Aftermarket Rotors, the Aftermarket will have more tendency to Warp and Crack. The OEM will have more resistance to that.

 

[Rp930]

I won't argue that Akebono Brake Pads are good, but I feel it is better to buy the Motocraft Pads since we don't know who makes them right off.

Also for the Rotors, I would recommend sticking with the Factory Motocraft. When compared to most Aftermarket Rotors, the Aftermarket will have more tendency to Warp and Crack. The OEM will have more resistance to that.

My original rear rotors were junk at 25k. I elected to try another brand. So far so good.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I won't argue that Akebono Brake Pads are good, but I feel it is better to buy the Motocraft Pads since we don't know who makes them right off.

Also for the Rotors, I would recommend sticking with the Factory Motocraft. When compared to most Aftermarket Rotors, the Aftermarket will have more tendency to Warp and Crack. The OEM will have more resistance to that.

My original rear rotors were junk. I elected to try another brand. So far so good.

I think you both make good points. Just this afternoon I stumbled across a Reddit thread from 2 months ago with some “mechanics” (in quotes because I can’t verify) complaining about how bad aftermarket quality has been post-covid. Tolerances on brake clips and products from Raybestos just aren’t what they used to be. Or so the mechanics allege.

Just to check, Motorcraft parts numbers are:
Front pads - BRF1874
Rear pads - BRF1885
Front rotors - BRRF376
Rear rotors - BRRF377

Right?

 

[Frenchy]

I think you both make good points. Just this afternoon I stumbled across a Reddit thread from 2 months ago with some “mechanics” (in quotes because I can’t verify) complaining about how bad aftermarket quality has been post-covid. Tolerances on brake clips and products from Raybestos just aren’t what they used to be. Or so the mechanics allege.

Just to check, Motorcraft parts numbers are:
Front pads - BRF1874
Rear pads - BRF1885
Front rotors - BRRF376
Rear rotors - BRRF377

Right?

Won't speak for the part numbers, but when looking at most aftermarket parts that are made in CHINA(or TAIWAN), you will find them to be junk most of the time.

Now don't get me wrong as there are some Aftermarket Parts like EBC that are a bit higher quality than the average Auto Parts you find at any Auto Parts Store. Just have to be willing to pay the cost

 

[Cmar]

I won't argue that Akebono Brake Pads are good, but I feel it is better to buy the Motocraft Pads since we don't know who makes them right off.

Also for the Rotors, I would recommend sticking with the Factory Motocraft. When compared to most Aftermarket Rotors, the Aftermarket will have more tendency to Warp and Crack. The OEM will have more resistance to that.

Sorry don't understand your meaning, maybe I mis- interpreted it, wouldn't it be better to buy from an aftermarket company known to be good in the market, ie if all you make is brake pads, your company is not going to survive for long if the product is sub par.
Whereas the Motocraft parts could have been made anywhere. Just the cheapest supplier for that particular contract, could be good, could be just Ok, could be meidocre.

OEM's are funny things, about 15 years ago I owned a Kia Sorento (the first model with the 3.5 V6 and real 4x4 system - not the soft roader which replaced it, and an original Sportage) I used to buy service parts for them from a local guy who imported Kia/Hyundai/ SSangyong parts directly from Korea from the same OEM's which supplied the factory. - at a substantial discount I might add.
The product in the box was indistinguishable from the same product from a dealer, but might be branded differently ie the filters were Mann-Hummel, and Mann-Hummel is a known OEM to Hyundai-Kia for filters. He was a really helpful, nice guy, who had been in the automotive and off road racing game for many years, and knew his stuff, but sadly suffered health problems and had to retire. Towards the end he would just give away stock to regular customers like me, ie if you bought 1 filter he would throw in another one or two in exchange for a chat.

 

[Cmar]

Won't speak for the part numbers, but when looking at most aftermarket parts that are made in CHINA(or TAIWAN), you will find them to be junk most of the time.

Now don't get me wrong as there are some Aftermarket Parts like EBC that are a bit higher quality than the average Auto Parts you find at any Auto Parts Store. Just have to be willing to pay the cost

Our Rangers are built in Thailand, a lot of the parts in them come from Taiwan, China and Thailand. If you buy Motorcraft filters from Ford for them - according to the (very small) print on the box, they are made in Thailand or China. I found that ones from Ryco (a local Australian filter company) actually fit better than the Ford ones. The Motorcraft oil filter cartridges were actually loose in the cartridge housing - not ideal for an oil filter.

 

[Frenchy]

Sorry don't understand your meaning, maybe I mis- interpreted it, wouldn't it be better to buy from an aftermarket company known to be good in the market, ie if all you make is brake pads, your company is not going to survive for long if the product is sub par.
Whereas the Motocraft parts could have been made anywhere. Just the cheapest supplier for that particular contract, could be good, could be just Ok, could be meidocre.

OEM's are funny things, about 15 years ago I owned a Kia Sorento (the first model with the 3.5 V6 and real 4x4 system - not the soft roader which replaced it, and an original Sportage) I used to buy service parts for them from a local guy who imported Kia/Hyundai/ SSangyong parts directly from Korea from the same OEM's which supplied the factory. - at a substantial discount I might add.
The product in the box was indistinguishable from the same product from a dealer, but might be branded differently ie the filters were Mann-Hummel, and Mann-Hummel is a known OEM to Hyundai-Kia for filters. He was a really helpful, nice guy, who had been in the automotive and off road racing game for many years, and knew his stuff, but sadly suffered health problems and had to retire. Towards the end he would just give away stock to regular customers like me, ie if you bought 1 filter he would throw in another one or two in exchange for a chat.

As much as it would be a good idea to buy from the Direct Supplier, it is hard to do so when you don't know who it is. I will also add that most Known Brands in the US like Raybestos and Bendix(I know there are some more) have a bunch of their Products made in China now. Because of this, they have become Junk. With Brakes being a Safety Item, I don't recommend skimping on it.

Now with the Factory, they don't randomly switch suppliers every month or so. I have also seen Factory Brakes for many different Manufacturer's do real well in general. Not saying a Big Brake Kit won't do better. Just saying that the Factory Brakes are hard to beat. Usually the problem comes down to individuals that don't know how to drive(as in riding the brakes down a hill vs Engine Braking)

 

[Msfitoy]

I started a thread asking the same question and after some good advice, I ordered a full set of OEM pads...still waiting for my original pads to wear out...they're still at 8mm all around at 132K miles...

 

[Cmar]

Yes it seems that how well a remote produced product performs seems to be directly related to how well the OEM supervises quality in their remote factory.

There are two prominent Chinese manufacturers selling pickups over here with different engines obviously, but the exact same driveline, ie ZF eight speed auto, Borg Warner transfer case, and Dana diffs. There have been very few complaints about these components, obviously ZF and B-W keep a close eye on their Chinese factories. Interestingly one of these companies also sports a very good diesel engine, allegedly designed completely in house, but some reports say GM also had a hand in the design.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I started a thread asking the same question and after some good advice, I ordered a full set of OEM pads...still waiting for my original pads to wear out...they're still at 8mm all around at 132K miles...

yeah between your thread, discussions here, and various forums and subreddits I’ve visited today I think I’m gonna just pony up for the motorcraft. I wanted the Bosch quietcast but they sold out at rock auto.

appreciate all the responses! Very helpful info.

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